Steve Walters is an authority on network technology and business strategy. His leadership is recognized internationally and his 35 years of professional experience have encompassed virtually every aspect of telecommunications ranging from installation and maintenance to research and development. Steve's book, The New Telephony - Technology Convergence, Industry Collision, outlines the impact of the Internet and its technologies on the telecommunications industry.

Steve was made an IEEE Fellow in 1996 for leadership and technical contributions to ATM commercialization including standards and services. Steve was a key leader in the US delegation to ITU and made many technical contributions to ATM.

In 1993, he was named a Fellow, Telcordia's highest distinction, for his industry leadership. He has also received the Telcordia Team Award for Excellence and the Telcordia CEO Award. In 1998, Steve received a second Telcordia CEO Award for contributions to customer success. Steve retired from Telcordia in 2002.

Steve is past President and Chairman of the Board for the ATM Forum. He served on the Board from its inception in December 1991 and played a key role in establishing the Forum and its direction. He was President & Chairman from April 1995 until May 1997.

Steve was named one of the "Top Network Technology Drivers of the Year" for 1995 by Network Computing magazine for accelerating networking to a new level of capability. Network World magazine selected him as a "Power Player" for his role in defining ATM.

From 1977 until 1984, Steve helped pioneer the first Digital Signal Processor chip at Bell Laboratories and managed exploratory projects in real-time systems and software. This included call processing and peripherals for 4ESS and 5ESS.

During six years in the United States Air Force, he installed and maintained telephone switching systems and cryptographic equipment. Steve is a Vietnam Veteran and received the Air Force Commendation Medal.

Steve holds a B.E.E. degree from Auburn University, M.S. and Ph.D degrees (automata theory) from Virginia Tech; belongs to Sigma Xi, Phi Kappa Phi and Eta Kappa Nu; received eight patents; has published numerous technical papers; and serves on several IEEE conference committees. He was an Electrical Engineering faculty member at Virginia Tech.

As an independent consultant, Steve provides his customers with objective advice on their strategic direction and helps them achieve their business goals. He is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Pittsburgh and an adjunct faculty member of Brookdale Community College where he teaches Astronomy. Steve also serves as an expert witness for telecom patent litigation teams. Outside his professional life, Steve has been an avid amateur astronomer for over 25 years and enjoys photographing the night sky.

Steve can be contacted by email at swalters@ieee.org or by phone at (732) 241-6069.