ASTRO America Announces Leadership for Guam Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Accelerator (GAMMA)
Veteran 3D Printing and Defense Manufacturing Leader Alex Benham Tapped to Head Groundbreaking On-Island Initiative
June 26, 2025 – Bethesda, MD – In its effort to maintain the U.S. Navy’s Indo-Pacific forces at the forefront of advanced manufacturing, the Applied Science & Technology Research Organization of America (ASTRO America) announced the hire of Alex Benham as Director and General Manager for the Guam Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Accelerator (GAMMA).
“Alex is the rare kind of leader who can build something from the ground up and make it sustainable – an individual who understands machines, software, systems, and people,” said Neal Orringer, President of ASTRO America. “There is virtually no existing advanced manufacturing infrastructure on Guam; under Alex’s leadership, GAMMA will change that. We are going to stand up an industrial base, build up a dedicated workforce, and establish testing facilities in accordance with internationally recognized standards.”
Sponsored by the Navy’s Maritime Industrial Base (MIB) Program Office and BlueForge Alliance, GAMMA entails a three-pillar strategy. First, it creates in Guam a mechanical engineering talent pipeline with new higher education capabilities. Second, it establishes an industrial scale part-production/prototyping facility in close proximity to the Navy’s point of need. Third, it provides component inspection and validation capabilities in Guam to help end-users verify ship parts developed on island are acceptable for Navy applications.
Such an initiative has the potential to help the Navy overcome substantial challenges for U.S. forces operating in a remote location and relying on imported supplies and parts for ship repair and sustainment. By providing on-island capacity to manufacture key components, GAMMA will thus dramatically reduce lead times, minimize maintenance delays, and increase naval readiness in the Indo-Pacific.
“This is a once in a generation opportunity to build a forward deployed manufacturing capability from the ground up, right where the Navy needs it most,” said Alex Benham, GAMMA Director and General Manager. “Nothing like this exists on Guam today. We’re building a pipeline of local talent, trained on cutting edge technologies, to support critical defense priorities while diversifying the island’s economy. GAMMA will be the premier, state of the art production hub serving national security in the Indo-Pacific. I’m honored to help lead this mission.”
As Director, Benham will relocate to Guam and oversee every aspect of GAMMA’s buildout, from designing and constructing the facility to deploying equipment, establishing manufacturing quality systems, and training the island’s first advanced manufacturing workforce.
A veteran of 3D Systems, Sigma Additive, Dyndrite, and numerous advanced manufacturing organizations, Benham brings decades of experience in both additive manufacturing and Department of Defense programs. He has worked across nearly every major 3D printing platform, helped pioneer in-situ monitoring systems and algorithmic toolpathing process controls, and has led efforts for critical tools supporting defense and aerospace applications.
In addition to supporting Navy needs, GAMMA aims to attract suppliers across the broader MIB to establish operations on Guam, creating a full ecosystem of on-island manufacturing, logistics, and workforce development. The project is expected to bring long-term economic benefits through job creation, higher education opportunities, and expanded tax revenue.
“GAMMA is first and foremost about advancing America’s national security, supporting the Navy’s critical needs for highly skilled engineers and suppliers that comprise the maritime industrial base all across the United States,” said Orringer. “Accordingly, this project is not only making America stronger, but building a resilient local economy as well.”
For more information on ASTRO’s GAMMA initiative, click here.
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The Applied Science and Technology Research Organization of America (ASTRO America) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, non-partisan Research Institute and Think Tank. It was established in 2018 to advance the public interest through manufacturing technology and policy. Led by manufacturing professionals with broad public and private sector experience, ASTRO America supports collaborations by government agencies and companies to address supply chain challenges in highly regulated industries, including aerospace and defense.