Image rendering of a hypersonic vehicle in space.

Hypersonic Materials Training Program

The American Ceramic Society (ACerS) and the United States Advanced Ceramics Association (USACA) have been awarded a two-year extension of funding from the Department of Defense (DOD) for their successful “Professional Development for Hypersonic Materials” program. This funding will enable both ACerS and USACA to build upon the strong foundation established through the January 2024 contract award under DOD’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) Program.

The original program, part of IBAS’ National Imperative for Industrial Skills initiative, attracted more than 220 participants from industry, government, and academia, and delivered three full-day short courses and two half-day online courses, focusing on materials for hypersonic applications. The two-year extension will expand this successful model with a comprehensive training approach targeting workforce development in this critical national defense sector.

View the press release

2025 Short Courses

  • UHTC Materials and Properties for Hypersonic Applications 2025 instructed by Prof. Rodney Trice
    • This course took place on January 26, 2025, in St. Augustine, Fla. in conjunction with the Composites, Materials & Systems Conference
    • This course focused on the materials science and engineering of ultra-high temperature ceramic (UHTC) materials, ceramic matrix composites (including carbon-carbon composites), and some refractory metals to support the design and manufacturing sustainment and is ITAR compliant.
  • Virtual Hypersonic Course instructed by Prof. Rodney Trice
    • This virtual course took place from January 7–8, 2025, and on June 23–26, 2025.
    • Please note: This is a Distribution A event.
  • Hypersonic Workshop (On-site in Washington D.C.) instructed by Prof. Rodney Trice
    • This in-person course will take place on October 29, 2025 in Washington, D.C.
    • The course will cover the materials science and engineering of ultra-high temperature ceramic (UHTC) materials and ceramic matrix composites (including carbon-carbon composites).
    • Please note: This course was previously taught at the 2024 and 2025 CMS meetings. This is a Distribution A event.

2024 Short Courses

  • UHTC Materials and Properties for Hypersonic Applications instructed by Prof. Rodney Trice
    • This course took place in January 2024 in St. Augustine, Fla. in conjunction with the Composites, Materials & Systems Conference
    • This course focused on ultra-high temperature materials and their properties and was ITAR compliant.
  • UHTC Materials for Hypersonic Applications Short Course instructed by Prof. Rodney Trice, Mark Opeka, Ph.D., and John Schmisseur, Ph.D.
    • This course took place in May 2024 in Madison, Wisc. in conjunction with NSMMS-CRASTE Joint Symposia
    • This course focused on materials and their manufacture, materials selection and introduction to testing, and dynamic testing methods and was ITAR compliant.
  • Materials for Hypersonic Applications: Materials, Properties, and Manufacturing instructed by David Lipke, Ph.D. and John Schmisseur, Ph.D.
    • This course took place place on December 11, 2024, in Oak Ridge, Tenn. at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
    • This course focused on CMC materials, properties, and manufacturing and was CUI compliant.

About ACerS

Founded in 1898, The American Ceramic Society is the leading professional membership organization for ceramic and materials scientists, engineers, researchers, manufacturers, plant personnel, educators, and students. The Society serves more than 10,000 members from more than 70 countries.

About USACA

Founded in 1985, the U.S. Advanced Ceramics Association champions the business interests of the advanced ceramic producers and end-users. Its members range from the largest U.S. industrial companies to smaller corporations dedicated to the manufacture of advanced ceramic products. For more information, visit https://advancedceramics.org.

Contact

For more information on the program, please contact hypersonics@ceramics.org.