irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2025
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $2.56MDEVELOP ADVANCED OPTIC MANFACTURING TECHNOLOGIES, TESTING EQUIPMENT, AND THE SPECIALIZED MATERIALS REQUIRED TO SUPPORT SCALABLE MANUFACTURING.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
COM-Lab
10,000 sq. ft. shared manufacturing facility providing access to state-of-the-art optics fabrication and metrology equipment for industry, government, and academic users to develop and prototype precision optical components.
Defense Precision Optics Consortium (DPOC)
Member-based consortium that evaluates precision optics manufacturing technology, implements performance standards, mitigates supply chain risks, and coordinates R&D efforts to strengthen the U.S. defense optics industrial base.
Learn AmeriCOM
Technical training platform providing optics and photonics education resources to expand workforce development and support training programs nationwide.
Precision Optics Training Program
Nationwide workforce initiative partnering with community colleges and vocational centers to train optics technicians through coordinated curriculum development, apprenticeships, and industry collaboration.
Research Solicitations
Competitive R&D funding program supporting projects in optical fabrication automation, advanced materials, coating and metrology techniques, and germanium recovery, with awards up to $800,000.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Training 5 activities
- Conducts outreach and marketing to promote optics technician careersRuns national outreach and marketing campaigns to raise awareness about optics technician careers, targeting K–12 students, educators, school districts, science museums, and STEM clubs. Includes participation in CTE Job Shadow Week and veteran transition support programs.
- Coordinates industry-education partnerships for technician developmentCoordinates collaboration among training providers, manufacturers, and government agencies to align curriculum with industry needs and expand the optics technician pipeline. Convenes regional manufacturing clusters to advise community college programs, with industry partners contributing equipment, faculty, scholarships, and career events.
- Develops and delivers optics manufacturing workforce training programsEstablishes training centers nationwide and implements a standardized Optics Technician curriculum in community colleges and vocational centers. Offers free self-paced online courses through the Learn AmeriCOM platform, issues certificates of completion, and supports dual-enrollment, associate degree, and university transfer pathways. Collaborates with OptiPro to deliver OptiPro U training.
- Manages and scales optics education programs in partnership with academic institutionsSupports the launch and expansion of optics programs at academic institutions such as Keene State College and in New Hampshire, ensuring full capacity and contributing to the national pipeline of precision optics technicians.
- Supports apprenticeships and workforce placement in optics manufacturingFacilitates “learn while you earn” apprenticeship programs and connects employers with future optics technicians to support career advancement and workforce placement, including success stories of individual graduates entering the field.
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Vision Research Funding 1 activity
- Funds external research projects through grantsProvides grant funding for research projects in optics and materials science, with awards such as up to $800,000 over two years for germanium recovery, $500,000 for optical detection proof-of-concept, and $100,000 for low-cost fast-steering mirror design.
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Research Facility Management 1 activity
- Operates shared-use advanced manufacturing laboratoryOperates a 10,000 sq. ft. COM-Lab facility equipped with advanced fabrication and metrology tools, providing access to industry, government, and academic partners for prototyping and process development. DPOC members and qualified technicians can rent equipment time and collaborate with AmeriCOM staff.
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Hands-On STEM Education Programs 1 activity
- Provides educator training and STEM engagement in opticsConducts immersive workshops for K–12 educators on optics, photonics, and semiconductors, offering hands-on training and behind-the-scenes facility tours. Supports broad STEM education outreach, providing hands-on learning opportunities to thousands of students.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Conducts applied research in advanced optical manufacturingDevelops advanced optical manufacturing technologies, testing equipment, and specialized materials to support scalable and defense-relevant manufacturing. Research focuses on Manufacturing Readiness Levels 4 to 7, including automation with machine learning, novel recyclable infrared materials, advanced coating and metrology techniques, and high-energy laser optics. The organization utilizes or develops systems like ODIS for defect inspection and participates in applied research at events such as Optifab.
- Provides project-based engineering and fabrication servicesOffers engineering services in optical manufacturing and metrology, charging for project-specific materials at cost plus labor, with overhead and surcharges included for custom tooling, hazardous materials, and hard materials processing.
