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Brett Conner, PhD

Chief Manufacturing Officer
SME

Dr. Brett Conner joined SME in October 2025 as Chief Manufacturing Officer, leading initiatives to advance manufacturing innovation and strengthen the nation’s industrial base. A recognized authority in additive and advanced manufacturing, he brings more than two decades of experience spanning industry, academia, and government.

Before joining SME, Dr. Conner served as Senior Program Manager with PM2 Strategies, supporting the U.S. Department of Defense’s Manufacturing Technology Office and the Joint Additive Manufacturing Working Group in advancing joint additive and advanced manufacturing strategy. His career includes leadership roles with Alcoa and Honeywell FM&T, as well as tenure as professor and director of the Advanced Manufacturing Research Center at Youngstown State University. Dr. Conner also served in the U.S. Air Force. He also co-founded the additive manufacturing startup Freshmade 3D.

An America Makes Ambassador and recipient of multiple national honors, Dr. Conner holds eight U.S. patents. He earned his B.S. in Physics from the University of Missouri and his S.M. and Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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