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United States National Committee
(USNC) of the IEC

Introduction

The U.S National Committee (USNC) of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) serves as the focal point for U.S parties who are interested in the development, promulgation, and use of globally relevant standards for the electrotechnical industry. The USNC is also engaged in the assessment of conformance to standards, undertaking work in areas such as testing, certification, and accreditation.

As the U.S. representative to the IEC and many related regional standardization bodies, the USNC serves as a conduit to the global standards-setting community for technical and policy positions arising in the U.S. In this capacity, the USNC brings issues from the global arena to the U.S. for review, consideration, and response. In the IEC the USNC operates via Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs), comprising volunteer experts working collaboratively to develop U.S. positions on technical issues under consideration within IEC technical committees.

The USNC is a totally integrated committee of ANSI. ANSI provides administrative support to the USNC and its more than 4,000 U.S. managerial, engineering, scientific, and professional participants. ANSI also provides the fiduciary framework by which the USNC’s financial obligations are met, including the payment of annual dues to the IEC.

USNC Mission

Coordinate the effective participation in the development of IEC standards and conformity assessment systems to facilitate trade and to promote global safety, efficiency, reliability, and interoperability in the fields of all electrotechnologies. Provide a framework for USNC stakeholders to advocate for U.S. interests in international and regional electrotechnical-related matters.

What Is the IEC?
USNC Strategic Objectives

To further our mission, the USNC has identified five Strategic Objectives to meet the future demands of the domestic and international electrotechnical community.

Interested in learning more? Check out our one-pager to read how we plan to reach these Strategic Objectives.


Why You Should Join USNC/IEC:

Join the USNC as a Premier Member

USNC Premier Membership offers increased value, recognition, and leadership and engagement opportunities for your organization.

Structure & Governance

This organizational chart illustrates the organizational structure of the USNC, with its own membership and governance and oversight committees, and their relationship to ANSI membership and governance and advisory groups. Click on the links below for more information on each.

USNC IEC Organization Structure DOWNLOAD POLICY & STANDING COMMITTEE ROSTERS

The USNC Council coordinates the U.S. involvement in the IEC and other electrotechnical bodies associated with the IEC. The main focus of the Council is to manage policy and strategic issues and to improve the overall effectiveness of the USNC’s interface with the IEC.

The Council interfaces, via the USNC President, with the IEC Council and Council Board (CB). The current representation of Council represents industry, trade associations, standards developing organizations, professional engineering societies, and government agencies.

Key Responsibilities

  • Representing and coordinating the United States involvement in the IEC and other electrotechnical bodies associated with the IEC concerning IEC standardization and conformity-assessment issues on behalf of ANSI
  • Recommending to the ANSI Finance Committee and ANSI Executive Committee an annual budget to cover IEC-related activities
  • Managing programs and adjudicating disputes arising from authorized USNC activities
  • Promoting consistency between international and national activities that fall within the scope of the IEC
  • Reporting annually to the Board on United States participation in IEC activities and coordinating with the International Policy Advisory Group on issues affecting United States interests in more than one international forum
  • Establishing, as appropriate, Technical Advisory Groups to cover United States participation in IEC activities
  • Oversight of the USNC Technical Management Committee and the USNC Conformity Assessment Policy Coordination Committee

The USNC Council has established and oversees the following USNC Standing Committees:

  • Finance
  • Nominations
  • Communications
  • Rules and Procedures
  • Young and Emerging Professionals
  • 2022 IEC General Meeting Planning

The main focus of the USNC Technical Management Committee (TMC) is to manage the technical work of the USNC and to represent the interests of the U.S. at the Standardization Management Board (SMB) level in IEC. The committee is chaired by the USNC Vice President – Technical, and meets 3 times each year prior to the meeting of IEC/SMB. The TMC reports to the USNC Council.

Key Responsibilities

  • Developing U.S. position in preparation for meetings of the IEC/SMB
  • Oversight of all USNC Technical Advisory Groups, including the designation of Technical Advisors, Deputy Technical Advisors, and TAG Administrators
  • Approving the designation of U.S. Secretariats to IEC Committees
  • Authorizing invitations to host IEC Technical Committee (TC) and Subcommittee (SC) meetings in the U.S.

The USNC Conformity Assessment Policy Coordination Committee (CAPCC) coordinates USNC positions on electrotechnical conformity assessment (CA) matters and representing the interests of the U.S. in the IEC. The committee is chaired by the USNC Vice President – Conformity Assessment, who is also the U.S. representative on the IEC Conformity Assessment Board (IEC CAB). The CAPCC meets 3 times each year at the USNC Management Meetings. The CAPCC reports to the USNC Council.

Mirror Committees

The USNC has three mirror committees for each IEC Conformity Assessment System. These USNC CA Systems report directly to the CAPCC and develop and coordinate U.S. positions on relevant CA matters.

  • USNC/IEC Conformity Assessment for Electrotechnical Equipment and Components (IECEE)
  • USNC/IEC System for Certification to Standards Relating to Equipment for Use in Explosive Atmospheres (IECEx)
  • USNC/IEC System for Certification to Standards Relating to Equipment for Use in Renewable Energy Applications (IECRE)

USNC Leadership

President:

Veronica Lancaster, Consumer Technology Association

Vice-President – Conformity Assessment:

Ron Borowski, Eaton 

Vice-President – Finance:

Peter Pondillo, Corning Incorporated

Vice-President – Technical:

Hae Choe, NEMA

General Secretary

Adelana Gladstein, USNC/IEC

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Staff Contacts

Adelana Gladstein

Director – International Policy, ANSI; General Secretary, USNC/IEC

Phone: 
212.642.4965

Email: 
[email protected]

Suhey Estevez

Program Administrator

Phone:
212.642.4979

Email:
[email protected]

Mackenzie Connors

Program Administrator

Phone:
212.642.8927

Email:
[email protected]

Betty Barro

Program Administrator

Phone:
212.642.4963

Email:
[email protected]

Megan Pahl

Program Manager

Phone:
212.642.8907

Email:
[email protected]

Catherine Pilishvili

Program Administrator

Phone: 
212.642.4906

Email: 
[email protected]