American Center for Manufacturing & Innovation (ACMI) is an organization working to revitalize the American industrial base through its three affiliates: ACMI Capital, ACMI Properties, and ACMI Federal. Pulse 2.0 interviewed ACMI’s Head of Federal Programs, Victor Boelscher, to learn more.
Victor Boelscher’s Background
What is Victor Boelscher’s background? Boelscher said:
“Before joining ACMI Federal I spent around 25 years serving in and around the Department of Defense. I started my career in the Air Force as a laser and infrared technician at Edwards Air Force base in California. After that, I held multiple roles over a 19-year career at a large defense contractor. My experiences there were rewarding and diverse. I started as a Field Service Representative supporting the F-117A program, then worked as an Engineering Technician on electro optical systems and lasers.”
“After working in technical areas for almost a decade, I had an opportunity to try something new and decided to support the front end of the business as a Proposal Capture Manager. Managing proposals and the capture teams for three years opened other opportunities which led me to finish out my career as the Contracts Director for the High Energy Laser product line.”
“My primary responsibilities now are to manage and grow the ACMI Federal business. This focuses on executing our current government contracts and identifying new opportunities to expand our business.”
Favorite Memory
What has been Boelscher’s favorite memory working for the company so far? Boelscher reflected:
“Besides being a part of the great team at ACMI and the mission which we are working to accomplish to strengthen the Defense Industrial Base, my favorite moments have been working with commercial companies that have not been in the DOD space before and helping them transition their technology for the benefit of the DOD. Breaking down barriers for these companies and giving them an opportunity to expand their business while strengthening national security has been very rewarding.”
Core Services
What are ACMI Federal’s core features? Boelscher explained:
“ACMI Federal’s first DOD contract in 2022 was for the Critical Chemical Pilot Program, which sought to generate a domestic manufacturing base for chemicals needed for munitions manufacturing. The $5 million program, funded through the Defense Production Act Title III, aimed to use DOD funding to leverage private capital at a 10-to-1 ratio to support the effort. ACMI exceeded the contractual requirement at a ratio of 16:1. This, combined with the technical success of the program, led to the award of the pilot expansion in September 2023. ACMI’s scope of the $15 million expanded program added a significant number of DOD identified critical chemicals and added a new focus area around munitions technology. During the expansion, we intend to build upon our successes with domestic production of critical chemicals in the initial pilot program and incorporate novel munitions technology, and anticipate reaching a private-to-public ratio of 19:1.
“ACMI is also branching out with multiple new campuses to help hardware companies bridge the gap between traditional incubator or accelerator programs and full scale production. In September 2023, ACMI Federal was awarded, in a competitive process, a $75 million contract by the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Resilience through its Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization office to establish a state-of-the-art munitions campus. These campuses will foster innovation clusters in support of companies specializing in production at different points in the domestic supply chain.”
“ACMI Properties has also been awarded a contract to build out an innovation campus to support commercial businesses in the space economy at NASA’s Exploration Park in Houston. In addition to the support of startups, we intend to make these campuses attractive places for workforce development of specialized talent and powerful engines for regional economic growth.”
Challenges Faced
What challenges have Boelscher and the team faced in building the company? Boelscher acknowledged:
“Our primary challenge has been educating the many stakeholders in the markets we operate – a natural outgrowth of doing things in a new and innovative way. ACMI Federal’s mission is to strengthen national security by bridging the gap between the DOD and technology companies in areas which have traditionally held significant barriers to entry.”
“We act as a catalyst and facilitator to lessen these barriers and help the companies prove out new processes and technology. Scaling the approach into adjacent tech areas and in partnership with other government organizations will be our next challenge, and I’m looking forward to solving it.”
Evolution Of ACMI Federal’s Technology
How has ACMI Federal’s technology evolved since launching? Boelscher noted:
“ACMI traces its roots back to its CEO’s 20-year tenure in the financial services sector, where a pressing demand for infrastructure and capital investment in hardware caught his attention. This experience laid the groundwork for a subsequent venture: the establishment of a high-precision hardware company targeting the unmet needs of the specialty vehicle and motorsports industry. This endeavor provided invaluable firsthand insights into the intricacies and obstacles of launching a new hardware product onto the market.”
