Prestigious Award Recognizes Achievement in Dedication to Advancement of Manufacturing Technology Presented at NCDMM’s Annual SUMMIT Event
Blairsville, Pa. — May 8, 2019. The National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) proudly announces that today at its annual SUMMIT event, it awarded its highest honor, the Lawrence J. Rhoades Award, to Mark F. Huston. Each year, the NCDMM awards the Lawrence J. Rhoades Award to an individual who shares Mr. Rhoades’ tireless commitment, futuristic vision, and unwavering dedication to the defense manufacturing industry.
During his 35-year career at Kennametal Inc., a global provider of metalworking tools and technologies, Mr. Huston held numerous positions of increasing responsibilities to include Vice President, Engineered Solutions. It was during his tenure at Kennametal that Mr. Huston also served as the inaugural Director of the NCDMM from 2003 – 2006. At that time, NCDMM was located within the Quentin C. McKenna Technology Center at Kennametal in Latrobe, Pa.
“There’s no question that Mark’s vision, leadership, and engineering experience during its inception were incredibly instrumental in paving the way for the NCDMM to be the organization that it is today,” said newly appointed NCDMM President and CEO Dean L. Bartles, Ph.D.
Added Ralph Resnick, Vice President of Strategy, “Mark set the NCDMM on the course to becoming a sustainable industry leader and innovator. Our reputation for delivering proven advanced manufacturing solutions that result in significant cost-savings to the defense supply chain supporting the U.S. Armed Forces began with him. Therefore, in recognition of his tireless commitment, steady leadership, dedication, and actions on behalf of the national manufacturing community and the mission of NCDMM, we congratulate Mark Huston as the 2019 NCDMM Lawrence J. Rhoades Awardee.”
NCDMM established the Lawrence J. Rhoades Award to honor the memory of Mr. Rhoades whose entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to the advancement of manufacturing processes was known industry-wide. Mr. Rhoades was one of the founding fathers of the NCDMM, and an inaugural member of the Board of Directors where he served until his untimely death in 2007.
Mr. Huston has since retired from Kennametal and currently, he serves as a metalworking manufacturing consultant across various segments. Mr. Huston is also the owner of MFH Designs, LLC where he designs and builds custom furniture.
Previously as Vice President, Engineered Solutions at Kennametal, Mr. Huston was responsible for a 300+ person global engineering team focused on the design, development, and implementation of comprehensive manufacturing solutions that incorporated standard tools, custom tools, and process recommendations that ensured the most efficient and profitable process for customers within the aerospace, automotive, heavy equipment, and machine tool builder (MTB) industrial segments. He also served as Engineering Director, Engineering Manager, and Sr. Product Engineer at Kennametal.
Mr. Huston holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Grove City College.
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About NCDMM
NCDMM delivers optimized manufacturing solutions that enhance the quality, affordability, maintainability, and rapid deployment of existing and yet-to-be developed defense systems. This is accomplished through collaboration with government, industry, and academic organizations to promote the implementation of best practices to key stakeholders through the development and delivery of disciplined training, advanced technologies, and methodologies. NCDMM also manages the national accelerator for additive manufacturing (AM) and 3DP printing (3DP), America Makes—the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute. For additional information, visit NCDMM at ncdmm.org.