Passion and Purpose in AM - A Program Management Perspective
A Legacy of Hands-On Learning
Growing up in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, Ethan Clare was instilled with a strong work ethic and a hands-on approach to life. His father, a mechanical and electrical engineer, played a pivotal role in shaping his early interests in engineering and technical craftsmanship. Through woodworking, metalworking, and various projects, he gained valuable skills and learned how to read blueprints, setting the foundation for his future technical pursuits.
Journey into Program Management
Ethan spent 7 years with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, spearheading initiatives that were vital to advancing defense platforms. In The F-35 Program Management Office, he led cross-functional teams that delivered over $1 billion in contract awards, helping modernize advanced technologies and mission systems. His contributions accelerated the development and qualification of metal and polymer additive manufacturing for mission-critical components and systems.
Ethan next brought his passion for additive manufacturing to nTopology, an innovative software start-up focused on Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM). Establishing the company’s first customer success team, he built and managed a $2 million+ business portfolio and nurtured strategic relationships with leading aerospace and defense companies.
Delivering in Advanced Manufacturing
Driven by a sense of purpose to serve his country and make an impact, Ethan joined TBGA as a program manager in the Fall of 2022. His expertise and passion set him up perfectly to advise the U.S. Navy's Program Executive Office Strategic Submarine (PEO SSBN). He has dedicated himself to the Navy’s mission to ramp up submarine production to 1 Columbia class and 2 Virginia class nuclear subs per year using advanced manufacturing technologies.
Ethan carries the conviction expressed by leaders before him: “To maintain global leadership, America must transform how and where we manufacture.” He is convinced the rapid adoption of advanced manufacturing, especially additive, is critical for sustaining U.S. prominence on a global stage. In his advisory role, Ethan draws on his diverse background to identify solutions that strengthen domestic supply chains, ensure resilient production capability and capacity, and qualify transformative manufacturing technologies for the submarine fleet.
Accomplishments
F-35 Follow-On Modernization: Led proposal, capture, and execution efforts on $1B program.
B61-12 Nuclear Weapon Integration: Managed the integration of the B61-12 nuclear weapon onto the F-35A variant, aligning with national defense priorities.
Metal AM Heat Exchanger Development: Worked on the earliest developments of a metal AM heat exchanger for the F-35 fighter, taking it from TRL 2 to TRL 8.
USSOCOM SOFWERX Hackathon Competitions: Led Lockheed Martin's team to victory in multiple USSOCOM SOFWERX Hackathon competitions, demonstrating their commitment to solving challenging problems for the warfighter.
Deputy of Mission Systems: Propelled innovations for next-generation unmanned flight vehicles with the Skunk Works. With a mission-systems focus, Ethan pioneered transformative initiatives, venturing into uncharted territories to create never-before-made technologies. His efforts underscore the power of vision, resilience, and collaboration in manufacturing and engineering.
U.S. Navy Program Executive Office for Strategic Submarines (PEO SSBN) Technology Development Team: Leveraging metal AM to augment the casting supply chain and meet submarine production schedules critical to national security.