Vision
Exploit the highest value opportunities in advanced manufacturing of high-performance materials.
Mission
Quickly develop and commercialize disruptive manufacturing innovations.
Meet the Leadership Team
Luke Phalen | Chief Operating Officer
Luke is a co-founder and leads operations for AMfg Labs. Luke is a dedicated and experienced leader with a strong background in mechanical engineering and operations management. With a proven track record of driving growth and efficiency in various roles, Luke brings a wealth of knowledge to his position as COO of AMfg Labs.
In his previous roles, Luke has managed teams, overseen production and R&D, and implemented financial plans that significantly increased revenue. He has a strong focus on quality and lean operations, having led initiatives to gain certifications and improve operational processes. His experience spans various industries, including manufacturing, automotive, and technology.
As COO, Luke is committed to driving innovation, optimizing operations, and fostering a collaborative and positive work environment.
Dustin Gilmer, PhD | Technical Advisor
Dustin will support the technology development at AMfg Labs. Dustin is a recent PhD graduate from the Bredesen Center, where he received his PhD in Energy Science and Engineering. His studies focused on advanced manufacturing and the interface of chemistry, materials science, energy, and manufacturing utilizing tools such as additive manufacturing, synthesis, and data science at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Rick Lucas | Chief Advisor
Rick is a co-founder and will serve as the chief advisor for AMfg Labs. Rick has more than twenty years of experience in research and development, manufacturing, and business development. He has setup manufacturing and business operations on over twenty different advanced material products, three of which were R&D 100 award winners. Some of the products include metal matrix composites, carbon materials, temperature and magnetic sensors and controllers; material test systems including: magnetometers, susceptometers, hall effect and superconductivity screening systems. He has significant experience in effective quality and regulatory systems. Rick has served as the principal investigator and program manager on over $25 million in DoD programs for the Air Force, Department of Energy, Missile Defense Agency, NASA, Navy and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.