The IEEE Power & Energy Society is saddened to announce that Mel Olken, the first IEEE PES Executive Director & the first editor-in-chief of the Power & Energy Magazine, passed away on 9 January 2026 in New York, New York.

Mel was associated with the electric power industry for over 60 years. His contributions to the profession include distinction in engineering practice, professional leadership, and service to the IEEE Power & Energy Society.

In 1995, Mel was named the first Executive Director of the Power Engineering Society. Under his leadership, the organizational structure of PES was created. Mel held this position until 2002 when he became the first editor-in-chief of Power & Energy Magazine. He served in this position until December 2016.   He was recognized with the PES Meritorious Service Award (2009).  In 2012, he was recognized with the PES Lifetime Achievement Award – “For a broad and sustained technical contribution to the development of power engineering and the power engineering profession.”

He was born in 1934 and graduated from the City College of New York.  Mel began his practice of electrical engineering with American Electric Power. He developed technical expertise in the design, construction, and operation of coal, hydroelectric, and nuclear power plants. He rose to the position of Manager, Electrical Generation. Mel joined the IEEE staff in 1984 as Society Services Director for Technical Activities. In 1990, he became the Managing Director of Regional Activities and served as secretary of the IEEE Regional Activities Board (now the IEEE Member & Geographic Activities Board) before moving over to the IEEE Power Engineering Society (1995-2002).

An IEEE member since 1958 and a PES member since 1973, Mel was actively involved in a wide range of society activities. He served as a volunteer leader and chair of committees for the PES Winter Meeting. He chaired the Power Generation Committee and served as chair of the PES Technical Council.  Mel was elected an IEEE Fellow in 1988 for “contributions to innovative design of reliable generating stations.”

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