William T. Birge, P.E

Mr. Birge holds a BSME from Wayne State University and a MS in Automotive Engineering from Chrysler Institute of Engineering, 1952 and 1954 respectively.  He began his automotive career at Chrysler Corporation from 1952 to 1959 working as a chassis engineer.

Mr. Birge then worked for Kelsey Hayes Corporation from 1959 – 1975 and was responsible for the design and development of a wide range of chassis components for passenger car, heavy trucks and off-road equipment. He made major contributions toward the development of disc brakes for the U.S. market and for anti-lock brake systems for passenger cars and heavy trucks and was granted seven patents in these fields. He completed his tenure at Keley Hayes as the Vice President of Engineering.

In 1975, Mr. Birge joined the Bendix Corporation as the Vice President of Engineering of Bendix Automotive Control Systems Group in South Bend, Indiana. He was responsible for all brake and steering systems engineering and the Bendix Automotive Proving Grounds. He was promoted in 1980 to Vice President of Engineering and Technology Planning for the consolidated (later Allied Signal) Worldwide Automotive Sector. He retired from this position in 1988.

Since 1988 Mr. Birge served as a private consultant to the automotive industry and to several technical software companies. During this period he was also active as a Trustee of the ESD Foundation and was an ABET visitor for the accreditation of Manufacturing Engineering college programs.

Mr. Birge continues to be active in a number of volunteer capacities, including member of the Wayne State University Engineering Industrial Advisory Board and Western Michigan U. Engineering Board of Visitors, Director of Recycle Ann Arbor and Member of the ESD Fellow Committee. He has been active in the Society of Automotive Engineers for many years, including Member of the SAE Board of Directors, Chair of the Technical Standards Board, Chair of the Bylaws Committee and Chair of the ITS Program Office. Current activities at SAE include Trustee, SAE Foundation Board of Trustees and SAE Foundation of Canada Board of Directors and member of the SAE Emerging Technologies Advisory Board.  

Mr. Birge is a Fellow of SAE and ESD and is also a member of SME, ASEE and NSPE.      SAE awards include the SAE Medal of Honor in 1990, the Delco Electronic Intelligent Transportation Award and the Ableson Award for Visionary Leadership in the SAE Foundation. Other awards and recognitions include the ESD Distinguished Service Award, ANSI Leadership Award and Wayne State University Engineering Hall of Fame