Touting over 15 years of experience in the Automotive Electrification industry, spanning roles in both OEMs and start-ups, Mr. Shaska currently serves as the Vice President of Electrical Engineering at Scout Motors. Scout Motors is leading the charge in the off-road electric vehicle revolution, dedicated to pushing the boundaries of innovation and shaping the future of rugged off-road electric vehicles.

In his role, Mr. Shaska leads the electrical engineering team, driving forward-thinking solutions, and contributing to the development of groundbreaking rugged off-road electric vehicles. Prior to joining Scout Motors, he served as the Global Electrical Chief Architect for Electrification at General Motors, overseeing the execution of GM's Ultium EV Platform across Software Defined Vehicle and Vehicle Intelligence Platform architectures. His leadership contributed to the successful launches of vehicles such as the Hummer EV, Cadillac Lyriq, Blazer EV, Silverado EV, Equinox EV, Cadillac Celestiq, GMC Sierra EV, Brightdrop, Cruise Origin Autonomous Vehicle, and many more. Mr. Shaska’s responsibilities extended beyond pure electric vehicles to include hybrid applications such as the Corvette E-Ray, the only hybrid application in North America for GM, as well as various HEV/PHEV applications in China, developed in collaboration with PATAC, the GM-Saic Joint Venture in China.

Before his tenure at GM, Mr. Shaska held a pivotal role at Ford Electrification as a Senior Systems Controls Engineer within the Electrified Powertrain Engineering organization. There, he was responsible for hybrid functional requirements and design verification for various hybrid applications. Prior to Ford, Mr. Shaska served as a Battery Controls Engineer at A123 Systems, focusing on core battery electronics hardware and control algorithms. His contributions were integral to the development of Battery Management Systems for GM's first BEV application, the Chevy Spark EV, as well as projects for the Fisker Karma, BMW ActiveHybrid, Mercedes AMG, McLaren MP4-12C, and the iconic Ferrari LaFerrari.

His educational background includes a Bachelor of Science with double majors in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering and a Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Oakland University. He also holds a second Master of Engineering in Energy Systems Engineering from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, with a focus on hybrid and electric vehicles. 

Certified as a Six Sigma Black Belt and Scaled Agile Framework SAFe®, Mr. Shaska is a member of prestigious organizations such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).

In reflecting on the projects and opportunities that have punctuated his career so far, Mr. Shaska cites the project at General Motors as the highlight of his career. In addition to his extensive background in electrifying ground transportation, Mr. Shaska has been at the forefront of the eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) technology project at GM. He recounted how, in 2019, his trip on Uber Copter from Manhattan/Brooklyn to JFK International Airport sparked the idea that GM was well-suited to develop eVTOL, envisioning a comprehensive solution integrated with autonomous vehicles for customers. He elaborated on the challenges he faced in presenting this concept within GM, eventually taking it to the Senior Vice President of Strategy and Innovation to propose the project.

Some of his notable accomplishments include spearheading innovation and advanced engineering projects for Cadillac Halo concept vehicles, as well as leading the integration of GM's Ultium Platform into the Software Defined Vehicle Architecture, shaping the company's future electric vehicles for GM’s next generation of electric vehicles.

Outside of his professional pursuits, Mr. Shaska is a devoted family man. He is happily married and cherishes time spent with his two boys, who keep him engaged with their basketball games and practices, an activity he thoroughly enjoys attending. Additionally, Mr. Shaska is an avid sports enthusiast, with a passion for soccer, basketball, and American football.

Mr. Shaska often emphasizes the importance of doing what you love, believing that success will naturally follow. Growing up in Europe, he developed a love for soccer and initially encouraged his son to pursue the sport. However, his son's passion for basketball led them down a different path. Despite being less familiar with basketball, Mr. Shaska has found that passion and determination transcend expertise. He's grateful that his son has found supportive coaches in the Northville basketball team, who not only nurture his skills on the court but also impart valuable life lessons.

Looking ahead, Mr. Shaska aspires to contribute to the future of ground transportation by championing an all-electric future in the next three to five years. He also aims to extend his expertise to other areas of transportation, such as air and water, further advancing the electrification revolution.