The IEEE Computer Society traces its origins to the 1946 formation of the Committee on Large-Scale Computing of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE).

Five years later, the Institute of Radio Engineers (IRE) formed its Professional Group on Electronic Computers. The principal volunteer officers of both these groups were designated chairs. The AIEE and the IRE merged in 1963 to become the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

The respective committee and group of the predecessor organizations combined to form the modern IEEE Computer Society. The society’s principal volunteer office has been designated as president since 1970.

Chairs of the IRE Professional Group on Electronic Computers

1951–1953  Morton M. Astrahan

1953–1954  John H. Howard

1954–1955  Harry Larson

1955–1956  Jean H. Felker

1956–1957  Jerre D. Noe

1957–1958  Werner Buchholz

1958–1959  Willis H. Ware

1959–1960  Richard O. Endres

1960–1962  Arnold A. Cohen

1962–1964  Walter L. Anderson

Chairs of the AIEE Committee on Large-Scale Computing Devices

1946–1949  Charles Concordia

1949–1951  John Grist Brainerd

1951–1953  Walter H. MacWilliams

1953–1955  Frank J. Maginniss

1955–1957  Edwin L. Harder

1957–1959  Morris Rubinoff

1959–1961  Ruben A. Imm

1961–1963  Claude A. Kagan

1963–1964  Gerhard L. Hollander

Chairs of the IEEE Computer Group

1964–1965  Keith Uncapher

1965–1966  Richard I. Tanaka

1966–1967  Samuel Levine

1968–1969  Charles L. Hobbs

Presidents of the IEEE Computer Society

View the History Committee