The National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM), in collaboration with America Makes, is proud to announce the appointment of Megan Malara, Ph.D., as Director of the new Youngstown Innovation Hub for Aerospace and Defense.
Dr. Malara, a native of the Youngstown area, will lead the Hub’s mission to transform the Northeast Ohio region into a global center for advanced manufacturing innovation, workforce development, and economic growth. The initiative builds on America Makes’ decade-long legacy and more than $400M in federal additive manufacturing (AM) funding, serving as a national proving ground for next-generation technologies.
“Megan brings a powerful combination of technical expertise, policy experience, and industry leadership to this role,” said Jim Fisher, COO and Vice President at NCDMM. “Her vision and track record of impact will help us accelerate innovation at scale, strengthening defense supply chains, fueling workforce development, and positioning Youngstown as a national leader in advanced manufacturing.”
Previously, Dr. Malara served as Director of the Medical Modeling, Materials, and Manufacturing (M4) Division at The Ohio State University’s Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence (CDME), where she led cross-disciplinary teams of engineers and clinicians to develop advanced manufacturing solutions for patient care. She also served as a Legislative Fellow in the U.S. Congress through the AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowship, addressing public health, STEM education, and healthcare financing.