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Manufacturing USA institute and agency representatives are invited to attend the 2026 Network Meeting. Hosted by NIST's Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office, this annual event brings together the network’s manufacturing innovation institutes and their federal partners for 1.5 days of connection, collaboration, and inspiration.
Attendees will have the chance to hear important agency and administrative updates, share knowledge and best practices, and explore opportunities to engage and partner. This year's meeting will highlight the vital role of the network in U.S. advanced manufacturing, with the theme “Invented Here. Made Here.”
Please note that this is a limited-access meeting for Manufacturing USA network representatives only. Invited participants will receive a code to register. Please contact erin.rushing [at] nist.gov (Erin Rushing) with any questions about attendance.
Agenda
May 12 – Day 1
Start | End | Topic | Speakers | |
| 8:00 | 9:00 | Registration & Coffee | ||
| 9:00 | 9:15 | Day 1 Welcome | Mike Molnar, NIST | |
| 9:15 | 10:00 | Day 1 Keynote: Administration Leadership Priorities | Lisa Friedersdorf, OSTP Principal Assistant Director for Physical Sciences and Engineering, NSTC Executive Director | |
| 10:00 | 10:30 | Networking Break and Group Photo | ||
| 10:30 | 11:30 | Ecosystem Impacts: Successful Projects & Initiatives Emphasis on initiatives that helped advance U.S. competitiveness and resilience, using the unique structure and mechanisms of an institute and the broader Manufacturing USA network. | Institute Speakers Kate Peretti, DOE, moderator | |
| 11:30 | 1:00 | Lunch | ||
| 1:00 | 1:45 | NASEM Study: Report and Findings "A Vision for the Manufacturing USA Program in 2030 and 2035" | Theresa Kotanchek, NASEM | |
| 1:45 | 2:45 | Advanced Manufacturing Occupation and Competency Framework and Network Workforce Programs Updates Updates on the 2026 Manufacturing USA Occupation and Competency Framework and program updates from across the network | Brad Conrad, NIST Angela Accurso, MxD John Zappa, ARM Conrad Leiva, CESMII John Balchunas, NIIMBL Andrew Pokelwaldt, IACMI | |
| 2:45 | 3:00 | Networking Break | ||
| 3:00 | 4:30 | Communities of Practice 1.5 hrs, separate into Directors/COOs, Comms, Tech Leads, Agency Staff | EWD Meeting 2 hrs for EWD leads to discuss their initiatives (in lieu of cancelled January event) | Rose Todd, CyManII Jillian Kupchella, CESMII Brad Conrad, NIST |
| 4:30 | 5:00 | Manufacturing USA Recognition and Opportunities Discussion of updates to MFG USA recognition and definitions
| Robert Rudnitsky, NIST | |
| 5:00 | 5:15 | Day 1 Wrap up | ||
| 5:15 | Adjourn | |||
May 13 - Day 2
| 9:00 | 9:15 | Day 2 Welcome | Diana Bauer |
| 9:15 | 10:00 | Day 2 Keynote: Addressing Key Valleys in Commercialization | Ben Solomon, CEO, FedTech |
| 10:00 | 10:15 | Networking Break | |
| 10:15 | 11:00 | Agency Updates | Mike Molnar, NIST Diana Bauer, DOE Aaron Sasson, DOW |
| 11:00 | 12:00 | NASEM Study Discussion Opportunity to process and unpack findings of the NASEM study. Prioritize next steps, etc. | Leah Kaufman, NIST, facilitator |
| 12:00 | 12:15 | Day 2 Wrap Up | Mike Molnar, NIST |
| 12:15 | Main Meeting Adjourns | ||
| 12:30 | 1:30 | MFG USA Council Meeting (invited attendees only) | Said Jahanmir, NIST |
Lodging Information
For those traveling, below is information on a few hotels in proximity to the American Geophysical Union:
| Washington Hilton 1919 Connecticut Ave, NW Washington, DC 20009 Rates: $350-430 | 2118 Wyoming Ave, NW |
Residence Inn by Marriott Dupont Circle 2120 P Street, NW | Royal Sonesta Washington DC Dupont Circle 2121 P Street, NW |
1914 Connecticut Ave, NW |