From Rural Roots to Aerospace & Defense Innovation: Dan’s Path to Digital Transformation
Growing up in a small rural town surrounded by the cornfields near DeKalb in Northern Illinois, Dan Hartman never dreamed he would someday be developing and implementing automated manufacturing systems to produce Aerospace and Defense products. From an early age, Dan was always intrigued with all things mechanical – how they worked and how they were made.
In high school, his parents bought him his first technology device, an HP Scientific Calculator. His classmates loved watching him outpace the Chemistry teacher, effortlessly solving equations on his HP calculator before the teacher could manually finish writing them on the chalkboard. A career in computer technologies was to be his future. Before graduating high school, Dan had his college plans all set. He would spend the first two years at Kishwaukee Community College before transferring to the University of Illinois to major in Computer Engineering. However, those plans changed during his first semester when he was set up on a blind date with Stacy, a student at Northern Illinois University (NIU) in DeKalb.
Plans for transferring to the University of Illinois quickly faded away, and a new college major in Numerical Control Technology at NIU became his path forward. This field, known as Computer Numerical Control (CNC), combined computer technology, and programming to automate machining—a perfect fit for his interests. Shortly after graduation, that fateful blind date at NIU led to a lifelong partnership, he and Stacy married, and this year, they celebrate their 37th wedding anniversary.
In 1987, Dan moved far away from the cornfields of Illinois to work for a Department of Energy facility in Colorado. Over the next 37 years, Dan developed, implemented, and managed Advanced Manufacturing Technologies, Digital Manufacturing, and Engineering in Aerospace, Defense, and heavy equipment industries. A few of the Aerospace and Defense projects he has worked on include the JSF LiftFan system at Rolls-Royce, F18 E/F Landing Gear & F22 Wheels/Brakes at Honeywell Aerospace, F119 prototype development at Pratt & Whitney and Nuclear Weapons for the DoE. Dan has led the design and build of new manufacturing facilities and rebuilt legacy facilities to modern Digital/Industry 4.0 capabilities. He is a Six-Sigma Greenbelt, Lean Expert, and a founding team member of the Manufacturing USA Institute - MxD (formerly known as DMDII - Digital Manufacturing Design Innovation Institute).
Throughout Dan’s career, he learned two valuable traits that are common across highly successful organizations - leadership and teamwork. His journey from rural Illinois to the forefront of Aerospace and Defense manufacturing has shown him that strong leadership, both visionary and people-focused, is essential for long-term success. Likewise, high-performance teams aligned toward a shared vision and common goals are among the most powerful assets an organization can cultivate. These principles have shaped Dan’s career and are key reasons why he joined The Barnes Global Advisors in November 2024. In his new role as Digital Transformation ADDvisor®, Dan will be expanding the extensive services provided by the The Barnes Global Advisors to include digital integration of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies and Smart Manufacturing/Industry 4.0 transformations.
Interestingly, his career and personal life share a common theme: sometimes, the best opportunities are the ones you don’t see coming. Much like a blind date that changed the course of his life, digital manufacturing is about uncovering potential that isn’t immediately visible. With the right technology, vision, and collaboration, manufacturing facilities and systems can evolve into something far greater. Dan has spent his career transforming manufacturing—applying digital tools, automation, and innovation to bring unseen possibilities to life.