Collaborative Innovation and Certified Scale: SAMPE 2026 Keynotes Announced
- Feb 24
- 2 min read
Advanced materials innovation does not succeed in isolation. It succeeds when breakthrough technologies scale into production, and when manufacturing realities, certification timelines, and system performance align.
At SAMPE 2026 in Seattle, two industry leaders will explore exactly that intersection: how advanced production, automation, and composite innovation move from concept to certified, high-rate manufacturing.
Both keynote sessions will include live Q&A, giving attendees the opportunity to engage directly with the speakers on the challenges shaping the future of aerospace manufacturing.
Opening Keynote: Dr. William Carter
“Collaborative Innovation in Advanced Production and Automation at Boeing”
Dr. William (Bill) Carter leads advanced production and automation strategy at Boeing Technology Innovation (formerly Boeing Research & Technology). His keynote will examine the strategic priorities shaping next-generation manufacturing systems, including:
Digital transformation
Factory autonomy
Non-destructive evaluation and advanced measurement
Production systems modeling
Technology acceleration into operational environments
A central theme of Carter’s presentation is collaborative innovation: how industry, research organizations, and production teams work together to accelerate technology into scalable deployment. He will highlight models that reduce transition risk and shorten the path from development to factory floor.
For engineers and manufacturing leaders focused on industrial autonomy, inspection technologies, and digital production ecosystems, this session offers a rare inside view of how one of the world’s largest aerospace manufacturers approaches advanced production at scale.
A live Q&A session will follow the keynote.
Awards Keynote: Delphine Turpin
"From Innovation to Reliability: How Composite Innovation Scales, Certifies, and Evolves”
As composite structures move toward higher production rates, innovation is increasingly shaped by manufacturing robustness and certification reality.
In her keynote, Delphine Turpin will explore how material selection, process maturity, and FAA certification timelines interact to either amplify, or reduce, program risk.
Drawing on practical aerospace examples, she will examine:
Why entering certification with known materials can accelerate system-level innovation
How mature, certified programs create pathways for incorporating new materials
The strategic role of block upgrades and derivative designs in enabling material evolution
Turpin’s perspective reflects the practical tension between innovation and airworthiness—a challenge facing every organization scaling advanced composites into regulated markets.
Her session will conclude with an interactive Q&A, allowing attendees to engage directly on certification strategy, industrialization, and production-readiness decisions.
Why These Conversations Matter at SAMPE
SAMPE has long served as the global forum where materials, processes, and manufacturing realities converge. These keynote sessions address one of the most pressing questions facing the industry:
How do we accelerate innovation without increasing risk?
From collaborative automation ecosystems at Boeing to certification-driven composite strategy at Joby Aviation, these leaders bring actionable insight into scaling advanced materials responsibly and efficiently.
Join us in Seattle to be part of the conversation.