SPEAKER: DR. MICHELLE T. BRANNUM
Dr. Michelle T. Brannum is the Director of Staff of AFWERX. She leads the execution of the Director’s Priorities for the $1.3 billion per year organization across the Air Force and Space Force through AFVentures, Spark, Prime, SpaceWERX, the Small Business Innovation Research and the Small Business Technology Transfer programs. Dr. Brannum is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University and earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Macromolecular Science and Engineering. In 2015, she received the Department of Defense (DoD) Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship and began research at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) in the Materials and Manufacturing Directorate (RX). As a graduate student, Dr. Brannum completed research in the AFRL Photonic Materials Branch on stimuli responsive cholesteric liquid crystalline elastomers as a part of the Responsive Photonic Materials Team led by Dr. Timothy J. White. Prior to assuming her current position, Dr. Brannum served as the Chief, Commander’s Action Group, AFRL. In this position, she led a team of high performing individuals that provided executive level support to Major General Heather L. Pringle, Commander of AFRL. She joined the AFRL Commander’s Action Group in 2020 as Communication Lead for Major General Pringle. As Communication Lead, she crafted messaging for speeches, briefings, and various products for audiences that include the workforce, government, private industry, and academia. Dr. Brannum started her professional career in 2019 at AFRL/RX as a Project Manager for the Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III Executive Agent Program Office (EAPO). There she executed the acquisition and management of over $70 million of programs for the Space and Rare Earth Industrial Base. Dr. Brannum became internationally recognized as a subject matter expert in the Rare Earth Element Supply Chain and served as a liaison between governments, industry, and academia. Dr. Brannum was instrumental in the Award of over $100 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Funding in less than 30 days leading to the preservation of hundreds of specialized jobs and capabilities for the military marine vessels and aircraft propulsion industrial bases.
PRE-LUNCHEON CHECK-IN / NETWORKING: 11:30AM-11:45AM
LUNCHEON TIME: 11:45AM-1:00PM
RSVP REQUIRED: 48 hours prior to the luncheon. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.
INDIVIDUAL REGISTRATION: Individual luncheons are $30 for pre-registered members, $35 for non-members/member walk-ins, and $40 for non-member walk-ins. You may pay online or by cash, check or credit card at the event. There is currently no charge for active duty and civilian government attendees, however, a registered no-show will be charged a nominal fee to cover the cost of the meal.
To find more information and register for other upcoming DWAFCEA Events click here.
DWAFCEA ANNUAL SPONSOR RESERVATIONS SHOULD ALSO BE SUBMITTED AT LEAST TWO (2) DAYS PRIOR TO THE LUNCHEON. Please complete and submit your registration by this deadline in order to guarantee your seats. Please also include the names of your corporate attendees upon submission of your request.
CANCELLATION POLICY: Reservations will be billed unless cancelled 24 hours prior to the luncheon by contacting lisa.reineke@seguetech.com or nick.bucher@jjrsolutions.com. No-shows will receive an e-mail notification regarding payment arrangements.
Thank you to our annual sponsors:
