2006 – Dearborn, Michigan
Barb Samardzich is Vice President, Powertrain Operations of the Ford Motor Company. She is respon-sible for engine and transmission engineering worldwide and for powertrain manufacturing in North America. Barb previously was Executive Director, Small Front Wheel Drive and Rear Wheel Drive Vehicles, where she was responsible for the design, engineering and development of nine key Ford, Mercury and Lincoln vehicles, including the 2005 Model Year Mustang. She has held a variety of positions in Powertrain Engineering, including chief engineer for Ford’s Automatic Transmission Operations. She has also served as chief engineer for the F-Series Super Duty Commercial Trucks, and as quality director for Ford Brand products in Ford of Europe. Before joining Ford in 1990, Barb worked as a thermal design engineer in Westinghouse Electric’s Nuclear Fuels Division. She holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Florida, a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Carnegie-Mellon University and a master’s degree in engineering management from Wayne State University. Named by Automotive News as a 2005 “Leading Woman in the North American Automotive Industry” and awarded the Design News “Women in Engineering Top Achievement Award” in 2004, Barb sits on the boards of sev-eral universities and non-profit organizations.
