SME AM Technical Community Leadership Committee: Your Trusted Guides to Additive Manufacturing Looking for expert advice on Additive Manufacturing (AM)? Look no further than SME's AM Technical Community Leadership Committee Advisors! These industry veterans are your one-stop shop for all things AM. Here's what they do: Guiding Light for SME: Our advisors provide SME with timely and insightful expertise on AM activities, initiatives, and content development. This ensures SME offers the best possible resources to the AM community. Industry Champions: They serve as the "faces of the industry" for SME, fostering connections and representing the diverse voices within the AM technical community. Unparalleled Knowledge: From materials and processes to the industrial base and workforce needs, these advisors offer a comprehensive understanding of the entire AM ecosystem. Benefits for You: By leveraging the expertise of our advisors, SME can provide you with the most: Up-to-date Resources: Stay ahead of the curve with the latest information on AM advancements and best practices. Valuable Insights: Gain expert perspectives on industry trends and challenges. Stronger Community: Be part of a vibrant network of AM professionals, all supported by SME's commitment to innovation.
Meet the Experts Chair Ahmed El Desouky, PhDDirector of Additive ManufacturingVeeco Ahmed El Desouky is the Director of Additive Manufacturing at Veeco, where he spearheads the integration of additive technologies into the design and production of cutting-edge semiconductor processing equipment. With a career marked by leadership and innovation in the design and manufacturing sectors, Ahmed has played instrumental roles in establishing additive manufacturing programs at renowned companies such as Carpenter Technology and Eaton Aerospace. Beyond his corporate endeavors, Ahmed is dedicated to shaping the future of manufacturing through education. He actively participates in professional development courses and has served as an Adjunct Professor at George Washington University. commitment to advancing additive manufacturing extends to his role as the chair of the F42.06.07 committee on Semiconductors and Electronics Applications of AM, where he drives standards and best practices in the field. His contributions have earned him recognition, including the Outstanding Practitioner Award from the Manufacturing and Design Division of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers. Ahmed holds a PhD in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from the University of California, San Diego, and a Bachelor of Production Engineering from Alexandria University. Vice Chair Melanie LangCEO of FormAlloy Melanie Lang, FormAlloy Co-Founder and CEO, holds a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Illinois and M.S. in Systems Architecture & Engineering from the University of Southern California. Prior to her role at FormAlloy, Melanie spent 15 years in the aerospace and defense industry with Boeing and Lockheed Martin. In addition to her role at FormAlloy, Melanie currently serves as the Vice President of Legislative Affairs for Navy League San Diego and is a Women in 3D Printing Ambassador and is an active America Makes Executive Committee member. Advisors Cody CochranGeneral Manager and Co-FounderAzoth Cody Cochran is the Co-founder and General Manager of Azoth, a pioneering company in sinter-based additive manufacturing of small, complex metal parts. With a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Kettering University, Cody also serves as a Director on the MPIF's AMAM Board. Before launching Azoth, he gained valuable experience by working across 25 manufacturing facilities in 3 countries, focusing on lean manufacturing and technological advancements. Since Azoth's inception, Cody has spearheaded the company's technology portfolio, talent development, and manufacturing operations. Under his leadership, Azoth now has over 50 parts in serial production, serving key sectors such as automotive, medical, and defense. William CuervoVice President3YOURMIND North America William is VP at 3YOURMIND North America, an end-to-end on-demand manufacturing software that empowers defense organizations and enterprise companies to identify and produce parts when and where they are needed. At 3YOURMIND, he leads several activities with the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Marine Corps focusing on advanced manufacturing for maintenance and sustainment operations, industrial base revitalization, and software workflow solutions. He started his journey in 2017 as a Technician at Sintavia, where he experienced the complexities of Additive Manufacturing for Aerospace, Space and Defense applications. It was there where he discovered his passion for discovering and implementing technologies that can optimize the manufacturing process and help address the widely known challenges and pain points associated with AM. William also serves as ambassador of the Additive Manufacturing Coalition, and is a graduate of Norwich University, the oldest private senior military college in the United States. Sheku Kamara, MSDean of Applied ResearchMilwaukee School of Engineering Sheku Kamara, is the dean of applied research at Milwaukee School of Engineering where he oversees the activities of the Applied Technology Center. The ATC uses MSOE faculty, staff and student expertise to solve technological problems confronting business and industry. He has been involved with additive manufacturing since 1996 and was director of the Rapid Prototyping Consortium at MSOE. Kamara received a laser-sintering DINO (Distinguished Innovator Operator Award) from the AMUG for his contributions to the technology and industry. He has served as a RAPID + TCT conference advisor since 2004 and is a past chair of AMUG. In 2013, he managed the development of the Additive Manufacturing Body of Knowledge (AMBOK) and the Additive Manufacturing Certificate program for SME & America Makes. SME Member Since 2003 Christina KurthDirector of Business DevelopmentThe Barnes Global Advisors Christina’s passion for flight and aerospace design has guided her impressive career in advanced manufacturing. Prior to TBGA, she played a pivotal role at Sintavia, transitioning the company’s focus from commercial aerospace to the space and defense sectors. Her accomplishments include implementing CRM and ERP systems to boost operational efficiency and establishing strategic partnerships with industry leaders. Her background also includes significant contributions at Embraer Executive Jets and Bombardier Aerospace, where she was involved in product development and strategic planning for new aircraft designs. Christina has been recognized for her industry insights, having been invited to speak at key events such as the FAA/EASA Joint Additive Manufacturing Workshop 2024 and the AMS Strategies panel on sustainability in 2023. Additionally, she represented Sintavia at the AM