It hardly feels like more than a decade has passed since we began discussing the possibility of having a one-day conference celebrating engineering research and developments here on Long Island and raising the awareness of the various technical chapters of the Long Island Section. I remember the several meetings where the name of the event was our greatest challenge. Obviously we converged on the IEEE Long Island Systems, Applications and Technology Conference to cover the wide variety of topics for a general conference. Looking back at LISAT 2005, our first ever conference, we were delighted to have about eight (8) presentations. From that humble beginning with a few invited distinguished lecturers and local chapter lecturers, we now have authors coming to Long Island from Connecticut, NYC, India and China!

Paper presentations and the interaction (often called networking ) between the presenters and attendees is still at the core of the LISAT conference. This year’s committee had received more than fifty-five (55) paper abstracts to evaluate. Under the care of Dr. Ron Pirich and Jesse Taub, who served again this year as Chair and Co-Chair of the Technical Program Committee, a cadre of experts (see the listing on page 5 of this bulletin) has reviewed each of the forty-nine (49) presentations in three full tracks that will be presented today to assure they meet IEEE’s quality standards. We also are proud to have the continued efforts of Matt Nissen who has arranged for our popular power engineering professional development track aimed at satisfying the requirements for Professional Engineers.

The Farmingdale State College has been our partner for all ten years of our conference’s planning and execution. If not for the vision of Dr. W. Hubert Keen ten years ago, initially as the College’s Provost, and now with his leadership is as President of the century-old college, LISAT would have been a concept that made it to paper but would have never been. He has been a major supporter of this event making sure that we were accommodated as a partner in this effort to produce a quality technical conference in Long Island’s 110 Corridor. Without Dr. Keen’s continued blessings, all of our efforts would be for naught.

We would also like to thank Dr. John Fiorillo, from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology, as well as Ken Tax and Nancy Flood who have tirelessly worked these ten years as ‘unseen’ members of the Conference Committee providing liaison with the college and helping us organize the use of the audio-visual facilities at Farmingdale State College. Thanks go as well to Dr. Hazem Tawfik whose IRRT hospitality our first few years made this conference possible. Like any army that moves on its stomach, without the guidance and cooperation of Joe Sacco and his Aramark support team we would have hungry and very unhappy attendees. His culinary magic keeps us going throughout the day!

My conference co-chairs, Dan Rogers and Dave Mesecher deserve my personal thanks for their work this year as well as their efforts as General Chair during previous LISAT conferences and whose activities have eased the way to this tenth anniversary milestone. The LISAT conference would not continue to exist were it not for their leadership during times when I was unable to personally lead the conference due to other IEEE commitments.

The Exhibits Committee Chair and co-chairs, Jaime Lima, Fred Kruger and Gil Lipper have again provided an opportunity for local businesses to present their products and capabilities in our Exhibits area. IEEE Long Island Section volunteers on the conference organizing committee have been the backbone of our activities. Thank you all for once again creating a wonderful event.

It is the generosity of Bob DiFazio and InterDigital and all our exhibitors that make it possible for LISAT and the Long Island Section to provide ten Joint Scholarships with the Farmingdale Foundation for students in the technologies and allied IEEE fields at Farmingdale State College.

Technology and engineering continue to be an essential part of Long Island, as does the Farmingdale State College, and IEEE Long Island Section. Enjoy today’s papers covering a wide variety of topics in systems, applications and technology. Thank you all for attending our 10th anniversary – I look forward to seeing you next year at LISAT 2015.

– Charles Rubenstein, Ph.D., CEng
  General Chair, IEEE LISAT2014