The Composites Institute® and the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) today announced the inaugural Build Freedom Summit, a national event bringing together leaders from manufacturing, defense, education, government, and workforce development to strengthen America’s advanced manufacturing workforce and defense industrial base.
Sponsored by IACMI and TEES Workforce Development, with support from the Department of War’s Office of Industrial Base Policy, the summit will be held October 20-21, 2026, in Galveston, Texas. A career expo hosted by the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership will follow on October 22, connecting attendees with leading employers through in-person interviews.
For decades, critical knowledge and skilled trades have been allowed to fade. The Build Freedom Summit will focus on the challenges and opportunities shaping the revitalized future of American manufacturing, including advanced manufacturing technologies, metallurgy, defense industrial base readiness, workforce development strategies, K–12 engagement, and career pathways.
“The strength of America’s manufacturing base depends on developing the skilled workforce needed to meet today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities,” said IACMI Education and Workforce Director Andrew Pokelwaldt. “The Build Freedom Summit is designed to bring together leaders from across sectors to share ideas, build partnerships, and accelerate workforce solutions that bolster U.S. advanced manufacturing and national security.”