Lead Additive Manufacturing Researcher Christopher Billings Joins FSU InSPIRE

FSU’s Institute of Strategic Partnerships, Innovation, Research, and Education (InSPIRE) is fast-tracking the development of its Panama City-based applied research, developmental testing, and training center with the appointment of Chris Billings. As senior research and project engineer for advanced manufacturing (AM) Billings plays a key role in collaboratively defining the AM capabilities that InSPIRE’s industry, academic, military, and entrepreneurial partners want and need. He also oversees the planning, design, and calibration work already underway for the primary manufacturing facilities.

“We’ve been very clear on our goal of making FSU InSPIRE a nationally recognized institute that serves the needs of the aerospace, defense, and energy industries across Northwest Florida and beyond, allowing for both secure and open contracted work,” said InSPIRE Executive Director Drew Allen. “Chris is a perfect fit for this role, bringing highly relevant expertise in managing large, technical projects at a top level while also paying attention to the details. His experience in working with a broad range of stakeholders, including those in applied technologies and research, industry, academia, and government agencies, aligns perfectly with our vision for InSPIRE.”

As Senior Research and Project Engineer for Advanced Manufacturing, Billings will Profoundly Shape the Additive and Traditional Manufacturing Trajectory at InSPIRE

Billings joins the team from the University of Oklahoma, where he built and oversaw an AM laboratory specializing in metal additive manufacturing, CNC machining, materials testing, digital twins, and DoD-aligned quality workflows. His research centers on establishing a comprehensive cradle-to-grave qualification framework for AM, combining process characterization, in-situ monitoring, and post-process evaluation to connect processing conditions directly to measurable quality outcomes. He’s led major efforts funded through the Air Force Research Lab, Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) partnerships, and industry collaborations, and has supported student teams whose graduates now work at organizations like Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Air Force. In his previous role, he led a team of 15 researchers and secured more than $19 million in external funding towards operationalizing advanced manufacturing.

“I’m excited to help expand InSPIRE’s capabilities in advanced manufacturing and process modeling, particularly when it comes to developing tools that bridge machine-level data with predictive quality models, as well as strengthening collaborations with aerospace, defense, energy, and manufacturing partners in the region,” said Billings. “I’m also passionate about mentoring students and looking forward to contributing to a strong talent pipeline in Northwest Florida while growing FSU’s innovation and manufacturing ecosystem.”

Billings holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma with a focus on additive manufacturing. He has co-authored 19 peer reviewed articles/papers and is adept at building integrated teams of undergraduates, graduates, and faculty, matching InSPIRE’s goals of creating co-location spaces for partner-led innovations as well as experiential learning opportunities.