GM’s Stephens Elected Member of National Academy of Engineering

Stephens, group vice president of General Motors (NYSE:GM) Powertrain was elected as a new member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), as announced by NAE recently.

Established in 1964, NAE operates under the Congressional charter granted to the National Academy of Sciences in 1863. Its members consist of the nation’s premier engineers, who are elected by their peers for extraordinary contributions to engineering. Election to NAE, which consists of about 2,200 U.S. members, is among the highest professional distinctions afforded to an engineer. Academy membership honors those who have made outstanding contributions to engineering research, practice, or education, and to the pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of engineering.

Stephens leads a global powertrain organization with 52,000 employees working at more than 80 manufacturing plants and engineering centers in 17 countries. Together, they produce about 36,000 engines and 32,000 transmissions a day.

As a 21st century powertrain technologist, according to Automotive Engineering International’s editor Lindsay Brooke, Stephens’ powertrain team is launching a new wave of gasoline and clean diesel engines, six-speed transmissions, hybrids and alternative-fuel powertrains for GM’s cars and trucks that provide improved fuel economy, enhanced performance, reduce emissions and increase customer choice. In addition, his team is working on a number of future technologies that will provide even more customer choice in the future, including plug-in hybrid technology and GM’s range-extending hybrid-electric drivetrain in the Chevrolet Volt concept.

Stephens chairs GM’s Energy and Environmental Strategy Board and serves on GM’s North American and Automotive Strategy Boards. He serves on the board of directors for FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition, and he is a member of the Detroit Science Center Board of Trustees. He also serves on the University of Michigan National Advisory Council.

General Motors Corp. (NYSE:GM), the world’s largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader for 76 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 284,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 33 countries.