SpectrumTalk

[If you are looking for the post on FCC equipment authorization and enforcement, it is here.]

Federal Engineer of the Year Award:Will FCC Enter a Candidate This Year?

Every year the National Society of Professional Engineers sponsors a government-wide contest for the "Federal Engineer of the Year". The NSPE website describes the award as

Sponsored by the Professional Engineers in Government, this honor is to be awarded to an engineer employed by a federal agency that employs at least 50 engineers worldwide. Candidates are nominated by their employing federal agency.

The Federal Engineer of the Year is selected by a panel of judges established by NSPE-PEG who consider engineering achievements, education, continuing education, professional/technical society activities, NSPE membership, awards or honors, and civic and humanitarian activities.

The application indicates that agency nominations are due by October 31, 2007 for the 2008 award. Each agency nominee gets a very nice plaque. If he/she is a licensed professional engineer, then they are also eligible for the overall Federal Engineer of the Year award. FCC used to participate in this program - Tom Tycz (long term distinguished FCC staffer and former IB "satellite czar") and I were both nominated and received the NSPE plaque for the agency.

Why did FCC drop out? Apparently they didn't want to pay the $90 NSPE wanted to cover the cost of the plaque. Well, NSPE is feeling flush this year and not charging for the plaque. So why doesn't FCC show that it supports its hard working engineers and nominate one for this government-wide award?