Luis T. Gandia

Biography

2007 IEEE Haradan Pratt Award: Luis T. Gandia

“For outstanding leadership in promoting technical activities at the regional level and the transnational character of the IEEE at the Board level”

Luis T. Gandia has devoted 27 years of service to the IEEE, including eight as a member of the organization’s Board of Directors. A true leader with a global vision of what the IEEE represents, Mr. Gandia has served as an inspiration to many IEEE members worldwide.

Mr. Gandia is known for promotion of globalization efforts of IEEE and maintaining IEEE’s competiveness, by focusing efforts in Latin America to form effective team groups to reinforce the activities of the chapters in most of the countries. Mr. Gandia played an integral role in improving the effectiveness of the IEEE Power Engineering Society in South America, including developing an incentive system, instituting a series of chapter chair retreats, bringing together chapters from all over the world to exchange ideas. As the IEEE Secretary he exhibited a practical sense of fiscal discipline and undertook efforts to simplify IEEE’s Policies and Procedures. As RAB VP, he strived to make significant efforts to develop plans to increase membership. He is also a member and past president of the Puerto Rico Society of Engineers, and a member and past vice president of the Puerto Rico Institute of Electrical Engineers.

In 1962 Mr. Gandia established his own corporation, L. Gandia & Associates, Inc. where he acts as a liaison between manufacturers of electrical equipment and the power generating, distribution and transmission industry.

An IEEE Life Senior Member, Mr. Gandia has received numerous IEEE awards, including the IEEE Millennium Award and the Larry K. Wilson Transnational Award. He received his bachelor’s in electrical engineering with a concentration in power engineering from the University of Puerto Rico.