Jeff Warfford

• 2022-present: Collegiate Associate Professor, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech
• 2008-2022: Senior Principal R&D Engineer - Passenger Car and Light Truck Tires, Michelin Americas Research Center, Michelin North America, Inc., Greenville, SC
• 2005-2007: Concepteur pneu, Manufacture Française des Pneumatiques Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand, France
• 2000-2005: Group Leader - Tire Performance, Handling and Traction, Michelin Americas Research Center, Michelin North America, Inc., Greenville, SC
• 1993-2000: Group Leader - Steering and Front Suspension Design, Volvo Trucks North America, Inc., Greensboro, NC
• 1992-1993: Visiting Assistant Professor, Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University

• Michelin Industrial Quality and RDI Schools Instructor Excellence Award, 2016 and 2018
• NCSU Graduate Student Certificate for Outstanding Teaching
• Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society
• Pi Tau Sigma Mechanical Engineering Honor Fraternity

• 1992: Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, North Carolina State University
• 1987: M.S. Mechanical Engineering, North Carolina State University
• 1985: B.S. Mechanical Engineering, North Carolina State University

Michelin

• Recognized as subject matter expert for tire mechanics and tire endurance/durability.
• Taught internal course on the mechanics of the pneumatic tire which contained the following segments: (1) Mechanics of Composites, (2) Membrane Theory and Inflation, (3) Static Loading of a Tire, (4) Mechanics of a Rolling Tire, (5) Tread Pattern Mechanics, and (6) Thermal Aspects of a Rolling Tire.
• Created tire architectures and tread patterns to meet functional specifications, performed detailed finite element analyses of geometry, stress/strain states, and temperature gradients of inflated, loaded, and rolling tire designs, provided technical direction to mold designers and manufacturing engineers, coordinated fabrication and testing of prototype tires, and documented knowledge developed.
• Created digital twins of tire designs for use in auto manufacturers’ virtual product development processes.
• Developed simulation tools and test methods for evaluating vehicle dynamics and traction as related to the tire and tire/vehicle system.

Volvo Trucks

• Created designs and specifications of heavy truck steering gears and steering linkage components, planned and coordinated component and system testing, and created engineering documentation.
• Led cross-functional team formed to optimize heavy truck on-center handling performance.  Coordinated test engineers and component suppliers to define subjective handling evaluation criteria and steering gear design improvements.
• Obtained a Class A Commercial Driver’s License to participate in subjective evaluation of steering system performance.
• Performed finite element analyses of engine and chassis components and complete body-in-white cab structures.