The Following Seas

More Than Your Nephew’s 3D Printer, with Jim Wise Most people picture 3D printing as “that thing my nephew has in the basement.” Jim Wise, Additive Manufacturing Subject Matter Expert at Shape Corp in West Michigan, works with the industrial version. He started as a production tech cleaning printed parts and worked his way up to engineer, program manager and expert. Host Ray Huff, an old friend fr...

Stuck at Home. Started a Robot Company., with Alan Ng After more than two decades in marketing, Alan Ng found himself stuck in Singapore when the pandemic hit in 2020. He started distributing robots, and a year later he co-founded QuikBot Technologies, where he is now CEO. Host Dr. Didun Obilanade talks with Alan about robots that ride elevators and deliver parcels to your door, why delivery compa...

Fail Extra Fast. Fail Extra Often., with Olaf Diegel Olaf Diegel is Professor of Additive Manufacturing at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. He also designs 3D-printed electric guitars, deliberately complex instruments that couldn’t be made any other way. Host Ray Huff talks with Olaf about why he calls 3D printing “the slowest way of making anything in the known universe,” and why it sti...

Raphael Yee, Director of Griffin Labs at LionsBot, shares his journey from software engineering and generative AI startups to leading embodied AI and robotics development. The conversation explores the future of physical AI, the challenges of deploying robots in real-world environments, and the opportunities for the next generation of engineers. Key Takeaways Raphael Yee discusses how he transitio...

Julio Mejia-Andino, Lead Powder Bed Fusion Trainer at EOS, shares his unexpected journey into metal additive manufacturing and discusses how curiosity, persistence, and hands-on learning helped him build a career in one of the fastest-growing areas of advanced manufacturing. Key Takeaways Julio Mejia-Andino describes how a chance encounter at a job fair led him from operating metal 3D printers to...

James H. Dickerson discusses the role of standards in emerging technologies, the importance of communication and leadership in technical careers, and lessons learned from his own professional journey. Key Takeaways Dickerson explains the mission of the ASTM International Center of Excellence (ASSET): advancing U.S. leadership in international standardization for critical and emerging technologies...

James H. Dickerson, reflects on an unconventional career journey that spans physics, art history, academia, national laboratories, consumer advocacy, and standards leadership. He shares how curiosity, mentorship, and a willingness to embrace unexpected opportunities shaped his path. Key topics discussed: How a series of coin flips helped James Dickerson choose between careers in physics, astronomy...

Hotter Than Its Own Melting Point, with Shaafi Shaikh Inside the gas turbines that power much of the US grid, and inside jet engines, metal parts face gas hotter than the metal’s own melting point. Shaafi Shaikh, Technology Expert for Superalloys at EOS, develops the materials and 3D printing processes that make those parts possible. Recorded at ICAM 2026 in Orlando, host Ray Huff and Shaafi talk...

The Future of Shipbuilding, with Kaden Crump Kaden Crump joined a FIRST Robotics team in eighth grade, switched his college major from mechanical to industrial engineering, and now works as a project engineer at Austal USA. As an intern, he helped print Navy replacement parts that arrived 90 to 100 days faster than normal. Host Dr. Didun Obilanade and Kaden talk about the robots you wear: exoskele...

3D Printing: Your Next Career?, with Evan Kirby Evan Kirby served on a Navy nuclear submarine, became an instructor, and then spent 25 years at Materialise working on the software behind 3D printing, all without an engineering degree. His team even includes a music major. Host Ray Huff and Evan talk about how 3D printing quietly shows up in nearly every industry, what companies actually look for w...

Robots Are Changing Work, with Roger Bostelman Roger Bostelman started at NIST as a high school student in 1978 and spent more than 40 years building robots. Technology from his team’s RoboCrane was licensed into the robots that helped clean up Chernobyl and Fukushima. Today he helps write the test methods that decide whether exoskeletons are safe and effective, and he serves as a judge at the Exo...

Send a text Join guest host Aaron Prather and Capt. Barbara Bell, U.S. Navy (Ret.), as she shares her remarkable journey — from entering the U.S. Naval Academy to serving as a Naval Aviator and Flight Test Officer, and now shaping the next generation as a professor of Leadership and Ethics at the Naval Academy.  Together, they explore the lessons learned in the cockpit and the classroom, and how n...

