A Vision for the Manufacturing USA Program in 2030 and 2035 (2026)
Chapter: Appendix D: Disclosure of Unavoidable Conflicts of Interest
Appendix D
Disclosure of Unavoidable Conflicts of Interest
The conflict-of-interest policy of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (http://www.nationalacademies.org/coi) prohibits the appointment of an individual to a committee authoring a Consensus Study Report if the individual has a conflict of interest that is relevant to the task to be performed. An exception to this prohibition is permitted if the National Academies determine that the conflict is unavoidable and the conflict is publicly disclosed. A determination of a conflict of interest for an individual is not an assessment of that individual’s actual behavior or character or ability to act objectively despite the conflicting interest.
Carroll Thomas has a conflict in relation to her service on the Committee on a Vision for the Manufacturing USA Program for 2030 and 2035 because of her position as chair on the board of the SMART USA Institute and membership on the board of Manufacturing x Digital (MxD), a Manufacturing USA institute. The National Academies have concluded that for the committee to accomplish the tasks for which it was established, its membership must include at least one member with current experience working directly with the Manufacturing USA institutes in establishing, maintaining, and engaging membership of stakeholders in targeted technologies and sectors across the innovation ecosystem. Likewise, as described in her biographical summary, as chair of the SMART USA Institute board, a member of MxD board, and as prior director of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Thomas has helped facilitate collaborations and partnerships across federal and state governments, academic institutions, industry, and foreign governments. Her expertise and experience leading a national network of manufacturing experts focused on global competition, particularly regarding small and medium-sized manufacturing and supply chain management, and contributions to U.S. manufacturing strategic policy and investment on a national level address several critical areas in the statement of task. The National Academies have determined that the experience and
expertise of Thomas are needed for the committee to accomplish the task for which it has been established. The National Academies could not find another available individual with the equivalent experience and expertise who did not have a conflict of interest. Therefore, the National Academies have concluded that the conflict is unavoidable. The National Academies believe that Thomas can serve effectively as a member of the committee, and the committee can produce an objective report, considering the composition of the committee, the work to be performed, and the procedures to be followed in completing the study.
Thomas R. Kurfess has a conflict in relation to his service on the Committee on a Vision for the Manufacturing USA Program in 2030 and 2035 because he serves on the board of directors of the Manufacturing Technology Deployment Group, Inc., the parent company of America Makes; serves on the Executive Council of MxD, and serves as the chief manufacturing and energy officer of the Cybersecurity Manufacturing Innovation Institute. The National Academies have concluded that for the committee to accomplish the tasks for which it was established, its membership must include at least one member with current experience working directly with one or more of the Manufacturing USA institutes to help inform recommendations for mechanisms for cross-institute and cross-agency efforts to develop new technologies, review funding models. and survey best practices at specific Manufacturing USA institutes. As described in his biographical summary, Kurfess in his senior roles at several Manufacturing USA Institutes and his prior positions as chief manufacturing officer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and former assistant director for Advanced Manufacturing at the Office of Science and Technology Policy has extensive expertise and experience in strategic planning for advanced manufacturing, coordinating federal advanced manufacturing R&D, and carrying out research focusing on large-scale production enterprises at Georgia Tech, which addresses several critical areas in the statement of task. The National Academies have determined that the experience and expertise of Kurfess are needed for the committee to accomplish the task for which it has been established. The National Academies could not find another available individual with equivalent experience and expertise who did not have a conflict of interest. Therefore, the National Academies have concluded that the conflict is unavoidable. The National Academies believe that Kurfess can serve effectively as a member of the committee, and the committee can produce an objective report, considering the composition of the committee, the work to be performed, and the procedures to be followed in completing the study.
