Momentum - The Magazine for Virginia Tech Mechanical Engineering Vol. 3 No. 2 Summer 2018 | Page 30

Keith Van Houten
BSME ’91. An Engineering Group Man-
ager at General Motors in the Active Safety
& Autonomous Vehicle domain, Keith Van
Houten began his 27-year career with GM
as a test engineer.
Keith is a subject matter expertise in noise,
vibration and harshness engineering. In
2003 he was appointed the N&V Perfor-
mance Team Leader for Cadillac, respon-
sible for developing the world class road,
wind, and powertrain noise performance of
the Cadillac CTS, SRX, and STS programs.
He currently leads the development of an
advanced simulation toolchain for control
system development and val idation.
Van Houten has led the GM/Virginia
Tech University Relations team for more
than 20 years – recruiting and internally
promoting the university’s research efforts.
He’s mentored the Hybrid Electric Vehicle
Team and he serves on the department ad-
visory board and is a member of the College
of Engineering Committee of 100.
He was the College of Engineering Out-
standing Young Alumnus in 1995.
MOMENTUM
SUMMER 2018
Sarah Mayer
BSME ’88. Mayer is a Senior Director
in the Boeing Defense Space & Security
(BDS) Operations & Quality organization.
She is responsible for the deployment,
implementation, sustainment and upgrade
of I-T systems across Boeing’s B-D-S global
operations. Her team ensures the systems
enable the manufacture and delivery of all
the BDS portfolio of products.
During Mayer’s nearly 30-year career at
Boeing she has had positions in Program
Management, Logistics, Marketing & Sales,
and Engineering, and has supported do-
mestic and International programs for the
Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps.
She is also the Boeing Executive Focal
for Virginia Tech, a position she has held
for over 10 years. She has served on the
Advisory Boards for the department and
College of Engineering, and is a member of
the Committee of 100.
Sarah has recently joined the Board of Di-
rectors for LaunchCode, a non-profit based
in St Louis creating pathways for driven
people seeking careers in technology.
Mayer is shown with Arvid Myklebust,
professor emeritus of mechanical engineering.
PAGE 30