Josh Holder, Corvette Chief Engineer at General Motors, will deliver the keynote address at the 44th annual SAE Brake Colloquium & Exhibition on September 20–23, 2026, in Palm Desert, California. Holder leads the engineering, development, and launch of all eighth-generation Corvettes and brings a vehicle-integration perspective to North America’s premier gathering of brake technology professionals.
Highlights
- Keynote speaker: Josh Holder, Corvette Chief Engineer, General Motors
- 44th annual SAE Brake Colloquium & Exhibition runs September 20–23, 2026, in Palm Desert, California
- Holder oversees engineering, development, and launch of all eighth-generation Corvettes
- Holder joined the Corvette program in 2002 and has contributed to the last four generations of the platform
A Corvette Engineer with Two Decades on the Program
Holder joined the Corvette team in 2002 after starting his GM career in 1999 as a manufacturing engineer in Body Assembly Systems, where he worked on full-size SUVs and trucks. Across his time on the program, he has held positions including manufacturing engineer, designing engineer, program validation engineer, and program engineering manager.
His responsibilities have at times extended to other GM products, including the Cadillac XLR, Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky, and Chevrolet Camaro. He has contributed to the last four generations of Corvette and holds patents in body structure design.
Setting Product Direction for the C8
As Corvette Chief Engineer, Holder is responsible for ensuring that product decisions exceed customer expectations for performance, technology, and value. According to the company’s bio, the eighth-generation Corvette has been the fastest selling and most awarded vehicle in the program’s history.
The keynote slot places a vehicle-level chief engineer in front of an audience that typically focuses on subsystem-level brake engineering — friction materials, NVH, regenerative integration, and test methodology — offering attendees a view of how braking decisions fit into broader product targets at an OEM.
Background and Education
Raised in Northwestern Montana, Holder developed an interest in Corvettes early, influenced by his parents’ 1973 Corvette and their involvement in a Corvette club. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering technology and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University.
Holder and his wife Angela, also an engineer at GM, own six Corvettes ranging from 1964 to 2006.
Event Details and Registration
The colloquium will run September 20–23, 2026, in Palm Desert, California. Programming details, session information, and registration and hotel information are available at sae.org/brake.
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