IEEE Robotics and Automation Society Hires First Executive Director

 

IEEE recently hired Pete Sobel as the first Executive Director of the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society.  Pete has more than 35 years of experience creating, supporting and growing academic, industry and professional society programs. In recent years, Pete has led initiatives at Yale, Columbia and Rutgers Universities. His efforts increased industry-academic partnerships in support of science and engineering research.

Prior to those efforts, Pete was at IEEE for nearly seven years working to establish and develop IEEE’s global offices (Europe, India, Japan and China). In that post, he also led fundraising for the IEEE Foundation, and built key corporate partnerships. Pete also established and led IEEE’s initial Humanitarian Activities Programs including partnerships with the United Nations Foundation, ASME, and Engineers Without Borders.  

Pete also directed global business development for Boston’s Museum of Science, expanding their brand, diversifying revenue streams and growing the international dissemination of their K-8 engineering curriculum and intellectual property.  Most recently, he served as Director, Global Affairs at Optica (formerly OSA) where he was responsible for the Global Environmental Measurement & Monitoring and Global Health Initiatives.

Pete is eager to reconnect with IEEE colleagues, forge new relationships, and dive deep into the exciting world of Robotics and Automation.