CMTC is led by an exceptional team with vast experience and expertise across
the composites manufacturing domain.
Executive Director
Ryan Frankart's Biography
Mr. Frankart is a Program Manager on the ATI Naval Technologies Division team serving as the Director of the Composites Manufacturing Technology Center contract. Duties include supporting the team in managing the Center performance including the identification and development of new projects, ensuring successful execution of active projects, managing Center finances, etc.
Prior to joining ATI, Ryan worked as Mechanical Design Engineer designing custom automation equipment for a variety of industries including automotive, medical, energy and military. Job responsibilities included designing automation equipment to customer specifications within an allotted schedule and budget, troubleshooting assembly and process issues related to the equipment and ensuring equipment exceeded customer expectations. Mr. Frankart was also involved in assisting customers with quality issues on existing product lines. Internally, Ryan was responsible for assisting an assigned group of peers with 3-D modeling related training and troubleshooting. Ryan was also involved in improving internal processes ranging from purchasing improvements to automated software to improve efficiency. He also spent significant time working with the Applications department and the Sales team to develop new projects and acquire new customers.
Prior to his first full time position after graduating from the University of Dayton, Ryan maintained a co-op position throughout most of his college career designing high speed conversion systems to make pop-tops for the beverage/canning industry. Areas of involvement included the design of extremely high precision metal forming tooling and press automation equipment. Ryan was also involved in development of new pop-top designs for the food and beverage industry.
Ryan obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Dayton in 2005.
Technical Director
Nick Melillo's Biography
Previously, Nick was a senior manager at Boeing Research and Technology. He started with the Boeing Company in 1984 as a structures engineer, and supported the development of several Boeing products, including the RAH-66 Comanche, V-22 Osprey, YF-23, F/A18-E/F Super Hornet, MD-11, and T-45 Goshawk. He also led the airframe and subsystems development for the Phantom Eye Hydrogen powered unmanned demonstrator aircraft. His most recent positon was leading a structures technology development team, transitioning technology on Boeing platforms.
Nick was born in New Haven, Connecticut. He holds a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering and an MBA from Saint Louis University, and an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Widener University.
Financial Manager
Melissa Frady's Biography
Ms. Frady is a Sr. Financial Analyst supporting the Naval Technologies Division at ATI.
She currently serves as the Naval Technologies Division Lead Analyst and the Financial Manager for all three ATI-managed Navy ManTech CoEs (i.e., CMTC, CNM, and NSAM). Ms. Frady joined the SCRA/ATI team in 2006. She has extensive knowledge in program management, program & project cost proposals, and ATI cost structure. Ms. Frady currently mentors division financial analysts and oversees the division financial progress.
Prior to joining ATI, Ms. Frady was employed as an Accountant by AnMed Health in Anderson, South Carolina. She managed the non-patient accounts receivable system and corresponding general ledger accounts; reconciled patient accounts receivable; prepared month-end journal entries; and, assisted with the annual external audit. Ms. Frady began her career employed as a Financial Analyst with Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Charleston, European Regional Office (SPAWAR Europe) in Stuttgart, Germany. She provided program financial analysis to the C4ISR and IT programs in support of Department of Defense (DoD) commands including United States European Command (EUCOM), U.S. Army Europe (USAREUR), U.S. Marine Forces Europe (MARFOREUR), and U.S. Air Force Europe (USAFE).
Ms. Frady earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Lander University.
Deputy Director
Leslie Hill's Biography
Prior to joining ATI, Mrs. Hill was a Product Manager at RBC Bearings for the Aerospace market. Her responsibilities revolved around being the point person for the Airframe Control Ball Bearing product line and later the Rod Assembly product line. Her main focus during this time was to positively affect market share and gross margin through competitive analysis, establishing points of differentiation, and implementing competitive response strategies. Responsibilities also included the development of annual forecasts and strategic planning to achieve those targets.
Mrs. Hill received her Bachelors of Science from the University of Connecticut in Management and Engineering for Manufacturing. She has also received a Master’s of Business Administration from Quinnipiac University. Mrs. Hill also obtained her Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
Contracts Manager II
Wade Hedges's Biography
Mr. Hedges is a Senior Contracts Manager within the Contracts and Procurement (CP) department at ATI. Wade currently serves as the contractual Division Lead for ATI’s Naval Technologies (NT) division; the contractual lead for the Emergent Metal Casting Solutions (EMCS), Innovative Forging Technologies (IFT), and Resilient Infrastructure and Secure Energy (RISE) programs, and supervisor of ATI’s purchasing team. Prior responsibilities have included time as the CP Division Lead for the Manufacturing and Threat Countermeasures (MTC) division, a prior stint as the CP Division Lead for the NT division, leadership of ATI’s Contracts and Procurement Office (CPO), a 2-year stint as the CP representative to ATI’s Program Management Office (PMO), contractual lead for the Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC), and support of various internal and external audits (CPSR, Government Property, Incurred Costs, Single Audit, Small Business, etc.).
Prior to joining ATI, Wade worked for a year as a Financial Advisor for Edward Jones. Prior to that he was an assistant baseball coach at Mississippi State University (MSU). During his tenure in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), Hedges coached in the 2007 College World Series and helped lead the Bulldogs to the 2005 SEC Tournament Championship. While at MSU, he was responsible for tutoring the catchers, including the 2007 Johnny Bench Award recipient and highest drafted catcher in school history.
EDUCATION
- BS, Criminology,
Florida Southern College, 1996 - MS, Sports Science,
United States Sports Academy, 1998 - Graduate Certificate in Leadership, The Citadel, 2018