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Dr. Gerhard Schmidt is Chief Technical Officer, Vice President Research and Advanced Engineering at Ford Motor Company.
Dr. Schmidt leads Ford's worldwide research organization based in Dearborn, Michigan, and Aachen, Germany. The Research and Advanced Engineering staff of scientists, engineers and technicians is dedicated to supporting Ford Motor Company as a world leader in providing safe, sustainable and affordable mobility through innovation in science and technology. As head of the advanced engineering group, he also oversees the planning, development and implementation of Ford's top global technology objectives.
Dr. Schmidt is a member of the Automotive Fuel Cell Corporation (AFCC) Board of Directors; the Sustainable Transportation Energy Pathways (STEPS) program at the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies; the USCAR Council; Ford/Massachusetts Institute of Technology Alliance; Honorary Committee of the International Federation of Automotive Engineering Societies (FISITA); the University of Michigan Engineering Advisory Council (EAC); and a member of the Advisory Board of the Oakland University School of Engineering and Computer Science (SECS). He serves as a member of the Scientific Advisory Council of ATZAutoTechnology magazine and is a board member of the German American Chamber of Commerce (GACC), Michigan.
Prior to his arrival at Ford, Dr. Schmidt served as Senior Vice President Vehicle Integration at BMW AG and spent 10 years as Senior Vice President Powertrain Development for the German automaker. During his 21 years at BMW, he held a wide range of leadership roles in engine research and development.
Dr. Schmidt received his degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1971 from the University of Aachen in Germany, and his Ph.D. in Investigations on Stratified Charge – Internal Combustion Engines in 1979 from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Aachen. In 2007 he was awarded an Advisory Professorship at the Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Dr. Schmidt was born in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.