The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI) has announced that John A Hopkins will step down from his role as its chief executive officer (CEO), effective March 31, 2022. Hopkins, who became the IACMI CEO in 2017, has set a high standard for innovation and creativity, and will now be actively involved in finding his successor.

IACMI is one of 16 manufacturing US innovation institutes created to secure US global leadership in advanced manufacturing through large scale public-private collaboration on technology, supply chain and workforce development. Through collaboration with industry, academia, and national laboratories, IACMI projects have demonstrated faster cycle times and lower costs for composite materials and structures, decreased carbon intensity, and increased recyclability of composites, IACMI said in a press release.

"Leading IACMI and serving the US composites community has been one of the true highlights of my career. I am proud of the material and manufacturing advances our core R&D and industrial partners have made. IACMI is well positioned to drive further significant national initiatives in composite innovation and workforce development," said Hopkins.

"Under John's leadership, IACMI has expanded its footprint and elevated the institute's reputation nationally and internationally. His vision and guidance have provided valuable strength in partnerships, innovations, and solutions relevant to advancing composites design, manufacturing, technical innovation, and workforce solutions — all of which positions IACMI to capitalise on many opportunities in the future," said Stacey S Patterson, president of the University of Tennessee Research Foundation (UTRF). UTRF is the sole corporate member of Collaborative Composite Solutions Corporation, the non-profit organisation which operates IACMI.

A search for a new IACMI CEO is now underway. Hopkins has previously served as senior project controls director for the institute where he managed R&D programmes. IACMI, under Hopkins’ leadership, has built upon its strong collaborative system across the US composites community that brings researchers together to advance manufacturing and applications of new composites materials.