Get to Know CEO Dave Shelton

Since joining AmeriCOM as CEO in April, Dave Shelton has taken an aggressive approach to convening industry, academic, and governmental stakeholders to strengthen the optics manufacturing industry. Optics Insider sat down with Dave to hear about his vision and priorities. We also learned why Dave believes his previous experience has positioned him to be successful.

Since joining AmeriCOM as CEO in April, Dave Shelton has taken an aggressive approach to convening industry, academic, and governmental stakeholders to strengthen the optics manufacturing industry. Optics Insider sat down with Dave to hear about his vision and priorities. We also learned why Dave believes his previous experience has positioned him to be successful.

Strengthening the nation’s optics manufacturing industry is a huge undertaking. Why did you want to become AmeriCOM’s CEO?

I’ve spent my entire career working in infrared electro-optics for military applications, so I’ve seen firsthand bottlenecks in the supply chain that limit our ability to field advanced sensors. AmeriCOM’s mission to strengthen the defense industrial base for optical components directly addresses some of the most significant bottlenecks. This includes technician labor supply, technician productivity, and the availability of key optical materials and minerals. At AmeriCOM, we are working to solve these problems through our workforce initiatives and the Defense Precision Optics Consortium (DPOC). I anticipate that these efforts will impact key technology areas such as directed energy systems, and I’m grateful for the chance to lead these efforts.

How do we start to build momentum? What are your priorities in your first year?

We are currently working towards getting our Fairport, NY, facility up and running to conduct manufacturing technology research operations by the start of Q4 2024. We are looking at new project starts in full-aperture deterministic polishing enabled by machine-learning algorithms, fabrication of large multi-spectral infrared optics from alternative materials, and advancing fabrication and metrology of free-form optics. Being on the cutting edge of optics fabrication techniques informs AmeriCOM’s workforce development efforts which include curriculum development. AmeriCOM is working towards several new program starts for technician training in New Hampshire, Connecticut, Montana, and Southern California. These will add to existing programs that AmeriCOM supports in New Jersey, Florida, Colorado, and New York.  

Throughout your career, you have gained a lot of experience in research, engineering, project management, launching and growing start-ups, and more. How will that collective experience help you at AmeriCOM?

Optics are a key component in military mission systems that support the warfighter in many applications including dismounted infantry, ground vehicles, rotary-wing aircraft, fixed-wing aircraft, weapon systems, and space systems. I started my career at the Infrared Systems Lab working with Glenn Boreman in advanced infrared detectors and diffractive optics. Glenn and I founded a company in 2010, and I learned from that start-up that the most effective way to advance optical components was to develop a system-engineering understanding of the military’s mission systems for which these components were intended. I’m thankful for the time I was able to spend at L3, BAE, and Ball Aerospace to gain that experience. 

You’ve been meeting with many key stakeholders across academia, industry, research, and governmental agencies. What is your message to these partners?

AmeriCOM is very interested in hearing about supply chain bottlenecks that will throttle the rate at which the defense industrial base can field optical sensors. Stakeholders have relayed challenges with access to optical materials that are mined predominantly outside North America. We often ask stakeholders about their contingency plans if access problems get worse over the next few years. At the very least, impacts are anticipated to increase costs and lead times. This need is driving AmeriCOM’s interest in recycling optical material and moving to novel and alternative materials. This is a great example of how bringing stakeholders together, and understanding their collective challenges, can accelerate productive change. 

Look for more about Dave Shelton’s efforts to launch and grow AmeriCOM’s Defense Precision Optics Consortium (DPOC) in an upcoming issue of Optics Insider.