Russell Harrison is the Legislative Representative for Grassroots Activities for IEEE-USA. In this capacity, he is responsible for helping members of IEEE-USA interact with, and ultimately influence, elected officials.

Prior to joining IEEE-USA, Mr. Harrison directed grassroots programs at the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries and the American Iron and Steel Institute. During his tenure, he actively raised campaign contributions through both of the associations’ political action committees. Mr. Harrison also represented the recycling and steel industries on Capitol Hill, and in state capitols on a variety of issues as a professional lobbyist.

Mr. Harrison has a BA in Political Science, with minors in History and Communications, from Allegheny College, and a MS in Public Policy for the University of Maryland. He resides in Manassas, Virginia with his wife, Kathy.

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The Citizen Engineer

What difference can one person make in Washington, D.C.? That depends on the person. If you know how to play the game, ordinary citizens can have a huge impact on Washington, D.C.’s policy making. Nevertheless, you have to understand the game in order to play. Learn the rules for influencing your elected officials, and how to help form public policy without investing all of your free time, or all of your savings. Our discussion will focus on the unique role engineers can play in the policy making process in Washington, D.C. The reality is that our government will impact an engineer’s career and this impact can be positive or negative. Learn how you can influence your government to protect and enhance your profession.

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Communicating With Elected Officials

Why are engineers so good at solving technical problems, yet have difficulty influencing public policy? Politicians need and often want advice from engineers on solving tough problems. But, you need to speak the politician’s language to get through to them. Learn the simple rules for communicating effectively with your elected officials. Our discussion will include how to discuss policy with elected officials, when to communicate with them, and what to expect in return. You have important things to say, things that your elected officials need to hear. Let’s make sure your message isn’t lost in the translation.

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Modeling the Political Process

Engineers are good at understanding complex systems. Can our political system be understood using the same tools? We will consider our electoral system from an engineering perspective. What are the inputs? What are the outputs? How is the system powered? What are its by-products? This basic introduction to our political process will go beyond, “How a Bill Becomes a Law”. We will discuss what actually happens in Congressional offices – from an engineer’s perspective. We will come to see that the system is not quite as illogical as it might first appear.

10/03