The National Center for Defense Manufacturing & Machining Board of Directors
John B. Byrd III

President
AMT - The Association for Manufacturing Technology

John B. Byrd III was named President of AMT-The Association For Manufacturing Technology effective October 1, 2003.  AMT is the trade association that supports and promotes the U.S. producers of manufacturing technology machinery.  With offices in Washington, D.C., China, and Mexico, the association provides a broad range of products and services in support of its members.  The association also owns and sponsors the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS), held every even-numbered year in Chicago, Illinois.

During his 34-year career in industry Mr. Byrd has held leadership positions with firms manufacturing precision manufacturing and metrology equipment, bearings, oilfield equipment, airline equipment, mining machinery and commercial and military electronics.  He has served as a manufacturing engineer, financial analyst, plant manager, chief operating officer and other positions at these companies.

Prior to joining AMT, Mr. Byrd was President and CEO of Symmetry Medical Inc., Warsaw, Ind., a leading manufacturer of surgical instruments supporting the orthopedic industry and of surgical delivery systems used to store and transport surgical instruments.  The company has operating units in both the United States and Europe.

Mr. Byrd is also a member of the Board of Directors of the National Coalition for Advanced Manufacturing (NACFAM), the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS), the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) and serves on the Advisory Committee of the Advanced Technology Program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the U.S. Department of Commerce.  He is a past President of the American Society of Precision Engineering and past Chairman of the Indiana Health Industry Forum.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Auburn University and an M.B.A. from the University of Tennessee.