An example electromagnetic actuator includes a drive shaft, a motor operable to rotate the drive shaft, and a load shaft coupled to an armature body. A clutch is operable to control whether the drive shaft engages the load shaft. A rotatable portion of the clutch corotates with the drive shaft and includes a field winding and a clutch body. A stationary portion of the clutch includes an exciter winding that is inductively coupled to the rotatable portion and is operable to energize the field winding. The field winding is operable, when energized, to provide a magnetic field that causes engagement or disengagement between the clutch body and an armature body. A method of operating an electromagnetic actuator is also disclosed.