America Makes Announces 2024 Award Honorees

The 2024 class represents a cross-section of the industry whose work helped advance additive technology and demonstrated resilience of the additive manufacturing community, America Makes says.

The 2024 class represents a cross-section of the industry whose work helped advance additive technology and demonstrated resilience of the additive manufacturing community, America Makes says.

Mark D. Benedict, Ph.D., senior scientist, Convergent Manufacturing, Air Force Research Laboratory, was presented with the 2024 Distinguished Collaborator Award. Image courtesy of America Makes.


America Makes has named the recipients of its 2024 Ambassador Awards and Distinguished Collaborator Award at the annual Members Meeting and Exchange (MMX) event held August 6-7 in Youngstown, OH. 

The Ambassador Award Program, launched in 2017, recognizes individuals who have continually demonstrated dedication to advancing America Makes and its mission. The 2024 class represents a cross-section of the industry whose work helped advance additive technology and demonstrated resilience of the additive manufacturing community. These champions represent the progress made in AM technology, ecosystem expansion and workforce development.

America Makes congratulates the following Ambassadors: 

  • Rachael Andrulonis, Director of Advanced Materials Research, National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) 
  • Cheryl Bowman, Chief, High Temperature& Smart Alloys Branch, NASA Glenn Research Center 
  • Robert Carter, Deputy Chief, Materials & Structures Division, NASA Glenn Research Center 
  • Sarah Jordan, CEO, Skuld, LLC 
  • Mark LaViolette, Managing Director, Deloitte Consulting 
  • Thierry Marchione, Laser Engineering Specialist, Caterpillar (CAT) 
  • Kay Matin, President, AlphaSTAR Corporation 
  • Travis Mayberry, Additive Manufacturing Lead, RTX Corporation 
  • Frank Medina, Associate Professor/Director of Technology & Engagement, University of Texas at El Paso 
  • Marlee Rust, Business Development Manager, General Electric Global Research 

Also during the event, Mark D. Benedict, Ph.D., senior scientist, Convergent Manufacturing, Air Force Research Laboratory, was presented with the 2024 Distinguished Collaborator Award. Established in 2014, recipients of this award are celebrated for cultivating collaborative relationships with academia, government, and industry. Serving as the chief technology advisor at America Makes for nearly 6 years, Benedict has played a pivotal role in the Institute's strategic planning, defining project requirements, and the selection and execution of its technical portfolio. He is recognized for his leadership and dedication to advancing technologies, practices, and innovation in the AM industry and his contributions to the Institute.

“The Institute has been pivotal in forming a Joint Services community focused on additive manufacturing and connecting that community with the companies and universities looking for problems to solve,” says Benedict. “There has always been such positive energy in this ecosystem. I am fortunate to have played a small part in connecting Department of Defense stakeholders with enthusiastic technical teams working to mature this technology. It is an honor to be recognized by the Institute for helping to make progress in this important technology.”

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.

More America Makes Coverage

Sponsored Content
Additive Manufacturing/3DP Information Alignment
Growing the number of additive manufacturing information assets within the America Makes digital storefront.
America Makes Names New Members of Executive Committee
Members understand the current and future state of the industry and provide counsel to the Institute on data management and IP policy and more.
MMX Event Highlights State of Additive and Opportunities for Growth
Leaders from industry, government, military sectors convene to collaborate and discuss what's working and challenges ahead in the AM sector.
6K Additive Awarded Major Project for Powder and Process Optimization
6K Additive’s titanium powder selected a fit for America Makes sustainability project call.
America Makes Announces Winners of PADAM Project
The project is designed to establish data-driven methods for applying the best attributes of novel AM metal materials. 
America Makes to Host 12th Annual MMX in Youngstown
The event is designed for professionals in government and military, academia, and the additive manufacturing (AM) industry to network, plan, and exchange ideas.
America Makes Company Profile

Share This Article

Subscribe to our FREE magazine, FREE email newsletters or both!

Join over 90,000 engineering professionals who get fresh engineering news as soon as it is published.


About the Author

DE Editors's avatar
DE Editors

DE’s editors contribute news and new product announcements to Digital Engineering.
Press releases may be sent to them via DE-Editors@digitaleng.news.

Follow DE
#29281