IV. Subcommittee Session 
Subcommittees Overview

Created to aid in NIST’s efforts to support America’s competitiveness in the global economy 

Vinton Cerf 

(Chair)

George Fischer Katharine Ku Eric Kaler David Griffith

(PCO Rotator)

Visibility Improvement

David Vasko

(Chair)

Michelle Parker Mehmood Kha Dimitrios Meritis

(PCO Rotator)

Alignment of Manufacturing Efforts

Gail FolenaWasserman 

(Chair)

Anthony 

Johnson

Keoki

Jackson

Lisa Ng

(PCO Rotator)

Workforce Development Efforts
VCAT Subcommittee on Visibility 

Improvement Update

Subcommittee Chair: Dr. Vinton G. Cerf

Subcommittee Members:

Mr. George Fischer

Dr. Eric Kaler

Ms. Katharine Ku
VCAT Subcommittee on Visibility Improvement

This subcommittee will report to the VCAT and make recommendations on the 

following, among other related topics:

• Developing clear messaging to effectively communicate NIST's value across 

stakeholder groups

• Mechanisms for the strategic delivery of NIST's messaging

• Approaches for increasing the exposure of key stakeholders to NIST' s critical work 

driving American innovation
Actions taken

Subcommittee met in September and October

• NIST PCO analyst presented background information on existing visibility 

efforts at NIST and DOC

• Subcommittee decided to reach out to subject matter expert for 

consultation

• Investigate the use of polling to gain additional insights into NIST’s visibility 

and what approaches would benefit the agency

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Future actions

Subcommittee plans additional meetings

• Subcommittee will prepare recommendations for VCAT discussion prior to 

February VCAT meeting with NIST leadership

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VCAT Subcommittee on Workforce 

Development Update

Subcommittee Chair: Dr. Gail Folena-Wasserman 

Subcommittee Members:

Dr. Keoki Jackson (VCAT Vice Chair) 

Dr. Anthony Johnson
a

Charged to report to the VCAT and make recommendations on the following, among 

other related topics to create a more equitable employee engagement experience 

and promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA):

• Academic programs for students for pipeline development and nurturing the science, 

technology, engineering and math (STEM) workforce

• Expansion of Manufacturing USA Institute training efforts

• Pilot programs to help women return to the workforce after a prolonged absence

VCAT Subcommittee on Workforce 

Development Efforts
Actions taken

Subcommittee met in September and October

• NIST PCO analyst presented background information on existing workforce 

development efforts at NIST and DOC

• Each of three charges delegated to a subcommittee member to lead draft 

plan of action

• Visiting technical experts (VTE) engaged

• One academic subject matter expert included on committee full time

• Presentation on an external program on building a STEM talent pipeline

• Manufacturing USA VTEs consulted

• Several potential academic and industry experts on special topics identified

• Drafting plans of action to recommendations

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Future Actions

Subcommittee to meet biweekly

• Gather data on needs, existing offerings and identified gaps related to each 

of the 3 charges

• Solicit additional external expert feedback 

• Identify other data sources

• Visiting technical experts panel on challenges faced in returning to work following 

prolonged absence

• Gather data on employee engagement and DEIA status related to each of 

the 3 charges

• Prepare recommendations

• Solicit feedback from external experts through working sessions with VCAT

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VCAT Subcommittee on Alignment of 

Manufacturing Efforts Update

Subcommittee Chair: Mr. David Vasko

Subcommittee Members:

Dr. Michelle Parker

Dr. Mehmood Khan
VCAT Subcommittee on Alignment of Manufacturing Efforts

Charged with envisioning ways and providing recommendations for NIST's programs:

1. better integrate and align to effectively span the innovation continuum

2. deliver solutions that enables industry to accelerate competitiveness and impact

To examine the alignment of NIST laboratory outputs, MEP and Manufacturing USA.

To report to the Committee and make recommendations on the following, among other 

related topics:

1. strategic use of the CHIPS Act to establish alignment

2. benchmarking against Germany's Fraunhofer and other similar organizations for best practices

3. development of a matching concierge service to make connections between laboratories, 

MEP, and Manufacturing USA

Solving industry 

challenges together 

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Actions taken

Meeting 01 held on 27 SEP 2022

• NIST PCO Program Analyst and SMEs presented background information on

1. CHIPS Act Implementation

2. an initiative by “America Works” in Germany

3. an update of MATTR, MATTR+, and MEP-MFG USA Advanced Tech Team

Meeting 02 held on 11 OCT 2022

• NIST Office of Advanced Manufacturing briefing on Advanced 

Manufacturing International Benchmarking

Both meetings featured robust discussion and follow-on 

assignments

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Future actions

Subcommittee plans additional meetings

• Meeting 03 scheduled for 01 NOV 2022 (agenda in draft)

1. MEP-MFG USA engagement and findings from the embedding pilot

2. Tech transfer

• Subcommittee will prepare recommendations for VCAT discussion prior to 

February VCAT meeting with NIST leadership

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Discussion
VCAT Subcommittees Discussion

• Are there additional external visiting experts that the 

Subcommittee should consider?

• How can NIST help?

• Timeline for VCAT recommendations

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Thank You