Key Takeaways
- SPEE3D has appointed Bryan O’Connor as its new Global CEO to accelerate U.S. market penetration.
- Co‑founder Byron Kennedy will relocate to the United States to oversee the company’s expanding American operations.
- The firm’s first U.S. facility—an applications‑testing and assembly hub in New Hampshire—opened in 2022 and now serves as the launchpad for a growing defense‑focused portfolio.
- SPEE3D’s cold‑spray metal AM technology was showcased in a mobile expeditionary‑manufacturing demo at RIMPAC 2026, underscoring its relevance to modern expeditionary logistics.
SPEE3D’s Strategic Shift Toward the United States
From “Australian‑born” to “American‑focused”
When I interviewed SPEE3D’s co‑founder Byron Kennedy in 2023, I described the company as “the most American 3D‑printing firm,” a tongue‑in‑cheek nod to its rapid adoption by U.S. defense programs despite its Australian roots (founded in 2015 in Melbourne). The comment highlighted a broader trend: the U.S. defense sector is increasingly turning to metal additive manufacturing (AM) to shorten supply chains and field‑repair equipment on‑the‑fly.
New Leadership, New Momentum
- Bryan O’Connor assumes the role of Global CEO effective September 2026.
- O’Connor brings 22 years of defense‑industry experience, most recently serving as General Manager for Space & Defense at Moog Inc., where he oversaw a $150 M portfolio across the Asia‑Pacific region.
- His background aligns with SPEE3D’s goal of embedding its cold‑spray technology deeper into the U.S. defense supply chain and expanding Indo‑Pacific support.
Byron Kennedy’s U.S. Relocation
Kennedy, who co‑founded SPEE3D, will move from Australia to the United States to act as senior liaison for government contracts, technology integration, and strategic partnerships. While his exact title remains undisclosed, his presence is expected to strengthen relationships with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
U.S. Footprint: Facilities and Demonstrations
| Facility | Location | Opened | Primary Functions | Notable Milestones |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold‑Spray OEM Hub | Rochester, NH | 2022 | Applications testing, final‑part assembly, field support | First mobile expeditionary‑manufacturing demo at RIMPAC 2026 |
| Future Expansion Site | Planned – Texas | TBD | High‑volume production, logistics hub | Targeting 2028 for full‑scale operations |
- The Rochester, NH hub occupies 12,000 sq ft, employs a skeleton crew of 15 engineers and technicians, yet has already processed over 1,200 kg of cold‑sprayed metal parts for U.S. Navy trials.
- The RIMPAC 2026 demo featured a mobile cold‑spray unit (7 ft × 4 ft × 6 ft) capable of producing 10 kg of structural repair components per hour, proving the technology’s suitability for forward‑deployed units.
Leadership Comparison
| Attribute | Byron Kennedy | Bryan O’Connor |
|---|---|---|
| Role at SPEE3D | Co‑founder, former CEO, now U.S. liaison | New Global CEO |
| Industry Tenure | 12 years in metal AM (founder) | 22 years in aerospace & defense |
| Previous Employer | SPEE3D (founder) | Moog Inc. (GM, Space & Defense) |
| Key Expertise | Cold‑spray technology development, start‑up scaling | Large‑scale program management, international defense contracts |
| Geographic Focus | Australia → U.S. transition | Asia‑Pacific → Global (U.S.‑centric) |
Why the Change Matters for U.S. Defense
- Supply‑Chain Resilience – Cold‑spray AM can repair or replace mission‑critical parts on‑site, reducing logistics lead times from weeks to hours.
- Cost Efficiency – Material utilization rates exceed 95 %, compared with ~70 % for traditional subtractive processes.
- Regulatory Alignment – With a U.S.-based CEO and senior leadership, SPEE3D can more readily meet ITAR and DFARS compliance requirements, smoothing the path for DoD contracts valued at $200 M+ over the next five years.
Bottom Line
SPEE3D’s appointment of Bryan O’Connor as Global CEO signals a decisive pivot toward the United States, leveraging his defense‑industry pedigree to accelerate adoption of cold‑spray metal additive manufacturing across the DoD. Coupled with Byron Kennedy’s relocation to oversee on‑the‑ground operations, the company is poised to expand its modest New Hampshire footprint into a full‑scale U.S. production network. The successful RIMPAC 2026 mobile demo underscores the technology’s operational relevance, positioning SPEE3D as a critical enabler of expeditionary manufacturing for the next generation of U.S. military logistics.