Future Manufacturing Workforce Workshop

Event details

Manufacturing is one of the largest sectors in the U.S. economy, accounting for $2.8 trillion of the country’s gross domestic product in 2023.

As new technologies rapidly emerge, both government and industry are looking to maximize perceived gains in efficiency, agility, responsiveness, resilience, and sustainability.

But great innovation comes with greater talent needs.

Thanks to support from the Department of Defense’s Manufacturing Engineering Education Program, Virginia Tech is hosting a workshop to gain insight into industry and federal partners’ needs of the future defense industrial base (DIB) manufacturing workforce.

Interested in attending? Please reach out to link@vt.edu for additional information.

Monday’s workshop dinner will take place at the University Club of Virginia Tech overlooking Lane Stadium where our Hokies face-off each fall in the ACC

Date: May 12, 2025

Time: TBD

Format: TBD

Location: The Inn at Virginia Tech, 901 Prices Fork Road, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061

Workshop objectives

By convening industry and federal partners for critical discussions, we’re ensuring that future manufacturing engineers have the interdisciplinary skill set to meet ever-evolving industry needs.

Over the course of the workshop, we will

Define Today’s Workforce — Identify current manufacturing jobs, required skills, and hiring challenges.
Shape the Future — Discuss the skills and competencies needed for the next generation of manufacturing jobs.
Gain Insights — Hear from keynote speaker Matthew Sermon on defense industry manufacturing workforce needs.
Expand Our Network — Connect with peers and industry leaders at an evening social.
Engage in Collaboration — Participate in an interactive workshop, followed by dinner at Lane Stadium.
Explore Innovation — Tour Virginia Tech’s cutting-edge manufacturing research facilities, meet with faculty and student researchers, and tour MELD Manufacturing facilities.

Schedule

8:30 a.m.

Doors open

9:00 a.m.

Morning program

Welcome Video
Prem Natajaran, Chief Scientist and Head of Enterprise AI, Capital One
Opening Announcements
Rishi Jaitly
Founder, Virginia Tech Institute for Leadership in Technology
Charge for the Day
United States Senator Mark Warner

9:20 a.m.

Power of Place, Growing Economies through InnovationKathy Hollinger
Chief Executive Officer, Greater Washington Partnership Lama Nachman
Intel Senior Fellow, Director of Human & AI Systems Research Lab Subha Madhavan
Vice President and Head of AI, Pfizer Young Bang
Principal Deputy, Assistant Secretary of the Army Acquisition, Logistics and Technology

Overview

9:50 a.m.

University UpdateCyril Clarke, Executive Vice President and Provost at Virginia Tech

10:00 a.m.

Introduction of PanelsDan Sui
Senior Vice President and Chief Research and Innovation Officer at Virginia Tech

10:05 a.m.

Panel 1: Data and Decisions

OverviewSoon every decision-maker will have the benefit and the dilemma of receiving guidance from a machine. Virginia is the data center capital of the world. The U.S. Department of Energy selected Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility for its new High Performance Data Facility Hub (HPDF), a $300-500 million computing and data infrastructure resource for data analysis, networking, and storage for the nation’s research enterprise. How can regions and states use these assets to grow the AI economy? How can we build coalitions to tackle world-changing problems, and where should we focus in the multitude of applications?

10:50 a.m.

Break

11:00 a.m.

Panel 2: Work-Ready AI Talent

OverviewAs industries increasingly rely on AI-driven solutions, the integration of AI in higher education becomes imperative for cultivating a talent pool that meets the evolving workforce demands and propelling global competitiveness. Universities play a pivotal role in preparing work-ready talent who can navigate ethical and practical challenges. This alignment ensures that educational practices evolve to support future employment needs in a rapidly changing AI-driven landscape. How can we ensure that the integration of AI in higher education adequately prepares students to navigate ethical and practical challenges while meeting the evolving demands of the workforce?

11:40 a.m.

