A valve having a valve body having spaced inlet and outlet ports separated by an intermediate valve seat in open communication with the inlet and outlet ports includes a piston and a valve member being adapted to sealingly mate with the valve seat. A biasing member is positioned to bias the valve member toward the valve seat. A linear motor assembly attached to the valve body, the linear motor having a plurality of stator discs, a plurality of stator coils, a plurality of teeth defining a cylindrical opening, and a slider positioned within the cylindrical opening. The slider has a plurality of teeth defining a generally cylindrical outer periphery of the slider and is movable in response to magnetic flux generated by electrical current passing through one or more of the stator coils.