SME appoints Brett Conner as first chief manufacturing officer

Nonprofit organization SME has appointed Brett Conner as its first chief manufacturing officer, effective Oct. 27.

The move comes at what SME is calling a defining moment for the manufacturing industry, with the creation of the CMO role ensuring the organization’s mission and actions align with the evolving needs of the sector.

In his role, Conner will lead SME’s technology strategy and programs portfolio, driving the adoption of advanced technologies, strengthening partnerships across government, industry and academia and aligning innovation together with SME’s workforce and education initiatives.

He brings 25 years of experience to the role, most recently serving as senior program manager for additive manufacturing with PM2 Strategies, LLC, supporting the Office of the Secretary of Defence in the U.S.

“SME’s nearly 100-year history of advancing manufacturing and notable impact is a large part of what drew me to this role,” Conner said in a media release. “This is a critical moment for manufacturing in North America, and SME is uniquely positioned to help the industry realize the benefits of new technologies. I’ve found there is “meaning in making”—a deep fulfillment in research and real-world application that our nation relies on—and I’m eager to share that passion through SME’s work.”