Brandon serves as the Technology Director at America Makes, where he leads the strategic and technical direction of the Institute’s national technology portfolio. Since joining NCDMM in 2019, Brandon has played a pivotal role in shaping the U.S. additive manufacturing (AM) research agenda, guiding investment strategies, and managing a team of technical experts to drive innovation and impact. As a trusted representative of America Makes, he engages with stakeholders across government, industry, and academia to advance AM technologies and ensure alignment with national priorities.
Brandon works closely with the Office of the Secretary of Defense Manufacturing Technology (OSD ManTech) Office and the Government Program Management team to ensure America Makes’ technical initiatives support the broader mission of the Department of Defense (DoD). He is a seasoned leader in advanced manufacturing with over 15 years of experience in materials processing and manufacturing, spanning applications in the railroad, oil, energy, aerospace, and defense sectors.
Prior to America Makes, Brandon was a joining process and AM materials specialist at Rolls-Royce Corporation, where he led research in nickel superalloys for OEM and repair applications and managed externally funded AM projects. His collaborative work with defense aerospace suppliers, academic institutions, and small businesses earned recognition within Rolls-Royce and at the highest levels of the DoD.
He began his career at McConway and Torley in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, where he held various roles supporting product quality, customer engagement, workforce development, and production. These early experiences continue to influence his collaborative and results-oriented approach to problem-solving.
He holds both bachelor’s and doctoral degrees in Materials Science and Engineering from Pennsylvania State University. His Ph.D. research, conducted in collaboration with Los Alamos National Laboratory, focused on numerical modeling of fusion welding, foundational to his expertise in laser metal AM process development and qualification.
An active leader in the manufacturing community, he has authored numerous publications in journals such as Journal of Applied Physics, International Materials Reviews, and Nature Materials, and has been a featured speaker at industry events in the U.S. and internationally. He also holds multiple patents related to additive and laser materials processing.
