APOMA Tech Workshop Convenes Optics Stakeholders
Optics experts and manufacturers from around the country gathered in New Orleans for APOMA’s Tech Workshop to share insights and discuss the latest in optics innovations. AmeriCOM proudly sponsored the event, and also shared two presentations highlighting progress of its research and workforce development efforts.
CEO Dave Shelton presented Chalcogenide Glass Recycling and Plans for Infrared Material Growth, and discussed how AmeriCOM’s Defense Precision Optics Consortium (DPOC) can marshal the collective strengths of the optics industry to deliver mission-critical technologies to the U.S. military. With material costs being a significant barrier for innovation, recycling glass for optics components can drive advancements. Shelton also discussed how manufacturers and research institutions can now work with DPOC to drive other innovations through AmeriCOM’s new COM-Lab. The facility will house an optics prototype fabrication lab with state-of-the-art CNC optics fabrication tools and metrology equipment.


COM-Lab is led by AmeriCOM Director of Engineering Bill Strong who said that this facility will enable optics manufacturers to test new products or processes without investing in a new lab or expensive equipment that they do not use frequently enough to invest in themselves. “Many manufacturers we met with [at the workshop] understand the need and appreciate the research benefits we’re offering.” Strong added that the new lab will encourage collaboration that will strengthen optics manufacturing. “It’s interesting to see direct [optics manufacturing] competitors talking and engaging on solutions to make the industry stronger,” he said.
Manufacturers attending the Workshop were also interested to learn more about AmeriCOM’s efforts to meet the demand for technicians. Kirsten Nobel, Senior Program Manager, presented Training Tomorrow’s Opticians, AmeriCOM-Supported Workforce Development Ecosystems. “Many companies and government-supported research organizations represented at APOMA are behind innovations that move the industry forward. Unfortunately, we know that often, these organizations do not have a sufficient number of qualified technicians to support the engineering work needed to sustain that progress,” Nobel said. “We shared how our efforts in optics ecosystems around the country strengthen the workforce as a whole, and at an individual company-level, by creating more job candidates in their local region who have the hands-on skills needed by their companies.”
“It’s interesting to see direct [optics manufacturing] competitors talking and engaging on solutions to make the industry stronger,”
Bill Strong, Director of Engineering, AmeriCOM
Nobel said the Workshop offered an important opportunity to network with manufacturers to learn more about their current and future needs, in terms of numbers of technicians and skill sets in demand. “It was also interesting to see how many of the technical presentations aligned with what members of our Defense Precision Optics Consortium will be able to test on the new equipment in our Fairport, NY lab.”