Five nuclear-powered, fast-attack submarines from Submarine Squadron 15 are based at Polaris Point on Naval Base Guam, a key hub for U.S. military operations in the Western Pacific. (James Caliva/U.S. Navy)
A Maryland-based nonprofit is moving ahead with plans to build a facility on Guam that will allow the Navy to 3D print submarine components on demand, a move aimed at bolstering both military readiness and the island’s economy.
The Applied Science & Technology Research Organization of America, or ASTRO America, is spearheading the Guam Advanced Material & Manufacturing Accelerator project, or GAMMA.
The group received $5 million from the Navy in fiscal year 2024 and expects an additional $12 million in the coming months to begin the first phase, according to Neal Orringer, the group’s president.
The facility, expected to cost about $40 million and be fully operational within three years, would enable Guam-based submarines to produce parts at the point of need, reducing downtime and reliance on distant supply chains.
“By advancing cutting-edge manufacturing capabilities, this project will not only strengthen U.S. national security but also position Guam as a leader in the Indo-Pacific for innovation, education, and economic development,” Orringer said in an April 3 email to Stars and Stripes.
Five nuclear-powered, fast-attack submarines from Submarine Squadron 15 are based at Polaris Point on Naval Base Guam, a key hub for U.S. military operations in the Western Pacific.
In February 2024, Vice Adm. Scott Pappano, then the program executive officer for Strategic Submarines, described the project as a “national imperative for advanced manufacturing capability” for ships and submarines in a strategic location, according to an ASTRO news release.
The new manufacturing complex will feature a lab, classrooms, a conference room and office space, and is expected to create between 85 and 100 jobs. Temporary facilities for classroom and tech work are scheduled to come online within six to eight months, Orringer said.
He did not disclose an anticipated location for the project, but said specifics will be announced in the coming months.
While GAMMA’s primary mission is to support the Navy, its capabilities are expected to reach other sectors. A satellite campus from a mainland U.S. engineering university will partner with the University of Guam and Guam Community College to offer degrees and certifications focused on advanced manufacturing.
The technology developed at GAMMA may eventually expand to aerospace, automotive, construction and other industries, according to a June 2024 implementation plan.
The project aligns with Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero’s broader goal of diversifying the island’s economy. She announced on March 27 that the Maritime Industrial Base Program had signed a $40 million contract with ASTRO America after a meeting with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to the Pacific Island Times.
“This means economic improvement, more jobs for our people, more training for our people,” Leon Guerrero said at a March 27 news conference posted online by KUAM-TV, adding that the benefits could reach beyond the military into the broader civilian community.
