Vernon Toups of Siemens

Biography:

Mr. Vernon Toups received a BSEE and MBA from LSU. He has worked for Siemens for the past 27 years in Richland, MS where he has been involved in development, applications, marketing, sales, and technical training of engineering staff both internally and externally. He is a senior member of the IEEE Switchgear Committee and has been a member of the committee since 2008. He has in-depth experience with High Voltage Circuit Breakers, SF6 and non SF6.

Neal Rich of Whitsun Engineer Expert Witness

Biography:

Mr. Rich is an electrical engineer with 40 years of experience in many aspects of electric power system design, installation, operation, and maintenance. His expertise includes distribution, sub-transmission, and transmission systems upwards to 500 kV and generation and industrial plant distribution systems of 34.5 kV down to 480 VAC. Mr. Rich graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Mississippi. He is licensed in 30 states of the United States. He is a Senior Member of IEEE, a member of the IEEE Power Engineering Society, a member of NSPE and the Mississippi Engineering Society, and an Accredited Expert and member of The Academy of Experts in London.

Brian Sullivan of Entergy

Data centers present unique challenges to the power system, especially with their desired load levels and timing. Today’s system did not envision this growth and transmission expansion cannot happen overnight, especially considering supply chain constraints. This discussion explores these unique challenges from the utility perspective.

Biography:

Mr. Brian Sullivan is a transmission planning manager at Entergy. Prior to working for Entergy, he was a research engineer at the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems. He received an MSEE degree in power from Mississippi State University in 2016.

Paul Watson of Raytheon - retired

Today’s design engineers have many Ethics considerations to make om the job in regards to Honesty, Integrity, Responsibility, Obligation and Safety (HIROS) within their field of expertise.  These considerations, rules and bylaws will be presented, discussed and reinforced by taking an NSPE Ethics Engineering Quiz at the end of the presentation that will be used to document and validate the earning requirement of One Professional Development Hour (PDH).

1-   General discussion of HIROS will be presented

2-   An example of Land Surveyor Ethics violation of non-disclosure will be presented, an ethics conflict of Manager and responsible Engineer head butting

3-   A short question and answer period of the topic will be open at the end of the presentation

Biography:

Mr. Paul Watson received a MSEE from Mississippi State University and is a registered professional engineer in the state of Mississippi.  Mr. Watson retired from Hughes/Raytheon Technologies and has held officer positions in the IEEE Mississippi Section.

Ron Ogan of Raytheon - retired

Biography:

Mr. Ron Ogan received a BS in Physics from Oklahoma State University and an MS in Engineering from Southern Methodist University. Mr. Ogan is currently a major in the USAF Civil Air Patrol and Rural Broadband Association Vice President of Operations. He formed SNIC Enterprises Inc. He has been a Disaster Reservist for the Emergency Management Agency for the past 2 years. Mr. Ogan recently was a Senior Research Engineer at Georgia Tech Research Institute working on the Missile Defense Agency program supporting systems engineering and sensor developments. Prior experience at Raytheon Systems Company, Forest, MS and El Segundo, CA included development, design and testing of advanced Electronically Scanned Phased Array (AESA) radar systems for the F/A-15 and F/A-18 aircraft. Other positions include Cadence Design Systems in Irving Texas, Martin Marietta in Orlando Florida, and Honeywell in Clearwater Florida. Mr. Ogan has served as Finance VP, Treasurer and senior member for the IEEE AESS Board of Governors, Chair of the IEEE Dallas Section, Chair of the IEEE Mississippi Section and other IEEE positions. Mr. Ogan is an IEEE Life Senior Member and currently the Chair of the IEEE Mississippi Section Professional Activities Committees for Engineers (PACE).