Dr. Imad Makki leads Ford’s Advanced Controls & Intelligent Systems department, developing innovative vehicle control and prognostics technologies across various platforms. Over his career he has received twice Ford’s prestigious Henry Ford Technology Award and more than 240 patents. He currently co-chairs Ford’s Global Control Technology Council and directs the Ford High School Science and Technology Program, while also lecturing at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and Lawrence Technological University. Dr. Makki’s leadership extends to the broader engineering community. As a Senior member of IEEE, he served as Chair of the IEEE SEM Section (2013) and the Control Systems Chapter (2011-2013), demonstrating his commitment to advancing the field. He also held key roles within the IEEE SEM section, including Director of the Public Relations Committee (2004-2005) and Technical Activities (2003-2004). His Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering (Wayne State University, 1995) focused on robust automotive control methods, laying the groundwork for his impactful 27-year career.