IEEE ComSoc Latin America Region Board

Biography

Yéssica Sáez is a telecommunications engineer and researcher from Panama. She is a faculty member and Research Coordinator at the Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá (UTP), Azuero Regional Center, where she leads research initiatives in telecommunications and intelligent systems. She holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University.

Her research focuses on Internet of Things (IoT), wireless sensor networks, artificial intelligence, and technology-driven solutions for environmental monitoring and healthcare applications. Dr. Sáez serves as IEEE Communications Society (ComSoc) Latin America Regional Director (2026–2027).

She has been an active member of the IEEE Women in Communications Engineering (WICE) Standing Committee for over five years. She has also played key roles in the organization of major IEEE conferences, including Globecom, ICC, WCNC, and LatinCom, serving in positions such as Publicity Chair, Finance Chair, and member of organizing committees.

Biography

María is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in telecommunications and cybersecurity. She leads an elite team of cybersecurity and cloud experts dedicated to safeguarding information assets and ensuring resilient, secure digital environments for clients across Latin America.

Her expertise in strategic planning and in building highly specialized engineering teams has been instrumental in driving organizational success and delivering high-impact results. María holds a degree in Electronic and Telecommunications Engineering, a postgraduate degree in project management and investment management, a Master in Electrical engineering with a specialization in Telecommunications, and a postgraduate in Strategic Management and leadership.

She has further strengthened her technical knowledge with multiple certifications in cutting-edge technology.

Biography

Miguel Gutierrez Gaitán (Senior Member, IEEE) received his Ph.D. degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Porto, Portugal, in 2023. He is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and a Principal Investigator at the Cyber-Physical Systems Research and Technology Center (CPS-RTC) at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC), where he leads the IoT-UC Research Laboratory.

His research interests include real-time wireless networked systems and the Internet of Things (IoT), with a focus on channel modeling, wireless mesh networks, maritime communications, and satellite IoT. He is an Associate Editor of IEEE Communications Letters.

Biography

Electrical Engineer from the National University of Honduras (UNAH). Msc in Computer Science from the University of Vermont (thanks to a Fulbright Scholarship), Msc in Economics and Finance from the Catholic University of Honduras (UNICAH). Lecturer for more than 15 years at the university level (BS and MsC Programs related to Information and Technology).

Experience in the Public Sector in Planning, Monitoring of Projects and Programs and as Policy Maker Specialist for topics related to Innovation, Technology, Competitiveness and SDG's. Educational Robotics Specialist and Professional Forecaster and ACM, PMI, ISOC, OWSD, DAMA, ISACA member. PM4R Professional (IDB Certification for Project Managers); currently working in BANRURAL as Technical Advisor/Project Manager on topics such as Data Governance, Environmental and Social Risk and Sustainability and as Lecturer with the Master of IT Management Program in UNITEC (since 2022).

Active Volunteer of IEEE for 30 years so far, currently IEEE Senior Member, Founder and Current Chair of the Communications, Computer and Robotics Professional Chapter; former IEEE Honduras Section Chair, she has held more than 50 Leadership/Volunteer positions at IEEE Honduras, CAPANA, R9, MGA Committees. 2012 IEEE R-9 MGA Achievement Award Recipient, 2016 IEEE Honduras Outstanding Member Award, and 2021 CAPANA Noel Espinoza Award recipient as Outstanding Volunteer.

Biography

Román A. Lara-Cueva (M'08–SM'18) received the B.Eng. degree in electronic and telecommunications engineering from Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Quito, Ecuador, in 2001; the M.Sc. degree in wireless systems and related technologies from Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy, in 2005; and the M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in telecommunication networks for developing countries from Rey Juan Carlos University, Fuenlabrada, Spain, in 2010 and 2015, respectively. He is a Full Professor with the Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas—ESPE, Sangolquí, Ecuador, where he founded and leads the Ad Hoc Network Research Center (CIRAD).

Since 2017, he has also collaborated as an external professor with Rey Juan Carlos University, Spain. He has served as Chair of the IEEE Communications Society Ecuador Chapter (2020–2021, 2024–2026), actively contributing to the growth of ComSoc initiatives in the region.

His professional interests include wireless communications, machine learning, IoT, and smart systems for community-oriented applications. He received the IEEE Ecuador Section Best Researcher Award (2017) and the IEEE ComSoc Latin America Distinguished Service Award (2024).

Biography

Romeo C. Velarde Montecinos, B.S. Electronics and Communications (ITESM), Master's Degree (M.S.E.E., UTSA). Prof. ITESM. Worked at Hughes Network Systems (San Diego, California). DSP for terminals, R&D.

Independent consultant. Hughes Fellow – Eng.D., University of Southern California. Former External Professor. Electrical Engineering UCSD. Former Director of Technology at CENI2T in Ensenada, Mexico.

Founder of Ubilogix, WinayTEC. Former National R&D Manager ENTEL-Bolivia. Currently General Manager of WinayTEC, electronics company with projects in electronic systems for lithium batteries, renewable energies with lithium storage, measurements through the Internet of Things.

