SPEE3D Names Bryan O'Connor as Global CEO to Expand US Defense Work

SPEE3D is making its most American move yet, and it has nothing to do with where the company was founded. The Australian cold-spray additive manufacturer has appointed Bryan O'Connor as its new global CEO, putting a Moog veteran with deep Indo-Pacific defense ties in charge of its US expansion.

Co-founder Byron Kennedy, who previously held the CEO title, is moving to the United States to support the company's continued growth there. The leadership change signals that SPEE3D's next chapter is firmly focused on American defense and manufacturing markets.

Why O'Connor fits the brief

O'Connor comes to SPEE3D after years at Moog, where he served as General Manager for Space and Defense in the Asia-Pacific region. That background makes him a logical choice for a company embedded in the US defense supply chain. He knows how to work with regulated industrial programs and multiple governments on tightly controlled projects.

SPEE3D's technology is also gaining traction with Western militaries. The company completed its first mobile expeditionary manufacturing demonstration at RIMPAC 2026, the major Indo-Pacific naval exercise. That milestone matters because defense customers want to see additive manufacturing work in field conditions, not just in lab settings.

What cold spray means for production

SPEE3D's process is called Cold Spray Additive Manufacturing, or CSAM. It accelerates metal powder through a De Laval nozzle at supersonic speeds. The particles bond to a substrate on impact, building parts layer by layer without melting the material. That distinction matters: the absence of high heat means reactive metals like aluminum and titanium can be deposited without contamination.

For military logistics, the appeal is obvious. Parts can be printed close to where they are needed, reducing dependence on long supply chains. SPEE3D's mobile systems are designed to operate in austere environments, which is exactly what expeditionary operations demand.

Reshoring requires international cooperation

The reshoring trend in defense manufacturing often gets framed as a purely domestic story. SPEE3D's trajectory suggests it is more complicated. The company is Australian-founded, with customers spanning multiple nations, and its expansion into the US is managed by an executive who understands cross-border industrial relationships.

That dynamic is likely to become more common as militaries seek to build resilient supply chains. The most effective additive manufacturing programs will need to coordinate standards, materials, and certification across borders, not just within them. SPEE3D's growth indicates that defense customers are comfortable working with a supplier that operates across national boundaries as long as the technology delivers.

Kennedy's move to the US and O'Connor's appointment mark a clear next step. The company has built credibility with US military customers using a small on-the-ground team in New Hampshire. A full CEO presence in the American market suggests SPEE3D expects that relationship to deepen significantly in the coming years.