A linear actuator assembly (30, 400) comprising: a housing (34, 413), a motor (32, 412) at least partially supported by said housing (34, 413); an outer sleeve (90, 428) coupled to said housing (34, 413) and defining a working chamber with said outer sleeve (90, 428) defining a longitudinal axis; an inner sleeve (100, 440) disposed within said working chamber and moveable between a retracted position and an extended position along said longitudinal axis relative to said outer sleeve (90, 428) with said inner sleeve (100, 440) having a first end (102, 442) and an opposing second end (104, 444) and a series of threads disposed along at least a portion of said inner sleeve (100, 440); a screw (120, 452) coupled to said motor (32, 412) and extending outwardly from said motor (34, 412) long said longitudinal axis with said screw (120, 452) having a threaded exterior surface engaged with said threads of said inner sleeve (100, 440) wherein rotation of said motor (32, 412) rotates said screw (120, 452) through said threads of said inner sleeve (100, 440) and facilitates said movement of said inner sleeve (100, 440) between said retracted and extended positions along said longitudinal axis; and a gear (176, 466) supported within said housing (34, 143) and threadingly engaging said threaded exterior surface of said screw (120, 452) with said gear (176, 466) rotating in response to rotation of said screw (120, 452) during said movement of said inner sleeve (100, 440) between said retracted and extended positions; characterized by an emitter (180, 470) coupled to said gear (176, 466) with said emitter emitting at least one signal and said emitter (180, 470) changing at least one of an orientation and position of said signal relative to said housing (34, 413) during said rotation of said gear (176, 466); a sensor (189, 426) positioned near said emitter (180, 470) to detect said changes in said at least one of said orientation and position of said signal to determine an axial position of said inner sleeve (100, 440) relative to said outer sleeve (90, 428) along said longitudinal axis; and a section of said outer sleeve (90, 428) being removed to define an aperture in said outer sleeve (90, 428) with said gear (176, 466) extending through said aperture to engage said screw (120, 452). a housing (34, 413), a motor (32, 412) at least partially supported by said housing (34, 413); an outer sleeve (90, 428) coupled to said housing (34, 413) and defining a working chamber with said outer sleeve (90, 428) defining a longitudinal axis; an inner sleeve (100, 440) disposed within said working chamber and moveable between a retracted position and an extended position along said longitudinal axis relative to said outer sleeve (90, 428) with said inner sleeve (100, 440) having a first end (102, 442) and an opposing second end (104, 444) and a series of threads disposed along at least a portion of said inner sleeve (100, 440); a screw (120, 452) coupled to said motor (32, 412) and extending outwardly from said motor (34, 412) long said longitudinal axis with said screw (120, 452) having a threaded exterior surface engaged with said threads of said inner sleeve (100, 440) wherein rotation of said motor (32, 412) rotates said screw (120, 452) through said threads of said inner sleeve (100, 440) and facilitates said movement of said inner sleeve (100, 440) between said retracted and extended positions along said longitudinal axis; and a gear (176, 466) supported within said housing (34, 143) and threadingly engaging said threaded exterior surface of said screw (120, 452) with said gear (176, 466) rotating in response to rotation of said screw (120, 452) during said movement of said inner sleeve (100, 440) between said retracted and extended positions; a sensor (189, 426) positioned near said emitter (180, 470) to detect said changes in said at least one of said orientation and position of said signal to determine an axial position of said inner sleeve (100, 440) relative to said outer sleeve (90, 428) along said longitudinal axis; and a section of said outer sleeve (90, 428) being removed to define an aperture in said outer sleeve (90, 428) with said gear (176, 466) extending through said aperture to engage said screw (120, 452).