Send a text Join Nora and Bill as they talk with Lt. Alteri about his amazing experiences in the Navy. Lieutenant Santino Alteri is a native of Watertown, New York. He earned a BA in Criminal Justice from Alvernia University (PA) and an MBA from Salem International University (WV). He received his commission as a Surface Warfare Officer from OCS (RI) and reported to USS Chafee (DDG 90) in Hawaii a...

Send a text Join Bill and Nora as they talk with Cmdr. Kilrain about her career and how she got into STEM. Commander Susan Kilrain is a renowned astronaut, a distinguished navy test pilot, and author. She is the youngest person, and one of only three women, to pilot the space shuttle. She served 20 years in the Navy, paving the way for women. She has flown more than 3,000 flight hours in over 30 d...

Send a text Dr. Alexander Stimpson, Ph. D. Dr. Stimpson received his Ph. D. and S.M. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Aeronautics and Astronautics, and a B.S. from the University of Florida in Biological Engineering. His background is in applied artificial intelligence, human-automation interaction, human cognitive modeling, and supervisory control systems. He has worked extensive...

Send a text Dr. Stephen H. Rapp was born in Huntingdon, PA, USA.  He was appointed to the U. S. Naval Academy graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Finance.  He became a Marine Officer specializing in armor, amphibious assault and space defense.  He supported combat operations in Beirut and Grenada and participated in combat during Operations Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom.  He...

Send a text Join Bill and Nora with their guest, Grant Vermeer.  They discuss Grant's journey in the cyber world of the Navy through the Naval Academy and beyond.  Plus, hear how Grant was successful in college basketball while doing a rigorous STEM degree. Biography Grant is a graduate of Bellarmine College Preparatory and the great class of 2017 from the United States Naval Academy.  During...

Send a text Join Nora and Bill with their guest, CDR Ian Underwood.  They discuss Ian's journey in STEM where he embraces his wanderlust and leaves college to enlist and then comes back later to finish his degree.  He relates how real-world experience doing hard and dirty jobs helped him find his path where now he leads teams of people to keep the critical infrastructure of Navy bases operati...

Send a text Join Bill and Nora as they talk with their guest, Dan Skane, about how he was influenced by his Father and Grandfather. Dan Skane is an executive level manager with proven expertise leading multi-disciplined engineering teams in developing innovative solutions and rapidly delivering cost effective operational capability for the Department of Defense and Naval Aviation. He started his c...

Send a text Join Nora and Bill as they talk with their guest, Dr. John Cordle, about his path from an interest in dinosaurs to nuclear propulsion and being the Captain of a ship. Dr. Cordle is the senior Human Factors Engineer at Commander Naval Surface Forces. He is a retired Navy Captain (nuclear trained) who had Command of USS SAN JACINTO and USS OSCAR AUSTIN. He is the principal advisor to the...

Send a text Join Nora and Bill as they talk with their guest, Ana Borja, about how she got into a human factors career. Ana Borja has over 25 years of experience as a Human Factors Engineer and works at the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command as the Human Systems Integration (HSI) Technical Warrant Holder. She has served as a Senior Research Scientist at the Space & Naval Warfare Systems...

Send a text Join Bill and Nora as they talk with their guest, Deklan Hoff, about how the Marines work with the Army and Navy. Deklan Hoff spent 4 years on Active duty in the Marine Corps as a Chemical Biological Radioactive Nuclear (CBRN) Defense Specialist. He is now pursuing a career as a Contractor for the Navy as a Program Analyst in the civilian sector. Throughout his career he has led multip...

Send a text Join Bill and Nora with their guest Alan Dean.   Alan was employed at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) of the Naval Sea Systems Command from 1974 through 2017. His final assignment was to serve as the Head, Workforce Directorate for the NAVSEA Warfare Centers. Prior to that appointment, he served as the Deputy NAVSEA Warfare Center Workforce Executive and Branch...

Send a text Join Nora and Bill with their guest, Tyler Truslow.  Tyler works at Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) where he leads all K-12 and college programs for STEM engagement. Tyler started at NSWCDD as USNA/ROTC STEM intern. He is very involved with the local community, which includes leading a STEM Cohort for Dahlgren Heritage Museum.  

Send a text Join Nora and Bill as they learn how turning trash into treasure leads to designing technology that fits people.  Today we talk to our guest, Daniel Wallace. Daniel Wallace is recently semi-retired from the Navy and was the Technical Warrant Holder for Displays and Human Factors Engineering for the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) for 12 years.  In his role as a Technical Warrant hol...