Chrysler CEO to chair National Academy of Engineering

Robert J. Eaton, chairman and CEO of Chrysler Corp., on July 1 becomes chairman, too, of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). A mechanical engineer, Eaton has held corporate positions in various areas of Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, and General Motors--including engineering, manufacturing, product planning, and quality and reliability. He has been a member of NAE since 1989 and has served on NAE's Industry Advisory Board since 1994. What does Eaton plan to do in his two-year term as NAE chairman? His primary goal, he says, will be to draw attention to the national need for well-trained engineers, both at the college level and through K-12 programs. "Students are lacking in technical literacy," he explains. "This country cannot afford to overlook this problem any longer, especially as our society becomes increasingly dependent on technology."