SME Appoints Dr. Brett Conner as Its First Chief Manufacturing Officer to Drive Technology Adoption and Workforce Development!

In a landmark move aimed at advancing innovation and workforce readiness in the manufacturing sector, SME has appointed Dr. Brett Conner as its first Chief Manufacturing Officer (CMO), effective October 27, 2025. This newly created position underscores SME’s commitment to bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and practical industrial application—especially for small and midsized manufacturers across North America.

The manufacturing industry is currently navigating a transformative era marked by rapid technological advancements, increasing competitiveness, and an urgent need for a skilled workforce. Recognizing this, SME—an organization with nearly a century of dedication to manufacturing excellence—has established the CMO role to strategically align innovation, education, and workforce initiatives. The goal is to accelerate the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies while building talent capable of leveraging these tools for long-term industrial growth.

In his new role, Dr. Conner will lead SME’s technology strategy and oversee its program portfolio, focusing on the integration of advanced technologies such as additive manufacturing, automation, and digital transformation. He will also play a pivotal role in strengthening partnerships across government, industry, and academia—ensuring that technology and workforce development initiatives move hand in hand.

“The Chief Manufacturing Officer role is an important new addition to our executive leadership team as we deepen and evolve SME’s efforts to best deliver on our mission and serve the industry,” said Jeannine Kunz, SME’s Executive Director and CEO. “Brett brings deep technical expertise and a collaborative approach to create high-impact alliances and lead the development of transformative programs and services that accelerate technology adoption and its impact on our industry.”

Dr. Conner brings more than 25 years of diverse experience spanning defense, academia, and advanced manufacturing. Before joining SME, he served as Senior Program Manager for Additive Manufacturing at PM2 Strategies, LLC, where he supported the Office of the Secretary of Defense. In that role, he led the 240-member Joint Additive Manufacturing Working Group (JAMWG), coordinating across the Pentagon and various defense agencies to guide policy, strategy, and investments in advanced manufacturing technologies.

“SME’s nearly 100-year history of advancing manufacturing and its remarkable impact are what drew me to this role,” said Dr. Conner. “This is a pivotal moment for manufacturing in North America, and SME is uniquely positioned to help the industry realize the benefits of new technologies. There is deep meaning in making—bridging research and real-world application—and I’m eager to continue that mission through SME’s work.”

Dr. Conner earned his Ph.D. and M.S. in Materials Science & Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a B.S. from the University of Missouri. His previous leadership roles include Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of Freshmade 3D, where he co-invented a patented additive manufacturing composite technology later acquired by ExOne. He also directed the Advanced Manufacturing Research Center at Youngstown State University and held technical positions with Honeywell and Alcoa. Earlier in his career, he served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force.

With this appointment, SME reaffirms its leadership in shaping the future of North American manufacturing—uniting innovation, workforce excellence, and technology adoption under a cohesive vision led by Dr. Brett Conner.