Automotive Engineering - March 2023 - 25

Returning
to the SAE
presidency
for 2023
Setting a " prudently aggressive " mindset
in advancing SAE's goals in the mobility
ecosystem.
by Todd Zarfos
A
mong the projects and plans heavily impacted by the
COVID-19 pandemic lockdown was the 2020 SAE
International presidency.
I'm Todd Zarfos, and as some of you may remember, it
was my SAE presidency that was held hostage that infamous and
challenging year. This is an exaggeration, of course, as I was still free
to perform many of the basic functions of the SAE presidency: participating
in SAE International Board of Directors meetings, offering
opinions and ideas to the board and SAE staff about how to expand
SAE's importance in the mobility industry, " Zooming " with industry
leaders and performing the sundry tasks required of the president.
But, like many of you, I was greatly hindered from traveling, tethered
to my desk, as it were, but at least comfortable in my " working
from home " casual wear. However, I was unable to support many important
tasks of the president, including speaking at SAE's major
conferences, visiting with SAE sections and visiting with leaders from
the transportation sector and other key SAE stakeholders.
SAE is not a passive organization. We must be prudently aggressive
in making SAE an indispensable force of knowledge throughout
the mobility ecosystem. In 2023, I plan to fully utilize the SAE president's
travel budget. If you see me at a conference or other event,
please be sure to introduce yourself.
As we always have, SAE will continue to innovate in the Standards
space to serve across the mobility waterfront. SAE is important to all
mobility sectors - automotive, commercial vehicle, and aerospace
- and standards are essential to underpin them. I've been active in
aerospace standards for more than 30 years and have a greater appreciation
for the value of SAE because I've worked at the ground
floor of what it takes to develop standards.
While standards are essential, they form part of a greater whole of
knowledge and information. SAE has an overarching mobility strategy
and we're going to continue to move forward in the major thrust areas.
Additive manufacturing, automated-driving technologies, artificial
AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING
Todd Zarfos returns to the
SAE presidency for 2023.
" SAE will continue to
innovate in the area
of standards to serve
across the mobility
waterfront. "
intelligence and cybersecurity are important new trends
for which SAE is expanding its role.
For me, it's about making sure that we bring forward
new capabilities - what new frameworks, workforce
trainings, publications and standards do we need
to develop to prepare industry as we move forward?
That's where the Board of Directors will spend a lot of
time and effort.
SAE is about providing the enablers around mobility:
safety, accessibility and affordability. All three of
these focus areas go across alltransportation sectors. I
consider it an honor to be part of SAE's leadership
team and I am very optimistic about SAE's future.
Mr. Zarfos is the former VP of Engineering at Boeing.
Aircraft developed under his leadership include the
787-10.
March 2023 25
PEOPLE FEATURE
SAE
Automotive Engineering - March 2023

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