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America’s Cutting Edge, supported by the U.S. Department of War (DoW) Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment program, is a national training program designed to reestablish American leadership in the machine tools and composites manufacturing industries through transformative thinking, technological innovation and workforce development. The curriculum combines advanced training and techniques from the University of Tennessee, the scientific expertise of the Department of Energy’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the proven workforce development capabilities of IACMI-The Composites Institute.
Michael Alachnowicz
ACE Communications Specialist
michaela@iacmi.org
There is an urgent and growing need in the U.S. machining and machine tool industry for skilled individuals – operators, engineers, designers and more – in the 30,000 machining companies across America. America’s Cutting Edge (ACE) is a national initiative to restore the prominence of the U.S. machine tools sector. Through ACE, you can receive free online training and also qualify for hands-on, in-person training that can put you on a path to a career (or advancement, for existing workers) in the machine tool industry. No prior training or experience is required. Machining and machine tools are at the foundation of America’s manufacturing capability and its global competitiveness.
America’s Cutting Edge, supported by the U.S. Department of War (DoW) Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment program, is a national training program designed to reestablish American leadership in the machine tools and composites manufacturing industries through transformative thinking, technological innovation, and workforce development. The curriculum combines advanced training and techniques from the University of Tennessee, the scientific expertise of the Department of Energy’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the proven workforce development capabilities of IACMI-The Composites Institute.
IACMI – The Composites Institute® is a national public-private partnership focused on advancing composite materials and process technologies. Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Department of War, IACMI brings together over 170 members from industry, academia, and government to drive manufacturing innovation and workforce development.
The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI) is dedicated to securing U.S. global leadership in advanced manufacturing by connecting people, ideas, and technology. IACMI is a 170-plus member community of industry, academic institutions, and government organizations working to enhance U.S. manufacturing competitiveness, with a strong focus on technology, commercialization, and workforce development. Established in 2015 by the Department of Energy, IACMI is one of 18 Manufacturing USA® Institutes collaborating to accelerate new technology, create new products, reduce costs and risks, and equip the workforce with future-ready skills. IACMI also partners with the Department of War to scale up industry-driven job skills and revitalize American manufacturing. Based in Knoxville, Tennessee, IACMI is managed by the Collaborative Composite Solutions Corporation, a not-for-profit organization established by The University of Tennessee Research Foundation. http://www.IACMI.org
Chad Duty is the Chief Executive Officer of the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI, or IACMI – The Composites Institute), a role he assumed April 1, 2023. IACMI is a U.S. Department of War (DoW)-sponsored public/private partnership targeting high-volume applications of composites in energy-related industries.
A professor in the Mechanical, Aerospace & Biomedical Engineering Department at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Chad also holds a joint faculty appointment with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).
He has over 20 years of research experience in advanced manufacturing – spanning technologies in thin film processing, printed electronics, solar energy, and additive manufacturing of polymer composites. Before joining UT, Chad served as a research scientist and group leader at ORNL and helped to establish the DOE’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at ORNL. Duty began his career as a senior aeronautical engineer at Lockheed Martin.
He has a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Georgia Tech and bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Virginia Tech.
Elliot Keas serves as the Director of the ACE Program at IACMI, where he leads national workforce development initiatives focused on strengthening the U.S. manufacturing talent pipeline. Prior to joining IACMI, Elliot built his career across multiple sectors of advanced manufacturing, including automotive, defense, and heavy equipment production.
Beginning in 2017 as a cooperative education student in a high-pressure die casting facility, Elliot advanced into manufacturing engineering roles supporting Tier 1 automotive production, where he managed die casting and precision machining processes for torque converter manufacturing serving major OEMs including General Motors and Ford. He later joined a Fortune 350 manufacturing corporation, supporting defense manufacturing efforts focused on welded and fabricated systems for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) program.
Elliot subsequently transitioned to JLG Industries, where he served in a chief engineering leadership role overseeing a 600,000-square-foot manufacturing operation and supporting approximately 300 employees. His responsibilities included robotic and manual welding operations, automated paint systems, autonomous material delivery technologies, capital project execution, and manufacturing cell design focused on safety, efficiency, and operational flexibility.
Today, Elliot leverages this diverse industry experience to help expand advanced manufacturing workforce programs nationwide, connecting industry, education, and government partners to develop the next generation of skilled manufacturing professionals through the ACE program.
Andrew Pokelwaldt is the IACMI Director of Education and Workforce. He has extensive training and workforce experience, including Composites Instruction Credentials (CCT-I), marine manufacturing, project management, and technical writing for composites manufacturing. Andrew’s previous roles included Corporate Technical Training Manager at Newell Brands, where he led workforce programs across the U.S., Europe, and Latin America. Director of Workforce Training and Credentialing at the American Composites Manufacturing Association (ACMA) and as Training and Development Manager at Brunswick Recreational Boat Group in Knoxville.
He has small business experience, owning a veteran-owned professional consulting, training, and project management practice. In addition to his civilian career, he is a former dual-career retired military combat veteran, having served 23 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army in both active-duty and reserve capacities.
Michael Alachnowicz is a communications specialist for IACMI, where he leads communications for the America’s Cutting Edge program.
An experienced multimedia storyteller, his professional background spans television news and K-12 communications. His K-12 video production work earned a Publications & Digital Media Excellence Award from the National School Public Relations Association.
Alachnowicz holds a bachelor’s degree in multimedia journalism from Virginia Tech.
