A New Leader Steps Up to Boost Manufacturing

Manufacturing is changing fast. New tech is popping up, but many companies struggle to keep up. To help, SME, a big group that supports manufacturing, just hired its first Chief Manufacturing Officer. His name is Dr. Brett Conner. He started on October 27, 2025. Dr. Conner has a lot of experience. He worked with the Pentagon, helped start a 3D printing company, and even served in the Air Force. Now, he will lead SME's efforts to help manufacturers use new tech. He will also work with schools and the government to train workers and create new programs. SME's leader, Jeannine Kunz, is happy to have Dr. Conner on board. She says he knows a lot about tech and can bring people together to make big things happen. Dr. Conner is excited too. He loves manufacturing and wants to help others see how cool and important it is. SME has been around for almost 100 years. It helps manufacturers, students, and communities. The group believes manufacturing is key to a strong economy. They work to make the industry better and more competitive. Dr. Conner went to MIT and started a company that made special 3D printing materials. He also worked at big companies like Honeywell and Alcoa. Now, he wants to use his skills to help more people in manufacturing.