Partner Profile:
Jamie Forbes, Clemson University Department of Automotive Engineering
July 18, 2025
Partner Profile: Jamie Forbes, Clemson University Department of Automotive Engineering
July 18, 2025
In March of 1990, Ford Motor Company unveiled a new model SUV, the Ford Explorer. That same year the company had a second, perhaps lesser-known launch, the career of a budding engineer named Jamie Forbes. Now, after 32 years with the industry icon, Jamie conveys a wealth of knowledge and insights to Clemson University automotive engineering students. Among the many lessons he imparts, perhaps the most important is the value of perspective.
Starting Line
After completing his education, Jamie established both his family and career in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Over the next three decades he and his wife, Irene, raised their three daughters, all while Jamie’s career continued to evolve at Ford. Throughout his tenure, he was entrusted with several key roles and helped build departments in optical metrology, mechanical packaging, vehicle engineering, and ergonomics.
In 2011, Jamie hired a young Clemson graduate who had just completed a program called Deep Orange. “He was amazing,” Jamie recalled. “And what I’ve found is that when you have a great engineer and you need more, you ask if they any friends because smart people tend to hang out together.” In the years that followed, Jamie recruited more than 50 Clemson engineering graduates to Ford, creating a valuable pipeline of talent. “It got to the point where I knew if you had worked on Deep Orange, I was going to hire you.” This growing connection led to personal relationships with professors and eventually, Ford’s sponsorship of Deep Orange 10, a self-driving passenger vehicle prototype aimed at reclaiming drivetime for families, students, and business professionals.
As Jamie’s industry career was nearing its end, he was approached about one final role — an opportunity that would allow him to pour into the very program and students he’d come to admire during his time at Ford.
Forbes in 2021 as a representative of Ford Motor Company consulting with Clemson University students working on Deep Orange 10.
A New Chapter
In 2023, after retiring from Ford, Jamie became a professor of practice within the Clemson University Department of Automotive Engineering. With decades of industry experience, Jamie relishes the opportunity to teach, advise for Deep Orange and mentor the next phase of the engineering workforce. “I came here and got to somewhat reinvent myself,” Jamie shared. “Engineering has given me everything, and I feel a responsibility to give back by teaching the next generation”
A major draw to this new role was the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) in Greenville, SC, home to the Department of Automotive Engineering and more than 20 industry partners. “It was a very comfortable transition for someone with my background because it feels somewhat like an industry setting. It’s a perfect blend between academia and industry,” he recalled. Jamie also emphasized the uniqueness of the automotive engineering program, noting “Typically, these classes are part of mechanical engineering departments that have been in the same building since the 1920s. That’s not the case here. This is a custom-built organization with facilities that directly mimic the industry.”
Value of Perspective
As a relatively new resident of Greenville, Jamie and Irene enjoy exploring all the Upstate has to offer, especially outdoor activities. They’ve already hiked popular local trails like Paris Mountain and Table Rock, but their favorite trek is the monthly trip to Maine to visit their grandchildren. With two grandkids, ages 3 and 1, Jamie — also known as ”Papa” — cherishes watching them grow and observing the interactions between his wife, their daughter, and the next generation. It’s that same sense of perspective that makes Jamie such a valuable mentor to his automotive engineering students.After three decades in the mobility industry, Jamie understands his students will need more than just the technical skills of engineering. From advice on entering the workforce to mastering communication and understanding global policy, Jamie aims to fully prepare his students for their future careers. “The rigors of graduate education can make it difficult to see what’s ahead,” he said, “but I hope to offer my students the perspective and encouragement they need to push the industry forward. I’ve had my career, and now I get the privilege of helping these motivated young engineers along their journey. I remember being in their shoes, and I know the incredible, rewarding future that lies ahead for them.”
Forbes, now in his role with the Department of Automotive Engineering, provoking thoughtful conversations with the cohort of students developing Deep Orange 17.
In March of 1990, Ford Motor Company unveiled a new model SUV, the Ford Explorer. That same year the company had a second, perhaps lesser-known launch, the career of a budding engineer named Jamie Forbes. Now, after 32 years with the industry icon, Jamie conveys a wealth of knowledge and insights to Clemson University automotive engineering students. Among the many lessons he imparts, perhaps the most important is the value of perspective.
Starting line
After completing his education, Jamie established both his family and career in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Over the next three decades he and his wife, Irene, raised their three daughters, all while Jamie’s career continued to evolve at Ford. Throughout his tenure, he was entrusted with several key roles and helped build departments in optical metrology, mechanical packaging, vehicle engineering, and ergonomics.
In 2011, Jamie hired a young Clemson graduate who had just completed a program called Deep Orange. “He was amazing,” Jamie recalled. “And what I’ve found is that when you have a great engineer and you need more, you ask if they any friends because smart people tend to hang out together.” In the years that followed, Jamie recruited more than 50 Clemson engineering graduates to Ford, creating a valuable pipeline of talent. “It got to the point where I knew if you had worked on Deep Orange, I was going to hire you.” This growing connection led to personal relationships with professors and eventually, Ford’s sponsorship of Deep Orange 10, a self-driving passenger vehicle prototype aimed at reclaiming drivetime for families, students, and business professionals.
As Jamie’s industry career was nearing its end, he was approached about one final role — an opportunity that would allow him to pour into the very program and students he’d come to admire during his time at Ford.
Forbes in 2021 as a representative of Ford Motor Company consulting with Clemson University students working on Deep Orange 10.