Biography

Antony García González is an electromechanical engineer affiliated with the Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá. He has pursued doctoral studies at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Worcester, Massachusetts, within the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department.

His work focuses on the application of machine learning, deep learning, and artificial intelligence in healthcare. His research includes image processing, analysis of electronic health records, and human activity recognition, especially in the context of Alzheimer’s disease and elder care monitoring systems.

His interests center on applying computational methods to healthcare data and exploring interdisciplinary approaches that connect engineering and medicine.

Biography

Sergio Armando Gutiérrez is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering in Universidad de Antioquia, Colombia. He holds a Ph.D. in Engineering - Systems and Informatics Degree from Universidad Nacional de Colombia.

His research interests include Software Defined Networks and Programmable Data Planes, Cybersecurity and Applications of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence to Computer Network Management.

Biography

Mrs. Aris Castillo has been in the academic and research arena for over 20 years in information and communication technologies. She holds a bachelor’s degree in computer system engineering from the Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá and a Master’s degree in Telecommunication and Network Management from Syracuse University, NY, which she received as a Fulbright scholar. She is a Senior Fellow of the Institute of Electrical Engineers (IEEE), where she has served as vice chair of Communication Society (COMSOC) Panama Chapter, and COMSOC Students Activities Region 9 Board. She also worked in the organization committee of LATINCOM 2023.

She served as Institutional Director of International Relations at UTP from 2015–2023 and was involved in several international projects, including Erasmus+ Capacity Building as well as KA-107 for mobility with European universities. She also served as the National Secretary of the International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE) Panama with all continents.

Mrs. Castillo has been the coordinator of five projects financed by the National Secretary of Science and Technology (SENACYT) for international students’ mobilities for research and academic purposes. She has been in charge from UTP of five international projects under the Capacity Building for Higher Education framework of Erasmus+ financed by the European Commission: SUSTAINT, Cruz del Sur, TIC Cruz del Sur, WPA and EQUAM-LA. She also has experience with a 100K Strong of the Americas project with Wilkes University for student mobility, financed by Partners of the Americas.

Biography

Andrés Navarro is an Electronic Engineer (1993), with a Master on Technology Management (1999), both from Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana in Medellín. Obtained his PhD in Telecommunications from Universitat Politécnica de Valencia in 2003. He is IEEE member since 1995 and Senior Member since 2014. Advisor of the Spectrum Management Committee for Colombian Spectrum Agency (2014-2018) and ITU expert. Current IEEE Andean Council Chair (2024-2025), corresponding member of the 2024 IEEE Humanitarian Technologies Board and Colombian VTS chapter Chair; IEEE Comsoc LATAM Regional Director 2022-2023. As ITU expert, advised different governments in Digital TV and Spectrum Management. Is a participant on COST CA 20120 INTERACT and former actions COST CA15104 IRACON, COST IC1004 and COST 2100. He is member of IEICE and EurAAP. Currently is the coordinator of the CENIT research center for technology in Health in Universidad Icesi, a joint center involving Biomedica research group and Fundacion Valle del Lili. His research interests are Spectrum Management, mobile radio planning (5G 6G), radio propagation and m-health.

Before joining Academia, he was technical manager for Compunet S.A. from 1991 to 1993. In 1995 founded a web development company (InSist ltd.), until the beginning of Ph.D studies in 1999.

In academia, he has been lecturer and currently a full professor in Universidad Icesi, combining teaching and research activities. He has served as TPC member of different IEEE conferences like PIMRC, VTC, Latincom and FIE. TPC member and Board member of IEEE Colcom since the first version in 2009 as well as chairman of IEEE Colcom in three occasions and TPC chair of IEEE Healthcom 2019. He is also a member of the Head Committee of the International Center “Global Innovation Exchange on Virtual Reality and Visualization” to America and Asia.

Biography

Gustavo Viana Penido is a telecommunications engineer focused on mobile communications, currently working in RF Engineering for mobile network planning and coverage design at Claro Brasil. His work involves performance analysis, data-driven decision-making, and the development of RF projects to support network expansion and optimization.

His technical interests include mobile and digital communications, signal processing, and the application of machine learning to telecommunications systems. His undergraduate thesis explored the use of autoencoder-based models for communication systems, investigating learning-based approaches for signal representation and transmission.

Gustavo is particularly interested in bridging theoretical concepts with practical network challenges, contributing to more efficient, reliable, and intelligent communication systems.

Biography

Lucía Flor Loor Vélez is an Electronics and Telecommunications Engineer graduated from ESPE University. She currently works as a KPI analyst for the operator company EOMMT at Metro de Quito.

Lucía has been an active IEEE volunteer since 2020, previously serving as the Chair of the ESPE ComSoc Student Chapter. Since entering the industry, she has continued her contributions to the organization through work in advertising, social media, and the coordination of various technical events for WIE and the ComSoc Ecuador Section.