The IEEE Industrial Electronics Society (IES) has selected Milos Manic, Ph.D., for its 2019 Anthony J. Hornfeck Service Award. Manic, who is a professor in the VCU College of Engineering’s Department of Computer Science, will receive the award Oct. 16, 2019, at IECON 2019, the organization’s annual flagship conference, in Lisbon, Portugal.

The Hornfeck Service Award is not an annual award. Instead, IES presents it only in years when a suitable candidate is identified. The award recognizes outstanding service to IES, one of the most international societies of IEEE. As the world’s largest professional organization, IEEE has more than 420,000 members in more than 160 countries. 

Manic has served IEEE IES in multiple capacities through the years, including as chair of numerous committees. A widely recognized expert in cybersecurity for critical infrastructures and power grids, he has been a frequent presenter on topics related to his research in machine learning, human-system interfaces and resilient intelligent control. 

In 2018, Manic was a general chair of the IES flagship conference IEEE IECON 2018 in Washington, D.C. That event drew more than 1,500 researchers from around the world.

“It humbles and honors me to be selected among so many recognized volunteers of IES,” Manic said. “I am looking forward to celebrating this award in Portugal with so many of my IEEE friends coming from all continents. 

“IEEE’s motto is ‘advancing technology for the benefit of humanity.’ To the many who ask me why one should volunteer and get engaged in IEEE — that is the simple answer.”