Somerset Community College Press Release
Somerset, Ky. Last week the Additive Manufacturing(AM) Coalition announced the appointment of eight members to the newly formed advisory board. One of those eight individuals is Somerset Community College Professor, Eric Wooldridge.
The AM Coalitionisthenationalmembershiporganizationrecognized as the voice for additive manufacturing with decision-makers and stakeholders, including Federal agencies and Congress.
The new board members bring a diverse set of additive manufacturing expertise in industry, academia, and the military. They will serve 2 year renewable terms. “The Additive Manufacturing Coalition Advisory Board is an influential group driving awareness and growth of 3D printing technology across the U.S.,” said Tom Kelly, Automation Alley executive director and CEO.
Additive Manufacturing Coalition Advisory Board Members are as follows:
Professor Eric Wooldridge is the Director of the Additive Manufacturing Center at Somerset Community College, Somerset, Kentucky. He is a Professional Engineer in multiple disciplines including Architectural, Mechanical, and Manufacturing systems, and holds multiple patents regarding insulated cooler and embalming systems technology.
He is the Director of the Additive Manufacturing (AM) program for the statewide Kentucky Community and Technical College System. He developed the Rapid Response Additive Manufacturing Initiative (RRAMI) in a response to needs from COVID-19, creating a network of 10 AM sites across Kentucky, capable of providing a flexible, stop gap manufacturing response in both polymers and metals, to supply chain breakdowns and production opportunities for the state. Wooldridge’s goal is to scale his RRAMI network beyond Kentucky’s borders and to create a national AM response platform consisting of colleges and universities.
Dr. Arvind Agarwal is a Distinguished University Professor and Chair of the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at Florida International University (FIU), Dr. Allison Beese is an Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Mechanical Engineering at Pennsylvania State University, Mr. Tim Bell is the Head of the Center of Competency for Additive Manufacturing for Siemens Digital Industries USA. Dr. Slade Gardner is President and Founder of Big Metal Additive (BMA), Ms. Mara Hitner is the Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at MatterHackers. Mr. Tom Kelly is a globally recognized expert on Industry 4.0 and its impact on business as executive director and CEO of Automation Alley. Dr. Aaron LaLonde is a member of the U.S. Army DEVCOM Ground Vehicle System Center’s Additive Manufacturing team within the Materials organization.
“After working with the Additive Manufacturing Coalition on Forums and sharing information throughout the pandemic, I am honored to become a member of the Additive Manufacturing Coalition Advisory Board,” said Eric Wooldridge, SCC Professor of Additive Manufacturing.
According to Wooldridge, “Biden’s AM Forward program is an initiative that was launched last week that will promote #3dprinting and a wider adoption of the technology to secure supply chains. The participants include major companies GE Aviation, Honeywell, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Siemens Energy. This will boost the economy and help address the supply chain problems that we saw during the pandemic. This initiative will help to reinforce our ongoing #additivemanufacturing work throughout Kentucky supported by KY NSF EPSCoR and ATE Central.”
The AM Coalition is committed to supporting Members before the Federal government and navigating complex legislative challenges to advance the industry. The nonprofit AM Coalition advocates for thoughtful policies and strong funding for research and development. Ensure that your voice is heard and become engaged with the national community, the AM Coalition is open to all organizations. For additional information about the AM Coalition, see https://www.addmfgcoalition.org/
