John A. Barton

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives
Texas A&M University

John Barton is a Professor of Practice in the Zachry Department of Civil Engineering at Texas A&M University, an Associate Vice Chancellor for the Texas A&M University System, and the Executive Director of The TAMUS RELLIS Campus as well as the TAMUS Center for Infrastructure Renewal. In these roles John directs all activities related to the development and operation of the new TAMUS RELLIS Campus and directs the operations, research, innovation, education and workforce development activities of the new Center for Infrastructure Renewal. John retired as the Deputy Executive Director of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) in 2015 where he provided executive control and oversight of all TxDOT operations and the management and operation of the state’s transportation system. He held a variety of positions with TxDOT during his 30 years of state service. John graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University in 1986. He received the Distinguished Graduate Award of the Zachry Department of Civil Engineering from his alma mater, the AASHTO President’s Special Award of Merit, and the FHWA Administrator’s Public Service Award; and was honored as the inaugural recipient of the Governor Rick Perry Leadership in Transportation Award. John has served on the Board of Directors of the Intelligent Transportation Society of American, the Board of Directors of the National Operations Center of Excellence, the Safety Advisory Board for Uber Technologies, Inc., and the Advisory Board for the Southwest Research Institute; and as the Chairman of AASHTO’s Subcommittee of Traffic Engineering.

Dr. Chiara (Clarissa) Ferraris

Group Leader
The Inorganic Materials Group
The Materials and Structural Systems Division
Engineering Laboratory
National Institute for Standards and Technology

Dr. Ferraris’ research is concentrated in developing test methods for measuring the rheological properties of cementitious materials. She developed a Bingham Standard Reference Material (SRM), containing particles as large as 10 mm, for calibration of rheometers for paste to concrete. She is chairing the American Concrete Institute (ACI) committee on Grouting and was past chair of various committees both at ASTM and ACI. She is the author of numerous papers related to the rheological properties of cement paste and concrete. In 2017, she received the ACI Philleo Award for her leadership and advancement of the rheology of cementitious materials. She is a Fellow of ACI and of ASTM.

Frank W. Gayle

Deputy Director, Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office
Deputy Director, NIST Office of Advanced Manufacturing
National Institute of Standards and Technology

Dr. Frank W. Gayle is the Deputy Director of the Office of Advanced Manufacturing at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). NIST’s Office of Advanced Manufacturing is responsible for extramural advanced manufacturing programs and serves as a liaison to industry and academia. The interagency Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office coordinates Federal activities in advanced manufacturing, and is the Congressionally-designated National Program Office for Manufacturing USA – the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation. Frank spent 11 years in the aerospace industry before joining NIST. As Division Chief of the NIST Metallurgy Division, Frank developed programs in energy, microelectronics, and mechanical properties, focusing on measurement needs for industry. Frank also led the team of technical experts on the forensics of structural steel in the Congressionally mandated NIST investigation of the World Trade Center disaster on September 11, 2001. Frank earned an Sc.D. in Materials Science from MIT, and degrees in Civil and Mechanical Engineering from Duke University.

Brennan Grignon

Senior Advisor
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manufacturing and Industrial Base Policy
Department of Defense

Brennan currently serves as senior advisor in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manufacturing and Industrial Base Policy (ODASD MIBP). She strategically coordinates efforts among the fourteen Manufacturing USA institutes, with Department of Defense (DoD) counterparts, and with other government agencies to create a holistic strategy for education and workforce development efforts in manufacturing. She leads engagement between the DoD and industry, facilitating dialogue to support a communicative and collaborative relationship between small, medium, and large defense industrial base companies and the Department. Brennan also leads efforts regarding strategic use of additive manufacturing (AM; aka 3d printing) throughout the DoD. Prior to her role at MIBP, Brennan was the program manager of LMI’s Research Institute, managing a multi-million dollar R&D budget and coordinating over 40 internal and external R&D projects on a variety of technologies. Brennan also supported government clients (civilian and defense) in strategic planning, communications, change management, technology transfer and implementation, competency management, and workforce development efforts. She served as LMI’s additive manufacturing lead. Brennan’s early career was as a financial advisor and retirement plan analyst, managing large personal estates and retirement plans for individuals, companies, and private equity firms. She earned her masters in history and bachelors in history and biology, all from American University.

Ralph Resnick

President and Executive Director, NCDMM
Founding Director, America Makes, the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute

Mr. Resnick joined NCDMM in September 2008 as Vice President, and became President and Executive Director in May 2011. In 2012, he led NCDMM to winning the competitive National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute contract. Upon award, he also assumed the role of Acting Director of the Institute until February 2013 upon appointing a new director. Prior to joining NCDMM, Mr. Resnick served as Chief Technology Officer for both The ExOne Company and Extrude Hone Corporation where he was a major contributor in establishing both organizations as leaders in advanced manufacturing, including such areas as additive manufacturing, process research, and technology transition to the world’s factory floors. He holds several patents in manufacturing processes and metrology. Mr. Resnick serves on numerous Boards, including the Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT), the Louisiana Center for Manufacturing Sciences (LCMS); the NIST Smart Machining Consortium; the Navy Metalworking Center’s (NMC) Industry Advisory Board; and the MTConnect® Institute. He is also a member of DoD’s JDMTP Metals Subpanel and Advanced Manufacturing Enterprise (AME) Subpanel and participates actively in the National Science Foundation (NSF) proposal reviews and technical events. Mr. Resnick is an active member of the NDIA Manufacturing Division; Industry Advisor for the Eastern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center; founder of the recently formed Mission Ready Sustainability Initiative (MRSI); and is an associate member of the prestigious International Institution for Production Engineering Research (CIRP). He also is a former Board member of the Navy’s Electro Optic Center (EOC); a past Chairman of the AMT’s Technology Issues Committee; and past President of the NAMRI/SME. Currently, Mr. Resnick is a Fellow of SME and the Chairman of SME’s International Awards and Recognition Committee. In 2010, he received the NAMRI/SME “Outstanding Lifetime Service Award.”

John Vickers

Principal Technologist
Space Technology Mission Directorate
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

John Vickers is currently the NASA principal technologist in the area of advanced materials and manufacturing. He also serves as the Associate Director of the Materials and Processes Laboratory at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and as the Manager of the NASA National Center for Advanced Manufacturing with operations in Huntsville, Alabama and New Orleans, Louisiana. He has over 30 years of experience in materials and manufacturing — research and development, engineering, and production operations for propulsion, spacecraft, and scientific systems. As principal technologist, he leads the nationwide NASA team to develop advanced manufacturing technology strategies to achieve the goals of NASA’s missions. In this role he represents the Agency supporting the President’s National Manufacturing Initiative and the Interagency Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office, which includes participation by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, NASA, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Education, and other agencies. He also leads the NASA Technology Roadmap effort for “Materials, Structures, Mechanisms and Manufacturing.” He is a Fellow of SME. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.