Forward event with President Biden in 2022. Christina holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Aerospace Structures, Systems, and Vehicle Design from Carleton University and has project management certifications. Ellen Lee, PhDTechnical Leader Advanced Polymer Technologies, Research & Advanced EngineeringFord Motor Company Ellen Lee, PhD is the Technical Leader of Advanced Polymer Technologies, Research & Advanced Engineering at Ford Motor Company. She is responsible for leading the technical development of advanced polymer additive manufacturing (AM) materials and processes for functional use in the automotive sector. She established Ford’s dedicated AM research program in 2014 to enable its use to drive product innovation, enhance quality, and improve efficiency and flexibility in manufacturing. In her current role, Dr. Lee sets the strategic direction for polymer AM and its integration across the enterprise through activities including training and education, standardization and qualification, and development of the AM technology roadmap. Dr. Lee received her Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Chemical Engineering from Northwestern University and her Doctorate (Ph.D.) in Chemical Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. She serves on the board of directors of SPE and as an advisor for SME's AM Technical Leadership Community. Travis Mayberry, PhDTechnical Portfolio ManagerDivergent Dr. Travis Mayberry, Divergent’s Technical Portfolio Manager, is responsible for qualifying Divergent's Adaptive Production System (DAPS) for a range of aerospace and defense applications and customers, and filling technology gaps as required for new applications. Travis joined Divergent in early 2025 after 16 years at Raytheon, an RTX Business, where he led Raytheon’s Additive Manufacturing strategy and implementation for 7 years. He holds 22 patents, 4 trade secrets, and has presented over 80 technical publications. Chinedum ("Chi") Okwudire, PhDProfessor of Mechanical Engineering and Miller Faculty ScholarUniversity of Michigan Chinedum ("Chi") Okwudire is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Miller Faculty Scholar at the University of Michigan. Before joining the University of Michigan in 2011, he was the Systems Optimization team leader at DMG Mori USA. His research is focused on exploiting knowledge at the intersection of machine design, control and computing to boost the performance of manufacturing automation systems at low cost. His research has found applications in additive manufacturing, robotics, machining and nanopositioning. Chi has received a number of awards including the CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation; the Young Investigator Award from the International Symposium on Flexible Automation; the Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award from SME; the Ralph Teetor Educational Award from SAE International; the Russell Severance Springer Visiting Professorship from UC Berkeley; and the SME Education Award. In 2022, he was selected by SME as one of the 25 leaders transforming manufacturing. He has co-authored a number of best-paper-award-winning papers in the areas of manufacturing automation, control and mechatronics. He is the founder and CTO of Ulendo Technologies Inc., a company focused on advanced automation solutions for additive manufacturing and industrial robotics. He is also a member of SME's Technical Community Leadership Committee on Additive Manufacturing. Carolyn Conner Seepersad, PhDProfessor of Mechanical EngineeringGeorgia Institute of Technology Carolyn Conner Seepersad, is a Woodruff Professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Professor Seepersad’s research interests include design for additive manufacturing, simulation-based design of materials and structures, and process innovation in additive manufacturing. She is the Editor-in-Chief of the ASME Journal of Mechanical Design, an elected member of the advisory board for the Design Society, and a member of SME's Additive Manufacturing Technical Leadership Committee. Professor Seepersad has earned many awards for her research and teaching, including the ASME Design Automation Award and the University of Texas Regents’ Award for Outstanding Teaching (the highest teaching award for faculty in The University of Texas System). Pedrum SodouriVice President, Business DevelopmentNikon AM Synergy Pedrum Sodouri is a seasoned executive in advanced manufacturing and aerospace, with more than two decades of global leadership experience. He has played a pivotal role in the commercialization of additive manufacturing technologies, guiding them from early development to regulatory qualification and widespread industry adoption. Currently serving as Vice President of Business Development at Nikon AM Synergy, Pedrum leads U.S. growth initiatives, forging strategic partnerships and expanding Nikon’s footprint in advanced manufacturing solutions. Prior to this role, he was Director of Business Development at Nikon Advanced Manufacturing, where he accelerated certification readiness and strengthened customer adoption of Nikon’s additive manufacturing systems. Pedrum has been recognized as a thought leader in the field, authoring two SAE AMS standards on titanium additive manufacturing processes, and continues to support SDOs and MMPDS organizations with the enablement of Additive Manufacturing. His contributions earned him the 2018 Aviation Week Laureates Award for Supplier Innovation. He holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Victoria, Canada, and a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification from the Technical University of Munich. Annie WangPresidentSenvol Annie Wang is the President of Senvol, the industry leader in data for additive manufacturing. At Senvol, Annie has overseen the creation of the Senvol Database, which is the industry’s first and most comprehensive database for industrial additive manufacturing machines and materials; as well as Senvol ML, which is data-driven machine learning software for AM. Annie’s particular area of focus is on analyzing the correlation among material properties, process parameters, and feedstock properties. Annie is actively involved in activities across the additive manufacturing industry. She is Vice Chair for the SAE Data Management Committee, serves on the Data Integrity Advisory Group and Commercialization Advisory Group for America Makes, and is a member of the ASTM F42 Committee for Additive Manufacturing Technologies. She has been published in top industry journals, and has also been a featured speaker at numerous industry trade shows and conferences, such as RAPID, Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium, and AMUG. Annie received a BA in Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania, where she graduated Cum Laude, an MA in International Studies from The Lauder Institute, and an MBA from the Wharton Business School.
