Difference Makers

UM-Dearborn Difference Makers are at the forefront of their fields.
They’re improving the lives of others and making an impact on campus and in our local communities.

Brett Bilbrey
Brett
Bilbrey
CECS - Alumnus of the Year
Class of
1982
College
College of Engineering & Computer Science
Area of Study
Electrical Engineering

Difference Makers

UM-Dearborn Difference Makers are at the forefront of their fields. They’re improving the lives of others and making an impact on campus and in our local communities.

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Brett's Story

Brett Bilbrey (’82 B.S.E.E.E.) has a gift for solving problems by approaching things in a non-traditional way. He is the retired head of Apple’s top-secret Technology Advancement Group and prolific inventor and lead designer on projects including the Mac Mini, Apple TV and iSight technology for both the iMac and Mac portables. His name is on patents ranging from a wireless charging system, a 3D imaging camera and a new MacBook concept.

Prior to Apple, Bilbrey was chief technologist for Intelligent Paradigm, which made products for the broadcast television market. He was also executive vice president of Intelligent Resources-Integrated Systems, where he designed the video explorer, a computer video card that bridged the video and computer technology gap. He currently holds an astounding 59 patents for a variety of consumer product and electronic applications. Bilbrey serves on the CECS Industry Advisory Board and regularly travels back to campus from his home in Silicon Valley.