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financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$5.91M
Contributions & grants$5.86M99%
Program service revenue$56K1%
Investment income$1K0%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$5.70M
Program expenses78%
Admin / overhead22%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$1.47M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$7.69M
Cash$378K
Investments$0
Liabilities$6.81M
Net assets$875K
Liquid reserves0.8 mo
4 years on record · 2021–2025 · YoY revenue +19.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 12
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVE SHELTON | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | 40 | $258K |
| JUSTIN SIGLEY | CHIEF SCIENTIST | 40 | $180K |
| MAGDAMAR HERNANDEZ OTERO | PROGRAM MANAGER | 40 | $105K |
| BIRGIT GILLMAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | $5K |
| BOB BICKSLER | DIRECTOR | 1 | $5K |
| JENNIFER CABLE | DIRECTOR | 1 | $5K |
| JESSICA NELSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | $5K |
| KIRKLAND J WARDEN | DIRECTOR | 0 | $5K |
| LEN CHALOUX | DIRECTOR | 1 | $5K |
| MICHAEL J BECHTOLD | DIRECTOR | 2 | $5K |
| RICK PLYMPTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | $5K |
| RONALD DRIGGERS | DIRECTOR | 1 | $3K |
board members · 1
- JOHN SCHAEFER — DIRECTOR
relationships · 33
Who they work with
- DPOC Network — Member of the Defense Production for Optics Consortium (DPOC), collaborating with member organizations to strengthen the defense optics industrial base.
- Department of War Government — Jointly sets priorities and directs execution of AmeriCOM's research agenda through an advisory and review board.
- Edmund Optics Partner — Board member affiliated with Edmund Optics serves as Vice President of Precision Optics and Technology Development.
- Edmund Optics Partner — Hosted the 3-day teacher workshop and provided facility access for hands-on training and tours.
- FRCC Partner — Partner institution collaborating on optics program development.
- Gallatin College Network — Member of AmeriCOM’s Workforce Training Network.
- JML Optical Industries Partner — Board member is former President & CEO of JML Optical Industries.
- Justin Sigley Partner — Chief Scientist at AmeriCOM who serves as contact for research-related inquiries.
- Keene State College Partner — Partner institution with a successful optics program supported by AmeriCOM workforce outreach.
- Keene State College Partner — Partnered to launch and support the precision optics program at full capacity.
- LaCroix Precision Optics Partner — Board member serves as President of LaCroix Precision Optics.
- Moore Nanotechnology Systems Partner — Board member is co-founder & president emeritus of Moore Nanotechnology Systems.
- OptiPro Partner — Partners with AmeriCOM to offer OptiPro U technician training.
- OptiPro Systems Partner — Board member serves as President of OptiPro Systems.
- Pima JTED Partner — Partnered to support a 3-day teacher workshop on optics and photonics education.
- Raytheon Technologies Partner — Board member serves as Senior Technical Fellow at Raytheon Technologies.
- SCOP – Southwest Center for Optics and Photonics Partner — Partnered to support a 3-day teacher workshop on optics and photonics education.
- SEMI Foundation Partner — Partnered to support a 3-day teacher workshop on optics and photonics education.
- SPIE Partner — Collaborates with SPIE on events such as Optifab and Defense + Security to advance optics manufacturing workforce development.
- Spark Photonics Foundation Partner — Partnered to support a 3-day teacher workshop on optics and photonics education.
- Sussex County Community College Partner — Partner school involved in AmeriCOM workforce training and outreach.
- U.S. Department of Defense Government — Selected AmeriCOM to lead workforce development under the National Imperative for Industrial Skills program to strengthen the nation’s precision optics manufacturing base.
- University of Arizona College of Optical Sciences Partner — Board member is professor at University of Arizona College of Optical Sciences.
- Valencia College Partner — Collaborates with AmeriCOM on optics technician training using a short-course model.
- Zygo Corporation Partner — Board member is retired director from Zygo Corporation.
- academic partners Partner — Works with academic partners to advance research and workforce development in precision optics manufacturing.
- educators Partner — Partners with educators to develop practical optics manufacturing training.
- government partners Government — Collaborates with government partners to secure the advanced manufacturing industrial base and expand workforce opportunities.
- industrial partners Partner — Collaborates with industrial partners to develop advanced optic manufacturing technologies and strengthen the manufacturing workforce.
- manufacturing partners Partner — Collaborates with manufacturing partners to gather feedback and shape training content on Learn AmeriCOM.
+ 3 more
strategies · 2
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Industry-Aligned Workforce Developmentmethodology: industry-aligned-workforce-pathwaysBy co-designing training programs with industry, academic, and government partners, the organization ensures workforce skills directly match real manufacturing needs, because collaboration across sectors produces more relevant, up-to-date, and adoptable skill pathways that reduce skills gaps and increase employment alignment.
- Research-to-Production Translationmethodology: research-to-productionBy bridging lab-based research with industrial partner collaboration, the organization turns advanced optics innovations into scalable, sustainable manufacturing operations, because integrating R&D with real-world production constraints accelerates commercialization and adoption.