Introducing S.M. Shahed, SAE President for 2002

From humble beginnings, S.M. Shahed carves out a seat at the society's top spot.

Never having mapped out a grand plan but maintaining what he calls a clear focus on the basics, S.M. Shahed embarked on an automotive engineering career that would lead to his tenure as the Society of Automotive Engineers' 2002 President. The name of Garrett Engine Boosting Systems' Vice President-Advanced Technology requires a little getting used to-on a first name basis, he is known as Shahed, and formally as Dr. Shahed. But the name confusion is the only source of mystery for this energetic, keenly focused SAE leader.

As the youngest of six children growing up in India, Shahed notes that his parents maintained one clear focus for their young children, and that was on education. From the beginning, strong academics were a big part of Shahed's youthful focus. His own mother had not been formally educated past the second grade since it was not proper in India at that time for women to attend school, but the couple wanted more for their children. Shahed's parents did not dictate a particular course of study, but they insisted that their five daughters and one son pursue professional careers.