PROJECTS

Fischer Mertel Community of Projects

The Fischer Mertel Community of Projects supports students solving challenges that will benefit the community in a tangible way through EPICS in IEEE. Supporting these student projects honors two EMC Hall of Fame engineering leaders and helps us remember the dedication and contributions of Joe Fischer and Herb Mertel to the field of engineering.

Joe Fischer

Joe Fischer began his professional career as antenna designer after putting himself through San Diego State University with a BS and MS in Physics as a beach lifeguard in San Diego. Joe began developing current probes to solve EMC problems on the Atlas Missile program while working at General Dynamics with Herb Mertel. Joe and Virginia founded Fischer Custom Communications, Inc. in 1971. The IEEE awarded Joe the Hall of Fame award in 2011. He was EMC-S president in 1972, distinguished lecturer from 1989 – 1991, on the EMC-S board for six years and technical program chair of the IEEE EMC Symposium in 1979 and 1986.

Herb Mertel

Herb Mertel was an immigrant and held his first electrician’s job at age 13 in Frankfurt, Germany. Living the American dream, he served in the US Army, graduated from Indiana Technical College in electrical engineering, worked at both General Dynamics and United Controls until he founded his own company EMACO which he sold in 1988 to TUV. He chaired the EMC Society’s annual symposium in San Diego, California in 1986. He was a member of the Society’s Board of Directors for 10 years during the 70s and 80s. In 2005, Herb received the Laurence G. Cumming Award for outstanding service to the EMC Society. The EMC Society presented the prestigious “Hall of Fame” Award to Herb in 2009 for his continued contributions to the IEEE EMC Society throughout his long and illustrious career.