As we celebrate 100 years of the department of electrical and computer engineering at UNB, we are proud to recognize the alumni who built its legacy. Throughout 2026, we will share profiles and stories highlighting the milestones and people who have shaped the department's history.
J. Herbert Smith (BScE'32, MScE'44, DSc'58) was born and raised in Fredericton, N.B., where his connection to his community and his alma mater would later come full circle.
During his student years at UNB, he quickly became a leader, serving as business manager for The Brunswickan in 1931, president of the Engineering Society, president of his graduating class and valedictorian. After graduating with his first degree, Dr. Smith left New Brunswick for Ontario and joined the Canadian General Electric Company Limited, where he remained until retirement. Over the decades, he rose through the ranks, from technical positions to upper management, and along the way earned his graduate degree.
Throughout his career, he built a reputation for strategic judgment grounded in engineering knowledge and guided major projects that shaped the company's growth and modernization. In 1957, Dr. Smith became president and CEO of Canadian General Electric, the first Canadian to hold this position. He led the company through expansion, modernization, and a shift toward Canadian control until his retirement in 1972.
Believing that engineers should be able to solve both technological and business problems, and that innovation must be tied to practical execution, Dr. Smith returned to UNB in 1988 to help create the J. Herbert Smith Centre for Technology Management and Entrepreneurship on UNB's Fredericton campus. He supported it with a $5-million endowment, the largest the university had received at the time, and a clear mandate to give students the tools they need to take technical ideas out into the real world. Today, the centre that bears his name continues that mission. It has grown into a hub for hands-on learning, connecting students, faculty, and entrepreneurs through programs, industry partnerships, and opportunities such as student pitch competitions.
His influence at UNB goes far beyond the Fredericton campus. His contribution to the faculty of engineering has created opportunities for engineering students to move into corporate management, start businesses, and tackle real-world challenges. J. Herbert Smith transformed how the university prepares students to turn ideas into results and lead in both industry and innovation.
Reginald Tweeddale (BScE'35, DSc'73) was one of the most influential engineers in the modern development of New Brunswick's public power system and a central figure in the province's mid-20th century electrical infrastructure.
Born in 1914 in Arthurette, N.B., Dr. Tweeddale pursued engineering at UNB during a period when electrical power was rapidly reshaping Canadian industry and public life. After completing his bachelor's degree, he began work in the electrical field at a time when provincial power systems were still fragmented and unevenly developed.
Dr. Tweeddale is best known as the first General Manager of New Brunswick Electric Power Commission, later known as NB Power. In this role, he was instrumental in transforming electricity from a patchwork of private and municipal providers into a coordinated public utility serving the province. His leadership helped guide the early expansion of generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure, laying the groundwork for universal access to electricity across New Brunswick. This work positioned electrical power not simply as a commercial service, but as a public good essential to economic development and social equity.
Beyond the provincial level, Dr. Tweeddale played a significant role nationally. He became the first New Brunswick engineer appointed president of the Canadian Electric Association, a position that reflected both his professional stature and his influence in shaping policy and standards within Canada's power sector. His appointment marked a recognition of New Brunswick's growing role in national energy conversations and highlighted the strength of UNB-trained engineers within Canadian industry.
Dr. Tweeddale's contributions extended into education and public service. He maintained strong ties to UNB throughout his life, supporting engineering education and student leadership initiatives. In recognition of his professional achievements and service, UNB awarded him an honorary doctor of science degree in 1973. His legacy at the university continues through the Jean F. and Reginald E. Tweeddale Memorial Leadership Award, which supports students who demonstrate leadership, service, and academic commitment.
His career and impact were also recognized in 1994, when he received the Proudly UNB Award Alumni Award of Honour, acknowledging his lasting influence on both the university and the province. Dr. Tweeddale's work exemplified a generation of engineers who combined technical skill with public responsibility, helping to shape the systems that underpinned modern life in New Brunswick.
Photo: A. Foster Baird, J. Herbert Smith, and Reginald Tweeddale