Panel 3: The AI of Everything

OverviewAs AI meets the internet of everything, the computing infrastructure of these systems needs to change to meet the unique requirements of AI algorithms. Next generation wireless technologies will be built on AI, and adjustments need to be made to support the AI of Everything. AI can mitigate security risks associated with international supply chains. Building critical mass for innovation in infrastructure is essential for taking AI from promise to reality. How should the computing infrastructure change for the unique requirements of AI algorithms? What changes in next generation wireless technologies will be built on AI, and what changes need to be made to the AI of Everything? How can AI mitigate security risks associated with international supply chains? How can we build critical mass to be home to innovation for the infrastructure that takes AI from promise to reality.

12:20 p.m.

Lunch WelcomeLance Collins
Vice President and Executive Director of Virginia Tech Innovation Campus

12:25 p.m.

Navigating the Next: A Dialogue about the Business of PeopleSarah Franklin
Chief Executive Officer
LatticeRishi Jaitly
Founder of Virginia Tech Institute for Leadership in Technology

OverviewJoin Sarah Franklin and Rishi Jaitly, as they explore the dynamic intersection of technology and people in today’s fast-paced business landscape. Lattice, an AI-driven people management company, was founded by Jack Altman and Eric Koslow in 2015. Sarah joins Lattice in 2024 with over 25 years in leading and scaling tech, including 15 years at Salesforce in key executive roles, including President and Chairwoman of the Advisory Board, Chief Marketing Officer, and Executive Vice President of Platform and Trailhead.

1:20 p.m.

Panel 4: Trust and Assurance

OverviewAs the 2024 Presidential Election approaches, trust in the U.S. electoral system is declining. It’s crucial to address risks around voting, political participation, and democracy. With AI influencing important decision-making tools, building trust and assurance is vital for national security. How can we build the right tools and implement policy frameworks to address these challenges? Virginia’s data and analytics expertise could make it a hub for creating solutions. We need to focus on partnership at the intersection of talent development and innovation.

2:30 p.m.

Closing Remarks

Keynote Speaker

Matthew Sermon Executive Director at Program Executive Office Strategic Submarines Matthew Sermon oversees the Columbia Class Submarine program, the In-Service SSBN/SSGN program, and Submarine Industrial Base revitalization. A former U.S. Navy Surface Warfare Officer (Nuclear), he has over 20 years of federal service, holding key roles in major defense acquisition programs. He is a U.S. Naval Academy graduate with advanced degrees and certifications in program management and has received multiple Navy Civilian Service Awards.

Janis Terpenny Program Director, National Science Foundation (NSF), Professor of Systems Engineering & Operations Research and Mechanical Engineering, George Mason University

Larissa Smith DRPM Maritime Industry Base (MIB); Deputy Director, Advanced Manufacturing

Cindy Waters Senior Science & Technology Manager (SSTM) for Advanced Manufacturing and Materials, Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division (NSWCCD)

Eric Paterson Executive Director, National Security Institute

Julie Ross Dean, College of Engineering

Chris Williams L.S. Randolph Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Director of the Design, Research, and Education for Additive Manufacturing Systems (DREAMS) Laborator

Advanced Manufacturing at Virginia Tech

Advanced manufacturing is unlocking a new kind of speed and agility. But as innovative technologies converge from across disciplines, the industry’s talent needs will significantly shift. At Virginia Tech, our interdisciplinary approach to research – coupled with industry-inspired learning – will prepare skilled talent to meet the demands of advanced manufacturing head-on.

From engineering to chemistry to architecture to physics, our researchers accelerate innovation in three primary focus areas – additive manufacturing, advanced materials, and intelligent manufacturing. As a global leader in 3D-printing, we house more than 30 research-capable machines spanning all printing modalities and enabling open-ended materials discovery and process innovation. We advance research in metals, polymers, composites, and ceramics to create products that are stronger, lighter, and more durable. And our expertise in data-driven technologies is improving communication across manufacturing systems to refine quality control and strengthen cybersecurity.

Most importantly, our College of Engineering has created a common context for learning across our top-ranked engineering disciplines so that every engineer at Virginia Tech gets direct experience with manufacturing.

Learn more about Virginia Tech’s industry-leading 3D-printing capabilities

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