MEET DON

Don Ufford has spent his life building things, from working on his family's farm as a kid to becoming the head of Global Vehicle Engineering at Ford Motor Company, where he helped create the Ford Escape and helped redesign the Mustang and Ford F-150 truck.

First in His Family

Don was the first in his family to finish college - something he was able to do with help from a Pell Grant and student loans. From there, he built a future for himself as an engineer. While in college, Don had the opportunity to work with Ford and got hooked on automotive engineering and manufacturing. He worked his way up to become the Director of Global Vehicle Engineering.

Over his career, Don has been at the epicenter of the Michigan economy. He and his team helped design and launch new products, like the first ever Ford Escape and new-improved versions of the Mustang and the legendary F-150, produced at the Rouge complex that is still in operation today and provides thousands of good-paying jobs.

Service Beyond Ford

In 2020, Don jumped into his next mission, serving in government to build a stronger economy in Michigan and across the country. Don worked at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), in the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), and the Made in America Office (MIAO) in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), where he used his skills to bring manufacturing back to the U.S. and drive economic development and workforce training in Michigan and the nation.

Family & Community

Don lives in Bloomfield Township with his wife Rebecca and their dog Newton. They have two grown children - their son is a West Point graduate and serves in the U.S. Army, and their daughter is in medical school. Don has always focused on giving back to his community, serving as a Scout Leader for 40 years, mentoring students in STEM at FirstRobotics, and supporting local small business owners in the area.

Why He’s Running

Now, Don is running for Congress to reverse Trump’s reckless attacks on our economy and get Michigan back on track by creating good-paying jobs, lowering costs for families, and protecting access to healthcare.