“Driven by these experiences, ACMI’s overarching goal has been to pioneer a more forward-looking approach to industry development through our innovative, industry-focused business models. This model aims to unite startup tenants within specific sectors, fostering collaboration and resource-sharing while positioning them in close proximity to larger corporate entities. By offering scalable and adaptable facilities tailored to their unique requirements, ACMI aims to provide startups with the necessary infrastructure to thrive.”
“Central to this vision is the concept of co-locating startups within a dynamic ecosystem that includes established manufacturers, technical experts, service providers, and other key players. This proximity creates organic opportunities for collaboration, joint ventures, and accelerated growth, ultimately facilitating acquisitions and further industry advancement.”
Customer Success Stories
After asking Boelscher about customer success stories, he highlighted:
“ACMI Federal’s first DOD contract in 2022, the Critical Chemical Pilot Program, was the first of many customer success stories. The program’s objective was to establish a domestic manufacturing foundation for chemicals essential to munitions production. ACMI Federal’s initial aim was to utilize DOD funding as a catalyst, aiming for a private capital infusion at a ratio of 10-to-1 to bolster the initiative.”
“As mentioned previously, ACMI exceeded that requirement by achieving a 16:1 ratio across multiple performers. Using private capital to support the DOD’s mission was a noteworthy accomplishment, but helping our performers transition and continue to make an impact is what ACMI is about. An example of this is our efforts with Lacamas Labs. ACMI worked with Lacamas to develop a fully domestic supply chain for a DOD identified critical chemical, which as a result of the program led to significant positive impacts to Lacamas’ business both commercially and within the DOD. Bringing Lacamas’ solution for a raw material that can be used as an antiviral treatment, and is also used as a precursor for an important energetic material that had previously only been produced in China, are the results we are looking for for all our performers.”
Total Addressable Market
What total addressable market is ACMI pursuing? Boelscher assessed:
“ACMI is specifically focused on hardware challenges, and consists of three affiliated companies, which are all working in unison to create a unique holistic solution where companies can grow.”
“ACMI Federal is focused on managing government programs, supporting the domestic supply chain and innovative commercial companies that seek to partner with the federal government.”
“ACMI Capital invests in early-stage companies, provides private investment and guidance to hardware technology companies during the critical scaling-up period.”
“ACMI Properties develops shared industry campuses, providing a manufacturing-suitable scaling-up space—a foundational service for start-ups requiring shared infrastructure to foster innovation.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Boelscher affirmed:
“By establishing a vibrant manufacturing ecosystem, ACMI’s business model aims to provide emerging companies with the structure and support they need to achieve production scale. Instead of focusing on individual companies and innovators one at a time, ACMI Federal’s programs have the potential to move an entire industry forward. These programs act as a force multiplier, accelerating growth for individual companies and maximizing the impact of both private and government investment while also spurring job creation and economic development.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future goals? Boelscher pointed out:
“To continue to domestically grow and secure the defense industrial base. The versatility and benefits of ACMI’s industry campus model may prove to be applied advantageously to more commercially oriented hardware industries. Numerous hardware innovations have applications in both the defense and commercial realms. Facilitating the introduction of these innovations not only enables the DOD to maintain its technological superiority in critical sectors, yet also lays the foundation for a broader commercial manufacturing renaissance—and subsequent economic growth—in the United States.”
Additional Thoughts
Any other topics you would like to discuss? Boelscher concluded:
“A message to hardware companies looking to grow commercially and along with the DOD: help is on the way. ACMI realizes that commercial hardware companies face different challenges compared with those associated with software or other industries. For example, they require long lead times to ensure robust development and significant capital investment to demonstrate market potential, making emerging companies less attractive to both potential investors and commercial landlords. ACMI is committed to pioneering innovative strategies aimed at facilitating the success and maximizing market reach of promising hardware companies.”
