17 Millennium - Twentieth Edition ACADEMIA, EDUCATION AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES Dr. Tommy E. White has cultivated more than four decades of collective experience in engineering and academia. Since 1996, he has taught at Wayne State University, beginning as an adjunct professor before becoming an assistant professor in 2023. Wellversed in his field of study, he primarily teaches engineering courses focused on statics, dynamics and mechanics. Adjacent to his efforts as a teacher, Dr. White excelled in the engineering industry proper for many years, notably operating as a staff research engineer at General Motors from 1984 to 2004. Furthermore, he held senior engineering roles at Navistar Inc. and Chrysler Group LLC from 2011 to 2016. As part of his vocational journey, Dr. White pursued his own formal education at Wayne State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1994 and an MEng in manufacturing engineering in 1996. He subsequently received an MBA from the University of Detroit Mercy in 1996 and a PhD in industrial and systems engineering from Oakland University in 2013. Accounting for his accomplishments, Dr. White is proud to have been among the early adopters at General Motors to serve as both a product engineer and a process engineer, having held both roles for the 1992 new product development on the CH product team, showcasing his versatility. Additionally, during his time at General Motors, he successfully moved a taxing manufacturing process to the Orion assembly plant in Lake Orion, Michigan. This transition significantly improved the overall throughput of the new car line. Dr. White also developed one of the first power-fold mirrors for the 1999 Pontiac Envoy, a feature that has since become widely utilized in the automotive industry. To commemorate his achievements, Dr. White has received several honors from Wayne State University, including recognition as a Distinguished Alumnus in 2025. He attributes much of his success to his perseverance and strong support system. In the coming years, he aims to utilize his research in manufacturing and digital trends to assist companies in enhancing their global competitiveness. Millennium Magazine Featured Listee TOMMY E. WHITE, PHD ASSISTANT PROFESSOR Wayne State University Rochester Hills, MI
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