After our first year and a half as a Section, the worst part of our shakedown cruise is over, but we still face some major challenges.  Among these challenges are the establishing of financial solvency, establishing an effective means of communicating with our membership, maintaining a fully cooperative and cost-effective relationship with the Washington Section through the National Capital Area Council, and maintaining a cordial relationship with Region 2 and with IEEE Headquarters.

The Section will continue its healthy development through its elected officers and large membership pool of time-proven engineers.  The respective Northern Virginia and Washington Section Chairs will hold infrequent informal visits and exchanges to facilitate operations.

Veg Gardner
1983-84 Chair

Biography:  Vernon E. Gardner, known as "Veg" (rhymes with "keg"), became a student member in 1936, member in 1939, and senior member in 1945.  His affiliation with IEEE dates from his undergraduate days at the University of North Dakota.  He received his B.S. in electrical engineering from that institution and also taught there.  He was an electrical, electromechanical, and reliability engineer for 33 years with the Navy Department, then later a reliability engineer with Tensor Industries, Inc.  In 1978, he began working as a reliability engineer with the Columbia Research Corporation in Crystal City.

A registered professional engineer in the District of Columbia and California, Veg's affiliations include Sigma Xi (Associate Member), Tau Beta Pi, the Electrochemical Society (Life Member), the Association of Scientists and Engineers of the Naval Air and Sea Systems Commands (Alumnus Member).  HE is past chairman of the Special Affairs Committee and Group on Reliability, both in Washington, and was Reliability Group representative on the Technology Forecast and Assessment Project.

Veg served as the second elected Chair of the Northern Virginia Section, after serving terms as Secretary, Vice-Chair, and Executive Committeeman, and Program Chair.  After completing his term as NoVA Section Chair, Vernon Gardner was appointed by IEEE Region 2 Director Merrill Buckley as Chair of the Southeastern Area of Region 2, including Baltimore, Eastern Shore, Northern Virginia, Ohio Valley, Washington, and West Virginia Sections.

Veg is married to the former Elizabeth Ann Hunt, a prolific IEEE volunteer.  Betty, as she prefers to be called, has exhibited paintings and flower designs in numerous local shows.  Betty and Veg enjoy dancing with folk dance groups.