Advisory Committees
The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and the Education and Workforce Development Committee are constituted from selected senior and subject matter experts from industry, academia, and government.
Committee Selection Process:
Technical Advisory Committee
Overview
AFFOA’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) is charged with advising AFFOA on its technology investment portfolio. The TAC oversees the development and updating of AFFOA’s technology and manufacturing roadmaps on an ongoing basis.
Committee Members:
| Name | Title, Organization |
| Anais Missakian | Department Head and Professor of Textiles, RISD |
| Benham Pourdeyhimi | Associate Dean for Industry, Research and Extension in the College of Textiles; Executive Founding Director of the Nonwovens Institute, NCSU |
| Bill Diianni | Director of Research and Development, ITG/Burlington |
| Cliff Emmons | Founder, Accelerated Healthcare Innovations |
| David Wheeler | Executive Vice President, Value Chain, New Balance |
| Dhruv Agarwal | Director, Materials Innovation, VF Corporation |
| Ira Moskowitz | Director, Advanced Manufacturing Programs, Massachusetts Technology Collaborative |
| James Zheng | Director of Technical Management Directorate, and Chief Scientist for Project Manager –Soldier Protection & Individual Equipment, Program Executive Office –Soldier, US Army |
| John Joannopoulos | Professor and Director Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, MIT |
| Marty Ellis | Director Manufacturing Services, Inman Mills |
| Mary Toney | Program Director, National Science Foundation |
| Shandon Hart | Research Associate, Corning Research & Development Corporation |
| Shulong Li, PhD | Senior Scientist/Invention Leader, Milliken & Company |
Education and Workforce Development Committee (EWDC)
Overview
AFFOA’s Education and Workforce Development Committee (EWDC) is charged with advising AFFOA on its education and workforce development investment portfolio. The EWDC oversees the development and updating of AFFOA’s EWD roadmaps on an ongoing basis. To realize these roadmaps, the committee oversees an industry needs and capability assessment, help identify proposal reviewers, and identify key initiatives for scaling of resources and skills.
Committee Members:
| Name | Title, Organization |
| Brynt Parmeter | Director of Workforce Development, NextFlex |
| Brennan Grignon | Program Director, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing, within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisitions, Technology & Logistics |
| Dan St.Louis | Director, Manufacturing Solutions Center |
| David Hinks | Dean of College of Textiles, NCSU |
| Helena Fruscio | Deputy Assistant Secretary of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Technology |
| Gerald Mauretti | Consultant Technical Textiles |
| Joanne Arbuckle | Deputy to the President for Industry Partnerships and Collaborative Programs, Fashion Institute of Technology |
| Karen Wosczyna-Birch | Executive Director, Center for Next Generation Manufacturing, Tunxis Community College |
| Kimberly Clavin | Executive Consultant, Pillar Technology |
| Kris Frady | Director of the Center for Workforce Development, Clemson University |
| Marilyn Barger | Executive Director, FLATE, Hillsborough Community College |
| Peter Franks | Vice President, Cooperative Education and Career Development, Drexel University |
| Thaddeus Bauer | Director of Workforce Development Strategies, MassMEP |