Jenna Montague: Grab a slice, launch a career

Jenna Montague: Grab a slice, launch a career

For Dr. Jenna Montague, the journey into her chosen field didn’t begin with any lifelong dream. Instead, it was with the lure of free pizza in college. But her hunger for a tasty slice turned into an appetite for optics that’s shaped her life ever since.  “I was in...
People are ready to learn. Are you ready to teach?

People are ready to learn. Are you ready to teach?

There’s a quiet crisis brewing in one of the most vital sectors of American advanced manufacturing: a shortage of instructors to train the next generation of precision optics technicians. As schools like Monroe Community College look to grow their optics programs, one...
SPIE conference brings together security, defense professionals

SPIE conference brings together security, defense professionals

AmeriCOM President & CEO, Dave Shelton and Program Manager Adam Dunn recently attended the 2025 SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing conference in Orlando, Florida, where researchers and federal agencies gathered to learn about the latest advances in optics and how...
Jack Stafford:  Sparking curiosity in future optics pros

Jack Stafford: Sparking curiosity in future optics pros

Jack Stafford, SCCC Optics Technology Program Supervisor Jack Stafford has built a remarkable career shaping the future of optics technology—and he wants to cultivate the same excitement in a new generation of technicians. Stafford, Optics Technology Program...
Universal Photonics: Polished reputation, bright future 

Universal Photonics: Polished reputation, bright future 

 Neil Johnson, President of UPI Demand for optics with higher surface quality is growing exponentially. So is the need to meet tight specifications with faster delivery. AmeriCOM DPOC member Universal Photonics Incorporated (UPI) is answering the call. The company...