April 2026 Newsletter

May 8, 2026

Greetings from ASTRO America! 👋🏼

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In our April recap:

  • RAPID + TCT 2026 Recap
  • ASTRO in Action
  • ASTRO in the News
  • ASTRO Updates
  • Upcoming Events

RAPID + TCT 2026: Highlighting Forward-Deployed Readiness and Metal AM Quality

Earlier this month, ASTRO America participated in two featured sessions at RAPID + TCT 2026, highlighting our work to strengthen the defense industrial base and accelerate production-grade additive manufacturing.

Rapid TCT PanelFirst, our panel, “Forward-Deployed Manufacturing for Indo-Pacific Readiness: Inside ASTRO America’s GAMMA Initiative,” explored what it takes to build the most advanced state-of-the-art manufacturing capability on the island of Guam, and why that matters for military sustainment and readiness. This session featured  the U.S. Navy’s Submarine Industrial Base Program Additive Manufacturing Program Manager Justin Rettaliata, as well as panelists ASTRO President Neal Orringer and Roosevelt Group Principal and former senior congressional staffer Matthew Herrmann. It was moderated by our very own Debbie Holton and highlighted their work building a hub for naval sustainment and rapid response in a remote environment. 

“RAPID + TCT is an ideal venue for a dialogue on using additive manufacturing to meet our most pressing national security needs,” said Neal Orringer, ASTRO President and CEO. “Our panelists could not be clearer: we are committed to bringing just-in-time manufacturing to Guam that will meet critical warfighter needs and deliver value to the taxpayer.”

RAPID TCT

Second, Dr. Abdalla Nassar, Vice President and General Manager of ASTRO South, delivered a technical presentation on commercial in-situ monitoring for laser powder bed fusion, focused on the industry’s longstanding goal of detecting and correcting process drift and anomalies during production. 

“Production-grade metal additive manufacturing depends on trustworthy detection, repeatability, and decision-making at the right time in the build,” he said. “We are excited to share results from a real-world comparison of in-situ monitoring solutions and practical insights into where the commercial state of the art is delivering value today.”

Full press release here.

ASTRO in Action 🎤

RAPID + TCT week gave our team a chance to connect in person with partners and peers across the additive manufacturing ecosystem. From conversations on the show floor to deeper technical and readiness-focused discussions, it was an energizing week of ideas, collaboration, and practical problem-solving. Below are a few snapshots from Boston as we shared updates on our work and learned from others building the future of advanced manufacturing.

ASTRO RAPID Presentation

Dr. Abdalla Nassar presents on on commercial in-situ monitoring for laser powder bed fusion.

ASTRO thanks Justin Rettaliata, PhD, PMP for joining the GAMMA panel alongside CEO Neal Orringer and Matthew Herrmann, expertly moderated by Debbie Holton.

ASTRO thanks Justin Rettaliata, PhD, PMP for joining the GAMMA panel alongside CEO Neal Orringer and Matthew Herrmann, expertly moderated by Debbie Holton.

ASTRO in the News 📰 

ASTRO’s RAPID + TCT participation generated attention, with VoxelMatters highlighting both featured sessions, including the GAMMA panel and Dr. Abdalla Nassar’s presentation on commercial in-situ monitoring for laser powder bed fusion.

ASTRO’s RAPID + TCT participation generated attention, with VoxelMatters highlighting both featured sessions, including the GAMMA panel and Dr. Abdalla Nassar’s presentation on commercial in-situ monitoring for laser powder bed fusion.

ASTRO Updates đź“‹

  • ASTRO Midwest has a busy stretch ahead, with several opportunities to share progress and build momentum around solid-state additive manufacturing. In July, the team will present at the ASNT Research Symposium to showcase current work on non-destructive testing for solid-state additive processes and help build support for developing an NDE/AFSD test standard through ASNT, ASTM, or another standards body. Later this fall, the team will also present at ASM International’s IMAT conference to highlight advances in aluminum metallurgy for parts produced via solid-state additive manufacturing. Lastly, the team will also be at ICAM presenting alongside Plastometrex on how PIP testing can accelerate development cycles for solid-state additive manufacturing.
  • As part of ASTRO’s Guam effort, Colorado School of Mines is hiring open-rank teaching faculty/professors of practice to launch the 2+2 mechanical engineering program with the University of Guam that will confer these degrees on the island for the first time. The openings span areas such as mechanics and materials, thermal-fluid systems, mechatronics, and manufacturing, and are a chance for educators and practitioners to build a new, industry-relevant undergraduate program from the ground up. More information here.
  • ASTRO’s second annual AM Tech Challenge is now underway, with this year’s competition focused on Distortion Prediction & Compensation in PBF-LB, a key barrier to scaling production-grade metal AM. The evaluation period is in progress, and we’re planning an August showcase for our AM Forward members where participants will present results, compare approaches, and highlight practical solutions to improve predictability, repeatability, and deployability in precision parts manufacturing.

Upcoming Events 🗓️