President-Elect Candidates Discuss Key Goals

The annual IEEE election process begins in August, so be sure to check your mailbox for your ballot. To help you choose the 2026 IEEE president-elect, The Institute is publishing the candidates’ official biographies as well as a statement describing which IEEE Strategic Goal resonates with them the most and why it is particularly meaningful to them. The candidates are IEEE senior members Jill I. Gostin and David Alan Koehler.

On 27 June, IEEE President Kathleen Kramer moderated the Meet the 2026 IEEE President-Elect Candidates Forum, where the candidates answered pressing questions from IEEE members. The event is available to watch on demand.

A second forum will be held on 4 August at the IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society’s International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, in Brisbane, Australia. Registration to attend the livestream is open.

IEEE Senior Member Jill I. Gostin

Nominated by the IEEE Board of Directors

  Steven Miller Photography

Gostin retired earlier this year as a principal research scientist at the Georgia Tech Research Institute, in Atlanta. Her work focused on sensor systems and software. She also served as the systems engineering, integration, and test lead in the software engineering and architecture division.

Gostin credits her career success to her publications; service and technical awards; large program management experience; and leadership of academic, industry, and government groups.

She has held several IEEE leadership positions including 2023 IEEE Member and Geographic Activities vice president and chair of its board, and 2020—2021 Region 3 director. She is a former chair of the IEEE Atlanta Section and the IEEE Computer Society’s Atlanta Chapter.

Gostin served on the IEEE Computer and IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems societies’ boards of governors and was the vice president of finance for the Senior Council’s Executive Committee. She has also led or been a member of several IEEE organizational units and committees, locally and globally.

Her leadership was recognized in 2016 when the Georgia Women in Technology named her as its Woman of the Year. Gostin also is the recipient of the 2025 IEEE Women in Technology Leadership Award.

Strategic goal statement

Chosen strategic goal: Empower technology professionals in their careers through ongoing education, mentoring, networking, and lifelong engagement.

The priorities listed in my position statement align with all six IEEE goals, but that is the one that most resonates with me. It both reflects what members consistently say they value most, and it aligns with my own desire to help others succeed.

This objective supports IEEE’s members throughout their careers by helping them connect, grow, and give back to their community. Providing that kind of holistic support has shaped both my professional and IEEE journeys. I have focused on helping people succeed—by connecting them with the right tools and resources, or by creating new ones when none existed.

Engagement is personal. What each member needs or values will vary and evolve over time. To stay interesting and relevant, IEEE must offer diverse, flexible ways to engage, and adapt as technologies and member needs change.

I will advance this goal by supporting:

● Customized learning pathways for emerging technologies

● Tailored resources based on experience level and geographic location

● Expanded professional development and mentorship programs that enhance careers at all stages

● Multidisciplinary initiatives with local engagement opportunities

● Innovation competitions that inspire creativity and collaboration

These efforts empower members as contributors to their organization, society, and the profession. They reignite curiosity, enable growth, and inspire new directions. When IEEE helps members learn and engage in new ways, it strengthens not only their careers, but also the future of technology itself.

IEEE Senior Member David Alan Koehler

Nominated by the IEEE Board of Directors

  Steven Miller Photography

Koehler received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Indiana University in Bloomington, and a master’s degree in business from Indiana Wesleyan University, in Marion. He works in the power and energy industry and has almost 30 years of experience in testing insulating liquids and managing analytical laboratories. He has presented numerous technical presentations and published technical articles within the power industry.

An active volunteer, he has served in every geographical unit within IEEE. His first leadership position was treasurer of the Central Indiana Section. He served as 2022 vice president of IEEE Member and Geographic Activities (MGA), 2019—2020 director of IEEE Region 4, and 2024 chair of the IEEE Board of Directors Ad Hoc Committee on Leadership Continuity and Efficiency.

He served on the IEEE Board of Directors for three terms. He has been a board member of IEEE-USA, Member and Geographic Activities, and Publication Services and Products.

Koehler is the recipient of the 2024 IEEE MGA Larry K. Wilson Transnational Award. He is an active member of the IEEE Power & Energy and Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation societies, as well as Women in Engineering. In 2019 he was inducted into IEEE’s honor society, Eta Kappa Nu.

Strategic goal statement

Chosen strategic goal: Empower technology professionals in their careers through ongoing education, mentoring, networking, and lifelong engagement.

I chose this IEEE 2025-2030 strategic goal as it is at the core of our mission: Advancing Technology for Humanity. This goal has also proven to be valuable in my career growth.

We are living in an era where technology evolves quickly, and it is important that IEEE helps its members, volunteers, and customers stay current on the technology that is of interest to them.

In order to achieve career success, individuals need to focus on their professional development. IEEE has programs in place to help those who need to improve their soft and leadership skills. You can be the smartest person on a team, but if you are unable to effectively communicate your ideas, you most likely will not grow within your organization.

IEEE also holds incredible conferences and events globally that allow individuals to network and engage with those who have similar technical interests. This helps nurture new ideas and share best practices. When our members and customers develop a strong network, it can open the door to mentoring and job opportunities.

Lifelong learning opportunities help to build collaboration and engagement among technologists. Individuals from diverse backgrounds are able to share different ideas and create stronger technical communities.

I am a strong believer in preuniversity science, technology, engineering, and math outreach activities so that IEEE members can promote and help develop the next generation of technologists. I plan to devote additional resources to make sure that this happens more on a global scale.