AmeriCOM’s CEO, Dave Shelton, recently met with optics manufacturing leaders at SPIE’s Optics and Photonics Conference in San Diego to answer two pressing questions: What is DPOC? and Why do you need to join? His presentation outlined how AmeriCOM’s Defense Precision Optics Consortium (DPOC) can help galvanize the optics manufacturing industry to spark new research and drive innovation.

AmeriCOM has achieved early results in supporting the precision optics workforce by cultivating optics ecosystems centered around academic and industry partners. In parallel, AmeriCOM has launched the next phase of its work to catalyze the commercialization of new, mission-critical technologies. “We must improve the capabilities of the defense optics manufacturing industrial base,” Shelton said. “Without a dynamic and active optics industrial base, production and innovation for our U.S. military could stagnate due to supply chain issues, reliance on foreign materials, cost, and quality. In addition, we need to extend the life and performance of optics in challenging environments such as directed energy, hypersonics, or space.”

Dave Shelton of AmeriCOM presents at the SPIE Optics and Photonics Conference.

DPOC solves this challenge by convening the collective strengths, knowledge, and expertise of its members to develop new mission-critical technologies and processes. The Consortium is open to U.S.-based optics companies and educational institutions. Among its many benefits, DPOC membership includes:

  • Participation in secure online user’s forums led by the AmeriCOM Chief Scientist and Director of Engineering 
  • Rental of the AmeriCOM research lab facility on a fee-for-time basis including access to equipment, tools, and its trained technical staff for process development and equipment operation
  • Ability to submit proposals through AmeriCOM-funded grant opportunities for R&D projects 
  • Access to AmeriCOM’s marketing brand and social media platforms, shared public relations activities, and participation in the national outreach campaign, The Future is Optics.

Bill Strong, Director of Engineering, leads AmeriCOM’s manufacturing technology research facility which houses an optics prototype fabrication lab with state-of-the-art CNC optics fabrication tools and metrology equipment. He said DPOC offers optics manufacturers an opportunity to test a new product or process without investing in a new lab. “You can do a proof-of-concept by renting our facility,” Strong explained. “If you are successful, then you can invest in lab equipment to scale production.” 

The facility will serve as a semi-user lab with AmeriCOM technicians performing the actual lab work based on the partners’ specific needs and preferences. DPOC partners retain all product intellectual property developed under partner funded activities, while AmeriCOM retains the process intellectual property developed internally. “Testing and research is a significant barrier for many small to mid-sized optics manufacturers. Joining DPOC and having access to our research facility can remove that barrier and help spark innovation,” Strong said. 

Bill Strong,
Director of Engineering

In addition to helping manufacturers with research and testing, AmeriCOM is driving its own research agenda. Chief Scientist Justin Sigley works closely with an advisory board of industry and Department of Defense (DoD) representatives to address issues impeding innovation. “Unfortunately, many of our key optical materials are sourced internationally leading to supply chain vulnerabilities. We are identifying programs to support that develop alternative materials, domestic sources, and novel manufacturing processes to bolster the defense optics industrial base.” Sigley said. “We are identifying programs to support which can reduce costs through automation, recyclable materials, or other process efficiencies to spark optics manufacturing in the U.S.”

Justin Sigley,
Chief Scientist

Shelton said he was excited by the interest in DPOC from industry leaders he met at SPIE O+P, and believed the sharpened focus will help drive AmeriCOM’s key objective to transition mission-critical precision optics technologies from research to sustainable manufacturing operations. “Members benefit by having access to emerging research in optics manufacturing technologies and a technician talent pool,” Shelton said. “But more importantly, we are connecting industry, academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies to expand the capacity of the U.S. optics industry in service to the Department of Defense.” 

DPOC members must agree to participate in a number of consortium activities that help benefit all members, but there is no cost to join. For more information on the Defense Precision Optics Consortium, visit AmeriCOM’s Optics Manufacturing Technologies resource page.