ASTRO America Hosts Working Meeting for Guam Additive Materials and Manufacturing Accelerator (GAMMA) Project

ASTRO America Hosts Working Meeting for Guam Additive Materials and Manufacturing Accelerator Project

The Applied Science and Technology Research Organization of America, ASTRO, recently hosted an on-island working meeting to further refine its proposed approach to the Guam Additive Materials and Manufacturing Accelerator (GAMMA) project, also known as 3D printing.

According to a press release from ASTRO America, GAMMA is a public-private partnership involving key academic institutions, the government of Guam, and the U.S. Navy. The project aims to establish a new advanced manufacturing education and technology center on the island, creating high-skill job opportunities and promoting U.S. national security.

The full-day workshop brought together leaders in higher education, economic development, and business, as well as key U.S. military stakeholders to discuss GAMMA’s design, operation, and mission. Melanie Mendiola, CEO of the Guam Economic Development Authority, delivered the keynote address highlighting the significance of industrial 3D printing capabilities on Guam.

ASTRO America has already delivered an implementation plan for the on-island center, which will feature workforce development and education, component testing and evaluation, and manufacturing business support. The center is expected to be fully operational in three years, with a satellite campus of a leading U.S. engineering university offering relevant degrees and certificates to students.

In a statement, ASTRO President Neal Orringer emphasized the importance of GAMMA in enhancing access to parts and supplies for U.S. forces in the Indo-Pacific region. The project aims to establish advanced technology and a talent pipeline for on-demand part production.

As part of GAMMA’s workforce training component, five residents of Guam are currently enrolled in the U.S. Navy’s advanced manufacturing program in Virginia. These students shared their experiences with the training course during the working meeting, expressing their excitement to apply their new skills to enhance Guam’s additive manufacturing capabilities.

Overall, progress was made in identifying potential facility locations, infrastructure needs, curriculum development, and organizational agreements during the meeting. ASTRO America’s GAMMA team also met with officials from the U.S. government, University of Guam, Guam Community College, and the Guam Economic Development Authority to discuss the project’s next steps.