An improved control method activates an electric motor to drive a torque-to-thrust converter for controlling the torque capacity of an electromagnetic clutch mechanism. The control utilizes a model-based feed-forward control in combination with a closed-loop position feed-back control. The desired electromagnetic clutch torque capacity is characterized in terms of a desired motor speed position(rpm), and the feed-forward control models the motor speed and position response to changes in the desired electromagnetic clutch as per motor position. The modeled speed and position, in turn, are used to create a feed-forward command, and the feed-forward command is combined with a feedback command based on actual position error.