The Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT) announces the appointment of Dr. Amy Thompson as its new Chief Training Officer (CTRO), effective September 1. Thompson will lead CCAT’s workforce, training, development and certification programs.
“Having Amy in this new senior role is critical to the growth of our organization as we are expanding our training footprint in the region,” said Ron Angelo, President and CEO of CCAT. “Her interdisciplinary industry, teaching and research experience in manufacturing, systems engineering, and engineering education, along with her deep understanding of advanced technologies, will be extremely valuable — not only to CCAT but to the entire manufacturing ecosystem.”
Thompson, who is widely respected in industry and academia, joins the organization after directing Systems Engineering education programs at higher education institutions for more than a decade, the most recent at UConn. She has received funding previously for her work from the U.S. Department of Energy, AFRL, NIUVT, Pratt & Whitney, Eversource, and United Illuminating. She most recently, in 2023, led the effort at UConn to win the DoE Renew America’s Schools grant for Connecticut, working with Bridgeport Public Schools, bringing over $4M in federal and state resources to improve energy efficiency at some of their schools, only one of 26 awards made nationally. Thompson also contributed to the development of the new U.S. DoE Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) at UConn, serving as an Assistant Director.
“I’m thrilled to join Ron and the team at CCAT. It’s an honor to have the opportunity to play an integral role in developing the organization’s training vision, strategic direction and future growth.”DR. AMY THOMPSON, CHIEF TRAINING OFFICER OF CCAT
“I feel privileged to work with state and national leaders in digital manufacturing to understand complex workforce needs and help strengthen the future of manufacturing,” said Thompson.
As CTRO, and a member of the executive team, Thompson will lead a transformation of CCAT’s approach to technical training to deliver programs to a broader, more diverse supply base and develop strategies and plans that meet short-term objectives and commitments and achieve long-term strategic objectives. Developing internal and external teams to operationalize and deliver on the developed plans will be key, as will developing new funding opportunities for training programs.
Most recently Thompson was an Associate Professor-In-Residence of Systems Engineering and Associate Director for the Pratt & Whitney Institute for Advanced Systems Engineering at UConn. Prior to joining UConn in 2017, she taught Systems Engineering courses and led the Systems Engineering program at the University of New Haven. Her interdisciplinary teaching and research merge the fields of energy-efficient and intelligent facilities, manufacturing systems engineering, model-based systems engineering (MBSE) for product development, supply chain design and operation, and engineering education. Her research group at UConn pursued best practices in MBSE for design and operation of complex products and systems. Dr. Thompson is the recipient of the US Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Merit Award Region 1 in 2017 for her collaborative work with the United Illuminating Company, running SmartBuildings CT.
Thompson earned her bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, master’s degree in manufacturing engineering and Ph.D. in industrial & systems engineering from the University of Rhode Island. She currently serves as a Director for the INCOSE (International Council on Systems Engineering) New England Chapter, and she has been appointed to be co-Chair for its International Symposium in 2024 and Chair in 2025, being recognized internationally in her field of Systems Engineering for service to her profession.
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About CCAT
CCAT, a non-profit organization founded in 2004 and headquartered in East Hartford, Conn., is a dynamic and innovative applied technology organization that leads regional and national partnerships that assist global industrial companies and the manufacturing supply chain across industry sectors in driving advancements, efficiencies, and the adoption of leading-edge technologies. Our vision is transformative solutions for a connected world, and our mission is to lead the advancement of applied technologies, power the workforce of the future, and inspire change.
Media Contact Denise Gordon, dgordon@ccat.us
