DoW ManTech: Honoring our Best and Brightest

Photo By Rebecca Ward | The Department of War (DoW) Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) Program marked its 70th anniversary, August 10, 2026, with a series of commemorative events at the Pentagon, including ceremonies honoring outstanding personnel in defense manufacturing. Keith DeVries, Director of DoW ManTech, served as Master of Ceremonies, telling the audience that the 70th anniversary celebration wasn't just about the technology, but also about the brilliant and dedicated people who drive innovation forward  

UNITED STATES

08.18.2026

Story by Rebecca Ward 

DoD Manufacturing Technology Program   

Defense Manufacturing Technology Achievement Award (DMTAA)

Manufacturing technologies have taken a giant leap forward in the past seven decades, thanks in no small part to the Joint Defense Manufacturing Technology Panel (JDMTP), which supports the Department of War (DoW) Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) Program. In 1999, recognizing the achievements of the Services and agencies' groundbreaking achievements, DoW ManTech and the JDMTP established the Defense Manufacturing Technology Achievement Award (DMTAA). The awards, chosen by the JDMTP principals, honor individuals from government and the private sector who are most responsible for the outstanding projects that advance ManTech's vision – accelerating responsive, world-class manufacturing capabilities to affordably meet warfighter needs.

This year, in recognition of DoW ManTech's 70th anniversary, the JDMTP chose an outstanding project – considered the “Best of the Best” – from among the prior years' DMTAA winners. The Principals' Honor Award, was the first to be presented during an anniversary celebration, August 10, at the Pentagon auditorium. Each Service or Agency also selected one recipient for the __Service Recognition Award, __highlighting an outstanding project chosen from the Services' prior DMTAA winners.

In a separate ceremony at the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes, DoW ManTech honored individual achievements with the Personnel Honor Awards.

All awardees are recognized below. Special thank you to SME for partnering with the JDMTP over the past years and for presenting the 2026 “Best of the Best” DMTAA’s.

• Principals Honor’ DMTAA Award: DAF ManTech | 2009 Terminally Guided Robots and Robotic Air Force Applications in Confined Spaces: F-35 Inlet Duct Robotic Drilling (IDRD)

Service Recognition DMTAA Awards

• DAF ManTech | 2008: __Paints for Aircraft
• OSW ManTech | 2022: __Manufacturing of Precursor Foamable Celluloid Materials
• DLA ManTech | 2017: __Solving Microcircuit Obsolescence since 1987
• Navy ManTech | 2015: __F-35 Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) Producibility
• Army ManTech | 2020: __Novel Ultra-Strong Low-Cost Film Manufacturing Technology for Superior Warfighter Protection

Civilian Award Winner Recognition

• ManTech Strategic Champion Award Awardee: Brigadier General Ryan Howell - Military Deputy for CPE Ground Combat Systems, U.S. Army
• Technical Excellence Award Awardee: Mr. Adam Hicks - Senior Physicist and Branch Technical Advisor for Additive Manufacturing, Air Force Research Laboratory, U.S. Air Force
• Emerging Leader Award Awardee: Dr. Katherine Burzynski - Technical Advisor, Functional Systems Manufacturing Branch, Air Force Research Laboratory, U.S. Air Force

Industry & Mission support Recognition, Presented by SME

• Industry Innovator Award Awardee: Mr. Mark Gordon – DoW ManTech Liaison Officer for LIFT, NextFlex and FutureTex, and Industry Engagement Lead
• Mission Support Excellence Award Awardee: Mr. Don Szczur - Navy ManTech Program Support

• Date Taken: 08.18.2026
• Date Posted: 08.19.2026 11:11
• Story ID: 572649
• Location: US