Recognizing Excellence in Advanced Manufacturing at Defense Manufacturing Technology Achievement Awards

Photo By Rebecca Ward | The Office of the Secretary of War Manufacturing Technology Program honored the remarkable achievements of Chris Peters and Adele Ratcliff for their commitment and contributions to defense manufacturing with the 2025 ManTech Champion Awards, March 30, 2026. Ratcliff accepted the award on behalf of Peters. Standing left to right: David Koch, Defense Logistics Agency R&E Program; Adele Ratcliff, SME Fellow; and Keith DeVries, Director of the ManTech Program.  

ORLANDO, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES

04.09.2026

Story by Rebecca Ward 

DoD Manufacturing Technology Program   

Orlando, FL – The Office of the Secretary of War Manufacturing Technology Program honored the remarkable achievements of individuals and teams in critical manufacturing technologies at the Defense Manufacturing Technology Achievement Awards (DMTAA), March 30, 2026. Hosted by the Joint Defense Manufacturing Technology Panel (JDMTP) and sponsored by the manufacturing association, SME, the awards honored those who have made significant contributions to enhancing warfighter capabilities, reducing costs and improving performance through groundbreaking innovations.

The award ceremony took place at the annual Defense Manufacturing Conference in Orlando, Florida. The event also featured the prestigious ManTech Champion Award, which recognizes individuals who have demonstrated enduring commitment to the ManTech mission - delivering cutting-edge technologies to the warfighter. Director of ManTech, Keith DeVries, said the awards express the program’s gratitude for the privilege of working alongside some of the most brilliant minds in defense technology.

“The challenges faced by our warfighters are far too complex for any single organization to tackle alone. The contributions made by the honorees of the ManTech Champion Award and the DMTAAs have been nothing less than transformative to the Nation’s defense, enhancing warfighter capability, strengthening our domestic supply chains and ensuring U.S. technological superiority.”

The DMTAA ceremony underscores the DoW’s commitment to fostering innovation in advanced manufacturing technologies that ensure the U.S. warfighter remains equipped with the most sophisticated tools available. As the only program with statutory authority to advance American manufacturing technology, the ManTech program continues to drive progress in critical areas such as directed energy, hypersonics, energetics, and munitions.

ManTech congratulates all awardees, as well as nominees, for their dedication to advancing defense manufacturing and ensuring the readiness and resilience of the warfighter. DMTAA winners are listed below. You can also read about the entire awards program, including award winners, nominees and past awardees, in our program booklet online: 2025 Defense Manufacturing Technology Achievement Awards. This year’s awardees:

ManTech Champion Award Winner

• Chris Peters: Recognized for his two decades of dedication to strengthening defense manufacturing supply chains. Peters, CEO of The Lucrum Group, has been instrumental in leading initiatives such as Connecting American Manufacturing and the U.S. Partnership for Assured Electronics. As founding executive director of the U.S. Partnership for Assured Electronics, Peters helped ensure the U.S. government had access to trusted electronics supply chains. He is a speaker and published author who has been featured in several publications, including The Wall Street Journal. His service in the U.S. Coast Guard further underscores his commitment to national security.
• Adele Ratcliff: Honored as an exemplary leader in workforce innovation and industrial strategy. Ratcliff led the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program’s evolution into a multi-billion-dollar flagship initiative to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base, and launched pioneering workforce programs like Project MFG, America’s Cutting Edge and the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing. She also helped establish the Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Manufacturing Systems at Auburn University. Now retired from federal service, Ratcliff continues to collaborate with partners committed to defense innovation and impact. Ratcliff is a Fellow at SME and is a frequent keynote speaker and panelist at national conferences.

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Defense Manufacturing Technology Achievement Awards (DMTAAs)

The DMTAAs recognize outstanding performance by ManTech teams in delivering innovative solutions to the Department of War. The winners of the 2025 DMTAAs include: Category: Technology Enabler:

• Quality Control, Quality Assurance Companion (QQComp)
• Service/Agency: OSD
• Subpanel: AME

Category: Cost Reduction / Rate or Safety Improvement:

• Small Caliber Projectile Cost and Risk Reduction
• Service/Agency: Army
• Subpanel: SME

Category: Enhancing Military Capability

• Manufacturing Epitaxial Ohmic Contacts
• Service/Agency:
• DAF Subpanel: SME

Category: Readiness Improvement

• Submarine Large Diameter Ball Valve Improvement
• Service/Agency: Navy
• Subpanel: SME

Category: Supply Chain Improvement

• Blockchained In Transit Asset Visibility
• Service/Agency: DLA
• Subpanel: SME

Category: Principals Award

• Low Cost, Domestic Energy Storage/Conversion Device Separator Plates
• Service/Agency: OSD
• Subpanel: SME

JDMTP Service Recognition Awards

• Denise Harris: Prior MDA Principal
• John Vickers: Prior NASA Ex-Officio
• John Cullum: Prior Electronics Subpanel Chair
• Barry Burton: Prior Manufacturing Readiness Level Working Group Chair
• Dean Hutchins: Prior Metals Subpanel Chair
• Bill Bernstein: Prior Advanced Manufacturing Enterprise Subpanel Chair

Technology Enabler Nominations

Advanced High Yield Infrared Focal Plane Arrays (IRFPA):

• Service/Agency: OSD
• Subpanel: Electronics

Joint Clothing Textile Modernization Initiative (JCTMI):

• Service/Agency: OSD
• Subpanel: AME

Production Optimization of HEL Optics (Coatings & Metrology):

• Service/Agency – Army
• Subpanel: Electronics

Quality Control, Quality Assurance Companion (QQComp):

• Service/Agency – OSD
• Subpanel: AME

Temporary Service Call Board:

• Service/Agency: Navy
• Subpanel: AME

Cost Reduction / Rate or Safety - Improvement Nominations

CRG Defense Ballistic Conformal Battery – Cell and Pack Manufacturing Maturation:

• Service/Agency: DAF
• Subpanel: Electronics

Small Caliber Projectile Cost and Risk Reduction:

• Service/Agency: Army
• Subpanel: AME

Enhancing Military Capability Nominations

All Aviation Common Lithium-Ion Battery (AACLIB):

• Service/Agency: Army
• Subpanel: Electronics

Industrial Manufacture of Self-Damping Structural Materials:

• Service/Agency: OSD
• Subpanel: Metals

Manufacturing Epitaxial Ohmic Contacts:

• Service/Agency: DAF
• Subpanel: Electronics

Nickel Zinc Battery Manufacturing Automation for Joint Requirements:

• Service/Agency: OSD
• Subpanel: Electronics

Readiness Improvement Nominations

Manufacturing Advancement for Fiber Laser Amplifiers (SEDE, MACHEL Diodes, DE MAC Laser):

• Service/Agency: Army
• Subpanel: Electronics

Submarine Large Diameter Ball Valve ImprovementNavy ManTechProject #RT2837:

• Service/Agency: Navy
• Subpanel: Metals

Supply Chain Improvement Nominations

Automated In-Line Inspection for High-Rate Production of Braided Composite Components:

• Service/Agency: DAF
• Subpanel: Composites

Blockchained In-Transit Asset Visibility:

• Service/Agency: DLA
• Subpanel: N/A

Blue Force Laser Diode Enhancement (BLADE):

• Service/Agency: OSD
• Subpanel: Electronics

Low Cost, Domestic Energy Storage/Conversion Device SeparatorPlates:

• Service/Agency: OSD
• Subpanel: Metals

• Date Taken: 04.09.2026
• Date Posted: 04.09.2026 09:59
• Story ID: 562309
• Location: ORLANDO, FLORIDA, US