Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories
Newsroom
Jan 28, 2026
SEL President Appointed to the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco Economic Advisory Council
Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) announced that President Dave E. Whitehead has been appointed to the Twelfth District Economic Advisory Council (EAC) of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.Whitehead will join business leaders from across the Twelfth District—spanning nine western states, two U.S. territories and a commonwealth—who provide firsthand insights into economic, business and labor conditions affecting industries, workforces and communities via the EAC.As president of SEL, Whitehead leads a global team of more than 7,500 employee owners across engineering, manufacturing, research and development, sales, marketing and service. Since joining the company in 1994, he has helped guide SEL through decades of continuous growth and innovation, contributing to the development of groundbreaking technologies that protect, monitor and control electric power systems worldwide. Drawing on this experience in engineering, advanced manufacturing and power system innovation, Whitehead will contribute perspectives on industrial production, supply chain resilience, STEM workforce development and the role of technology in strengthening critical infrastructure. His expertise will help inform the Federal Reserve as it evaluates economic conditions influencing the Twelfth District.“I’m honored to join the Economic Advisory Council to represent the perspectives of employers, manufacturers, engineers and power systems experts,” said Whitehead. “As a global company, we see how innovation, technology, manufacturing, supply chain, workforce and other factors influence economic conditions in the U.S. and abroad. I look forward to offering insights that support the Federal Reserve in understanding the opportunities and challenges facing U.S. businesses and workers.”To learn more, visit Twelfth District Economic Advisory Council - San Francisco Fed.