Agenda
June 2-3, 2026
2550 Northwestern, Ave. West Lafayette, Indiana
**Additional speakers and panelists will be announced as the Seminar approaches—please check back for updates.**
Tuesday, June 2
| Time | Event/Details |
|---|---|
| 8:00-8:45 AM |
Arrival/Registration | Breakfast Manufacturing and Materials Research Laboratories (MMRL) 2550 Northwestern Ave, West Lafayette, IN 47906 Room 1200 | Cafeteria |
| 9:00-9:30 AM |
Welcome Remarks & Meeting Kick-Off
Welcome Remarks: Ajay “AJ” Malshe, Ball Brothers Executive Director, MMRL
Purdue’s Manufacturing Gateway - eXcellence in Manufacturing and Operations (XMO): Leadership
|
| 9:30-9:45 AM | Introductions |
| 9:45-10:30 AM | Plenary Session 1: Christopher Hoppel, Chief, Biology, Materials and Manufacturing Sciences Division, DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory |
| 10:30-10:45 PM |
Coffee Break | Room 1200 | Cafeteria |
| 10:45-11:30 AM | Plenary Session 2:Fred Carter, Head of Research and Development, DMG-Mori |
| 11:30-12:30 PM |
Panel 1 - Convergent Manufacturing and AI
Panelists: Dr. Clara Mock (ARL), Bill Powell (JEOL), and Keith Brady (Renishaw).
|
| 12:30-1:30 PM |
Lunch | Poster Display |
| 1:30-2:30 PM |
Panel 2 - Manufacturing at Point of Need for Resiliency
Panelists: Jay Wirts (Connexus), a Representative from BWXT, and a Representative from the Dauch Center (TBD).
|
| 2:30-3:30 PM |
Panel 3 - Roadmapping - Convergent manufacturing (Part 1)
Panelists: TBD
|
| 3:45-5:30 PM |
Coffee Break | Room 1200 | Cafeteria MMRL Tour Organization | Poster Session |
| 5:30-6:00 PM | Travel back to Hotel |
Wednesday, June 3
| Time | Event/Details |
|---|---|
| 7:30-8:15 AM |
Arrival/Registration | Breakfast Manufacturing and Materials Research Laboratories (MMRL) 2550 Northwestern Ave, West Lafayette, IN 47906 Room 1200 | Cafeteria |
| 8:30-9:15 AM |
Plenary Session 3: Andy Kwas, Executive NG Fellow, Northrop Grumman Space Systems |
| 9:15-10:00 AM | Plenary Session 4: Jennifer Tucker, Vice President of Engineering, Integrated Supply Chain, Honeywell Aerospace |
| 10:00 AM-10:15 PM | Coffee Break | Room 1200 | Cafeteria |
| 10:15-11:15 PM |
Panel 4 - Industry Panel | Manufacturing at the Crossroads of America & Industrial Education Moderator: Mark Gruninger
Panelists: Jim Whalen, President of Progressive Surface (Grand Rapids, MI), Ed Richardson, President & CEO of Thomas/Skinner (Indianapolis, IN)
Deb Whitis, Executive Chief Engineer - Manufacturing for GE Aerospace (Cincinnati, OH), Andrew Pokelwaldt, Director of Workforce & Education for IACMI (Knoxville, TN).
|
| 11:15-12:15 PM | Dissemination of Outcomes of Roadmapping & Discussion |
| 12:15-1:30 PM | Lunch | Poster Session & Event Closing |