ACMI Appoints Seven Strategic Advisors to Advance U.S. Industrial Innovation and Security

AUSTIN, TX — The American Center for Manufacturing and Innovation (ACMI) has announced the appointment of seven distinguished professionals to its advisory board, reinforcing its commitment to industrial revitalization, national competitiveness, and innovation-driven growth. The advisors bring a wealth of experience across spaceflight, Indo-Pacific security, defense manufacturing, engineering, and industrial strategy.

“As ACMI brings our ecosystem approach to more domains, we are proud to incorporate top practitioners, experts, and thought leaders,” said John Burer, CEO and Founder of ACMI. “Their guidance strengthens our ability to deliver national impact through practical innovation.”

Strategic Advisory Appointments

The newly appointed ACMI advisors include:

• Dr. Arthur Herman – Historian, Senior Fellow at the Civitas Institute, and bestselling author of Freedom’s Forge, a seminal work on U.S. industrial mobilization.
  
• Bernice Kissinger – Dual-Use Innovation Advisor specializing in Indo-Pacific defense collaboration and allied technology partnerships.
  
• Dr. David Draper – Former Deputy Chief Scientist, NASA Headquarters, with over 25 years in mission science and development.
  
• Sam Gunderson – Retired NASA executive and aerospace leader with over three decades in public-private space capability advancement.
  
• Whitney Jones – Defense expert with 30 years in submarine industrial base strategy and Navy maritime program leadership.
  
• William “Bill” Johnson, P.E. – Co-owner of Athena Manufacturing and engineering leader in aerospace, defense, and semiconductor sectors.
  
• Wogbe Ofori – Founder and Chief Strategist at WRX Companies, and co-author of the Astropreneur’s Startup Journey Map & Guidebook.
  

Strengthening Innovation, Resilience, and Security

The appointments reflect ACMI’s ecosystem-driven approach to transforming the U.S. industrial base—integrating talent, capital, infrastructure, and policy into a unified strategy. Dr. Herman, known for his work on industrial policy and national security, emphasized the mission’s urgency:

“ACMI’s work is at the critical crossroads of national competitiveness, innovation, and security,” he said. “They are pairing a bold vision with practical action to drive the kind of industrial revitalization our country needs.”

ACMI’s expanded advisory group will help shape strategic execution across advanced manufacturing, defense readiness, and space infrastructure, as the organization scales its influence across key national sectors.

About ACMI

The American Center for Manufacturing and Innovation (ACMI) drives industrial revitalization through strategic investments and ecosystem development. Through its affiliated entities—ACMI Federal, ACMI Capital, and ACMI Properties—the group channels funding, technology, and expertise to enhance U.S. supply chain resilience, industrial output, and critical-sector innovation.

Learn more: www.ACMIGroup.com