Joseph M. DeSalvo is a registered Professional Engineer with degrees in electrical engineering and industrial management. He is a Senior Life Member of the IEEE and is presently on the adjunct faculty of Pennsylvania State University where he teaches FE (EIT) and P&P review courses in P.E. program and power distribution engineering, substation design, and engineering economics courses in the advanced power engineering program. Mr. DeSalvo recently retired from Allegheny Power, where, as manager of substation and methods standards, he had responsibility for preparation of material/equipment specifications, construction and operating standards for all substation designs, and also industrial engineering studies for all system activities for three operating companies serving five states. He has served the IEEE in over 60 positions during the last 37 years at the chapter, section, region, and institute levels. A few of his positions have included director of Region 2 and member of the IEEE Assembly, Board of Directors, Regional Activities Board, and United States Activities Board. While chair of the IEEE-USA Career Activities Council, he had committees responsible for pensions, licensure and registration, intellectual property, ethics, anti-discrimination, career maintenance and development, and manpower-related matters. In addition to IEEE activities, Mr. DeSalvo is a senior member of the Institute of Industrial Engineers and a member of Eta Kappa Nu and Sigma Tau honorary societies. He is married and has four children and two grandchildren. * * * UNIVERSITY TO REAL WORLD - PROFESSIONALISM IS THE KEY LINK Throughout history, progress in engineering technology has affected our culture and environment. We must have a good understanding of our roots in engineering. A society is needed in which a spirit of loyalty and a commitment to succeed prevail. Like their counterparts of the past, engineers today must continue to have visions that will create new ideas to meet the challenges of the future. To do so, they must know the interaction between technology and society. Whistle-blowing, ethics, and corporate loyalty in this age of corporate downsizing, layoffs, and early retirements for engineers will be discussed. The transition from university life to the real world involves career decisions, job considerations, realities of sexual harassment, stress and burnout in the workplace, continuing education, and professionalism. Involvement in technical and professional societies helps the engineer employ proper technical, moral, and ethical behavior in dealing with the public, fellow engineers, and employees. Professionalism is the key link that will establish the bridge to new pathways of knowledge. * * * LICENSURE AND REGISTRATION: AN INSURANCE POLICY ON YOUR CAREER Upon receiving your degree in engineering, you will start your career in engineering. We have invested a lot of money and time to get our education and work experience. Common sense would tell you that it would be wise to purchase some insurance policy that would help protect your investment and career. The speaker will stress that becoming licensed as a Professional Engineer is the insurance policy that we need. Among the topics to be covered are:
- Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) and Principles and Practices (P&P) exams Becoming licensed as a Professional Engineer, adhering to Codes of Ethics and Rules of Professional Conduct and making Continuing Professional Competency a part of your lifestyle are ingredients needed to protect a successful career in engineering. * * * ENGINEERING ETHICS - INDIVIDUAL AND CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY Engineering is a profession in transition and our technology continues to expand at a rapid pace. As more domestic companies become international because of expansion of business in the global economy, individual engineers must reshape and constantly improve their character (ethics). Also, the international corporations must develop and structure their "Ethics/Policies/Guidelines" such that they are adaptable and applicable in foreign countries. The speaker will discuss the evolution of standards for moral behavior and ethics, how most religions and professional codes of conduct share the common bond of "The Golden Rule," the new "Global Ethics," and recent Supreme Court decisions relating to ethics. He will point out that we can learn much about how to deal with ethical dilemmas by the study of past ethics cases. Today, in the period of corporate mergers, downsizing, layoffs, re-assignments and increased work loads and working hours, engineers are under more stress than usual and must avoid unethical behavior under these conditions. Only those with a strong character and a desire to adhere to a Code of Ethics will avoid unethical actions. Moral character and our ethical behavior are shaped by family, religion, education, and professional practice and are unique and different for each of us. Our challenge in life is to continuously improve our ability to know what is right and to have the courage to always do the right thing so as to avoid the temptation to be unethical.
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