IAS Past President (2021-2022) Wei-Jen Lee recently received the 2026 IEEE Medal for Environmental and Safety Technologies, sponsored by Toyota Motor Corporation, at the IEEE Honors Ceremony in New York City on 24 April 2026.
The 2026 IEEE Honors Ceremony is widely considered one of the most prestigious award celebrations in engineering and technology. It honors individuals and organizations whose work has had a major impact on technology, science, and society. That evening, Toyota Motor Corporation’s President of Advanced R&D and Engineering, Hirofumi Inoue, presented the award to Lee, citing his contributions to promoting renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, advancing transportation electrification, and reducing carbon emissions on a global scale.
Reminding the audience of the importance of Lee’s work, his presentation video highlighted the following: “Every day, millions of people rely on electrical systems that must operate safely and reliably in demanding environments. When those systems fail, the consequences can be immediate and severe. Lee has dedicated his career to reducing those risks.”
Through his work in research and standards, Lee has made significant contributions to help protect workers across industries. With a key understanding of arc flash in electrical systems, he has also provided foundational data for the development of IEEE Standard 1584-2018, which, along with NFPA 70E, is the most widely adopted standard for workplace electrical safety.
In addition to workplace safety standards, Lee was an early leader in the integration of large-scale wind energy into the electric grid. He conducted some of the first interconnection studies in 2002, evaluating the impact of wind generation on ERCOT (the Texas electric grid), followed by subsequent work on wind capacity forecasting and system interconnection requirements.
Showing his strong commitment to grid modernization to support decarbonization and electrification of transportation, Lee has held leadership roles in the UN Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition (CEET) and the IEEE TAB Climate Change program.
Addressing global energy challenges along with his distinguished research and standards for workplace safety, Lee is a true pioneer in the engineering field. As the recipient of the 2026 IEEE Medal for Environmental and Safety Technologies, he exemplifies the power of innovation to create positive change on a global scale.
“This medal makes me believe that protecting people and protecting our environment are the same commitment to safeguarding life through responsible innovation,” Lee said.
An IEEE Life Fellow, Lee is Professor and Chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, USA.