ASTRO forms academic link-up to back training aspect of Guam's 3D printing project

By Pacific Island Times News Staff

The Applied Science & Technology Research Organization of America, or ASTRO America, has formed a partnership with Colorado School of Mines and the University of Guam to establish a satellite campus that will provide the academic infrastructure to support the development of a 3D printing industry on island.

The program is designed to develop a highly skilled workforce capable of supporting additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, for both national defense and Guam’s growing civilian economy.

ASTRO leads the Guam Additive Materials & Manufacturing Accelerator initiative in collaboration with the government of Guam.

Earlier this month, ASTRO and local officials broke ground on the 3D printing factory in Dededo.

“This collaboration between a top-tier mainland university and a leading Guam institution brings a premier engineering program to the island while supporting a strategic workforce need for the U.S. Navy’s maritime industrial base and beyond,” said Neal Orringer, president of ASTRO America.

 “Colorado School of Mines is a recognized leader in mechanical and manufacturing engineering, and together with a crucial foundational component offered by the University of Guam, these colleges’ dual presence will provide the next generation with world-class instruction in technologies that are reshaping defense and industrial production worldwide," he added.

Enrolled students will have the opportunity to achieve degrees in mechanical engineering, receiving introductory coursework in the first two years from the University of Guam and mechanical engineering education from Colorado School of Mines in the final two years, focused on additive manufacturing and advanced production methods, with Mines faculty teaching students on-island.

The new academic pathway will allow students in Guam and across the Pacific to complete a four-year mechanical engineering degree without leaving the island, a first in Guam’s history.

Colorado School of Mines, a R1 research university focused on applied science and engineering ranked in the top 40 public schools by U.S. News & World Report, will deliver specialized mechanical engineering education with a focus on additive manufacturing to students on-island.

"We're excited for this new partnership because of what it offers students, the universities, and the U.S. Navy,” said Paul C. Johnson, president of Colorado School of Mines.

“The students receive the opportunity to earn a Mines degree in Guam, the University of Guam and Colorado School of Mines benefit from the investment in state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing facilities and closer ties to the Navy and supporting industries in the Pacific – both of which will benefit from the graduates, innovation, and capabilities that grow out of this strategic partnership."

Anita Borja Enriquez, UOG president, said the new programs "expand local access to quality education and are closely tied to workforce development — preparing our students for careers in advanced manufacturing and additive technology, industries that are growing quickly and will shape the region’s future."

The Navy is evaluating a planned option that would enable ASTRO America to lead a $12 million expansion to support curriculum rollout, laboratory infrastructure, equipment procurement, and student recruitment.

The potential investment would build on an existing $5 million effort already underway.

As final arrangements are completed, academic planning is underway for the first cohort of students, with classes expected to begin in Fall 2026. These programs will serve both civilian and military-connected learners and will expand Guam’s role as a regional hub for innovation, manufacturing, and workforce development.

Subscribe to

our monthly

digital edition