IEEE Life Fellow Manfred “Fred” J. Schindler has officially been elected as the 2027 IEEE president-elect, securing a pivotal leadership role within the world’s largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. Following a rigorous global election process, Schindler will step into the role of president-elect, setting the stage for his subsequent term as IEEE president, which is scheduled to begin on 1 January 2028.
In the closely watched election, Schindler—who was nominated by the IEEE Board of Directors—secured a decisive victory, pulling in 16,421 votes. His opponent, Senior Member David Alan Koehler, mounted a strong campaign, capturing 13,874 votes from the organization’s diverse and far-reaching global membership. While the tallies demonstrate robust engagement from IEEE members around the world, the election results remained technically unofficial at press time. Final confirmation and official ratification are expected to take place in November, when the IEEE Board of Directors formally reviews and accepts the comprehensive report submitted by the IEEE Teller’s Committee.
Schindler brings to the presidential office a wealth of technical expertise, extensive organizational governance experience, and a decades-long commitment to the engineering community. Widely recognized as an expert in the specialized field of microwave semiconductor technology, Schindler currently works as an independent consultant. In this capacity, he provides high-level technical expertise, meticulous due diligence, and comprehensive project management support to a diverse clientele navigating the complexities of modern engineering and product development.
Throughout a distinguished professional career spanning several decades, Schindler has played a foundational role in bridging the gap between theoretical research and commercial reality. He has consistently spearheaded the development of advanced microwave integrated-circuit technology, successfully shepherding complex projects from initial laboratory demonstrations all the way to high-volume commercial production. His contributions to the field are well-documented; he has authored numerous technical publications that have shaped industry standards and currently holds 11 patents for his innovative work in semiconductor and microwave systems.
Schindler’s corporate and technical leadership footprint extends across some of the most prominent organizations in the technology and aerospace sectors. He previously served as the chief technology officer of Anlotek and held key leadership positions as the director of the Boston design centers for both Qorvo and RFMD. Prior to those roles, his career included pivotal technical and management responsibilities, serving as an applications manager at IBM, an engineering manager at ATN Microwave, and a laboratory manager at Raytheon. These varied roles allowed him to cultivate a deep understanding of both large-scale corporate engineering operations and nimble, entrepreneurial technology ventures.
Beyond his impressive commercial and technical achievements, Schindler has demonstrated an extraordinary dedication to the IEEE community through more than 30 years of active volunteer service. His leadership journey within the organization includes numerous high-profile appointments and elected offices. Most recently, he served as the 2024 vice president of IEEE Technical Activities, guiding the organization’s vast network of societies, councils, and technical initiatives. Prior to that, he contributed his expertise as the Division IV director for the 2021–2022 term.
Schindler’s involvement with IEEE governance runs deep. He chaired the IEEE Conferences Committee from 2015 to 2018, overseeing the coordination and execution of major technical gatherings that bring together researchers and industry leaders from across the globe. Earlier in his volunteer career, he served as the president of the IEEE Microwave Theory and Technology Society (MTTS) in 2003. His exceptional contributions to the society and the broader technical community have been widely recognized through prestigious accolades, including the MTTS 2018 Distinguished Service Award and its 2015 N. Walter Cox Award. In addition to these formal governance and leadership roles, Schindler has shared his extensive business and technical insights with the broader community through his award-winning micro-business column, which has been a regular and popular feature in IEEE Microwave Magazine since 2011.
Demonstrating his ongoing commitment to the strategic evolution of the organization, Schindler also led the 2025 One IEEE to Enable Strategic Investments in Innovations and Public Imperative Activities adhoc committee. This initiative focused on positioning the organization to effectively identify and fund critical technological innovations while fulfilling its broader public mandates.
In recognition of his longstanding dedication and impactful career, Schindler maintains active ties to various specialized branches of the organization. He is a valued member of the IEEE–Eta Kappa Nu honor society and holds the distinction of being an MTTS honorary life member. As he prepares to assume the responsibilities of the 2027 IEEE president-elect ahead of his 2028 presidential term, Schindler stands ready to bring his decades of technical insight, organizational leadership, and strategic vision to the forefront of the global engineering community.
