The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) SE Michigan Section has named David A. Horvath, PE Outstanding Engineer of the Year for 1999. IEEE is the world's largest engineering society with over 320,000 members worldwide. Its purposes are scientific and educational, directed toward the advancement of the theory and practice of electrical, electronics, and computer engineering and related sciences. This award is made based on technical accomplishments, contributions to professional societies, and community service. The award winner was announced at the Engineering Society of Detroit's Gold Awards Banquet on February 24, 1999 and the award was presented at the IEEE Spring Section Meeting on March 24, 1999 at the Ford Fairlane Club in Dearborn.

Mr. Horvath is part-owner and President of Advent Engineering Services, Inc. located in Ann Arbor, MI. In this role, he serves the industry as Principal Consultant, Project Manager, and Research Investigator. He has over 25 years of experience in the areas of research, engineering consulting, design, facility maintenance & operations, and project management. His diverse areas of technical expertise include information management improvement, electrical insulation aging predictions, nuclear propulsion systems, Environmental Qualification Programs (aging assessment and harsh environment operability), design basis reconstitution, service water system design requirements, thermodynamic/heat transfer modeling, and nuclear security systems. Mr. Horvath received his BSEE from West Virginia University in 1972 and an MSE in Nuclear Engineering and an MSE in Electrical Control Engineering both from the University of Michigan in 1979 and 1981. His accomplishments in the past two years include:

• Management and participation on a major design basis reconstitution project to assist and improve regulatory compliance, new engineer training, and the future design change process;
• As Principal Investigator, completion of two SBIR research projects for NASA related to nuclear rocket propulsion systems for deep space missions;
• Supervision of a thermal-hydraulic re-evaluation and design basis reconstitution of a nuclear plant's ultimate heat sink and related heat removal systems;
• Two patents pending related to electrical insulation remaining life diagnosis;
• Chair of a Working Group responsible for completing IEEE Standard 692-1997;
• Chair of another Working Group responsible for revising IEEE Standard 1205;
• Invitation to join the primary nuclear standards balloting body (IEEE Nuclear Power Engineering Committee) responsible for approving 40 nuclear plant electrical standards; and
• Completion of tenure as IEEE SEM Section Chair, the time period for which IEEE Region IV awarded an Exemplary Section Award.

He has been an IEEE Member for over 30 years and a Senior Member since 1983. He is past President of MSPE Ann Arbor Chapter which received three Best Chapter Awards during his tenure in 1987. He is also past Chair of American Nuclear Society Michigan Society where he was responsible for initiating its Nuclear Professional of the Year Award in 1992. His technical certifications include Nuclear Submarine Gold Dolphins, Nuclear Submarine Chief Engineer Officer, Energy Auditor Technical Analyst, ASME NQA-1 Lead Auditor, and professional engineering registration in six states. During nine years with a major Architect-Engineering firm, he held eight positions of increasing technical and supervisory responsibility. The most recent position was Project Manager for several multi-million dollar projects. Mr. Horvath has received numerous commendations and awards. He is an active member of three IEEE standards committees and three working groups incorporating state-of-the-art technology and approaches into industry stadards on aging management, safety system design, and post-accident monitoring.