YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – America Makes, the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, recently announced newly elected members of its executive committee.

The committee, composed of individuals from industry, academia, government, workforce and economic development organizations, ensures that the appropriate strategy, policy and advocacy are in place for America Makes to achieve its mission of accelerating the adoption of additive manufacturing and the nation’s global manufacturing competitiveness. 

Members provide counsel to the institute on data management and IP policy, technical scope, membership value and outreach, ecosystem development and partnership strategies, workforce education and training and support strategic growth efforts.

The committee, which meets regularly, consists of three appointed government representatives and eight representatives elected from three sectors within its membership community, including nonprofit, academia and industry. Each elected member serves a two-year term.

The executive committee includes:

  • Brett Connor, chief manufacturing officer, SME.
  • Sandra DeVincent Wolf, executive director, Carnegie Mellon University Manufacturing Futures Institute.
  • Brian Fisher, technical fellow for additive manufacturing, RTX.
  • Jonaaron Jones, president and general manager, Additive Manufacturing Division, Beehive Industries.
  • Mark Norfolk, director of government programs, Edison Welding Institute.
  • Hector Sandoval, technical fellow for additive manufacturing, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.
  • Mark Shaw, chief engineer of defense industrial base strategy, National Institute for Aviation Research.
  • Mike Vasquez, founder and CEO, 3Degrees.

Government representatives include:

  • Paul Gradl, principal engineer, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.
  • Laura Macht, engineer and project management, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command DEVCOM Aviation & Missile Center.
  • Paul Witherell, associate program manager, Measurement Science for AM Program, Engineering Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology.

“The strength of America Makes has always been our ability to bring together leaders with diverse expertise to help shape the future of additive manufacturing,” said John Wilczynski, executive director of America Makes. “This executive committee represents a cross-section of the nation’s manufacturing ecosystem, and their leadership will help ensure our strategies, investments and collaborations continue to accelerate technology adoption, strengthen the industrial base and deliver lasting value to our members.”