A New Chapter
In 2023, after retiring from Ford, Jamie became a professor of practice within the Clemson University Department of Automotive Engineering. With decades of industry experience, Jamie relishes the opportunity to teach, advise for Deep Orange and mentor the next phase of the engineering workforce. “I came here and got to somewhat reinvent myself,” Jamie shared. “Engineering has given me everything, and I feel a responsibility to give back by teaching the next generation”
A major draw to this new role was the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) in Greenville, SC, home to the Department of Automotive Engineering and more than 20 industry partners. “It was a very comfortable transition for someone with my background because it feels somewhat like an industry setting. It’s a perfect blend between academia and industry,” he recalled. Jamie also emphasized the uniqueness of the automotive engineering program, noting “Typically, these classes are part of mechanical engineering departments that have been in the same building since the 1920s. That’s not the case here. This is a custom-built organization with facilities that directly mimic the industry.”
Value of Perspective
As a relatively new resident of Greenville, Jamie and Irene enjoy exploring all the Upstate has to offer, especially outdoor activities. They’ve already hiked popular local trails like Paris Mountain and Table Rock, but their favorite trek is the monthly trip to Maine to visit their grandchildren. With two grandkids, ages 3 and 1, Jamie — also known as ”Papa” — cherishes watching them grow and observing the interactions between his wife, their daughter, and the next generation. It’s that same sense of perspective that makes Jamie such a valuable mentor to his automotive engineering students.
After three decades in the mobility industry, Jamie understands his students will need more than just the technical skills of engineering. From advice on entering the workforce to mastering communication and understanding global policy, Jamie aims to fully prepare his students for their future careers. “The rigors of graduate education can make it difficult to see what’s ahead,” he said, “but I hope to offer my students the perspective and encouragement they need to push the industry forward. I’ve had my career, and now I get the privilege of helping these motivated young engineers along their journey. I remember being in their shoes, and I know the incredible, rewarding future that lies ahead for them.”
Forbes, now in his role with the Department of Automotive Engineering, provoking thoughtful conversations with the cohort of students developing Deep Orange 17.
In March of 1990, Ford Motor Company unveiled a new model SUV, the Ford Explorer. That same year the company had a second, perhaps lesser-known launch, the career of a budding engineer named Jamie Forbes. Now, after 32 years with the industry icon, Jamie conveys a wealth of knowledge and insights to Clemson University automotive engineering students. Among the many lessons he imparts, perhaps the most important is the value of perspective.
Starting Line
After completing his education, Jamie established both his family and career in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Over the next three decades he and his wife, Irene, raised their three daughters, all while Jamie’s career continued to evolve at Ford. Throughout his tenure, he was entrusted with several key roles and helped build departments in optical metrology, mechanical packaging, vehicle engineering, and ergonomics.
In 2011, Jamie hired a young Clemson graduate who had just completed a program called Deep Orange. “He was amazing,” Jamie recalled. “And what I’ve found is that when you have a great engineer and you need more, you ask if they any friends because smart people tend to hang out together.” In the years that followed, Jamie recruited more than 50 Clemson engineering graduates to Ford, creating a valuable pipeline of talent. “It got to the point where I knew if you had worked on Deep Orange, I was going to hire you.” This growing connection led to personal relationships with professors and eventually, Ford’s sponsorship of Deep Orange 10, a self-driving passenger vehicle prototype aimed at reclaiming drivetime for families, students, and business professionals.
As Jamie’s industry career was nearing its end, he was approached about one final role — an opportunity that would allow him to pour into the very program and students he’d come to admire during his time at Ford.
Forbes in 2021 as a representative of Ford Motor Company consulting with Clemson University students working on Deep Orange 10.
A New Chapter
In 2023, after retiring from Ford, Jamie became a professor of practice within the Clemson University Department of Automotive Engineering. With decades of industry experience, Jamie relishes the opportunity to teach, advise for Deep Orange and mentor the next phase of the engineering workforce. “I came here and got to somewhat reinvent myself,” Jamie shared. “Engineering has given me everything, and I feel a responsibility to give back by teaching the next generation”
A major draw to this new role was the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) in Greenville, SC, home to the Department of Automotive Engineering and more than 20 industry partners. “It was a very comfortable transition for someone with my background because it feels somewhat like an industry setting. It’s a perfect blend between academia and industry,” he recalled. Jamie also emphasized the uniqueness of the automotive engineering program, noting “Typically, these classes are part of mechanical engineering departments that have been in the same building since the 1920s. That’s not the case here. This is a custom-built organization with facilities that directly mimic the industry.”
Value of Perspective
As a relatively new resident of Greenville, Jamie and Irene enjoy exploring all the Upstate has to offer, especially outdoor activities. They’ve already hiked popular local trails like Paris Mountain and Table Rock, but their favorite trek is the monthly trip to Maine to visit their grandchildren. With two grandkids, ages 3 and 1, Jamie — also known as ”Papa” — cherishes watching them grow and observing the interactions between his wife, their daughter, and the next generation. It’s that same sense of perspective that makes Jamie such a valuable mentor to his automotive engineering students.
After three decades in the mobility industry, Jamie understands his students will need more than just the technical skills of engineering. From advice on entering the workforce to mastering communication and understanding global policy, Jamie aims to fully prepare his students for their future careers. “The rigors of graduate education can make it difficult to see what’s ahead,” he said, “but I hope to offer my students the perspective and encouragement they need to push the industry forward. I’ve had my career, and now I get the privilege of helping these motivated young engineers along their journey. I remember being in their shoes, and I know the incredible, rewarding future that lies ahead for them.”
Forbes, now in his role with the Department of Automotive Engineering, provoking thoughtful conversations with the cohort of students developing Deep Orange 17.
