UTEP Names James P. Carney Executive Director of W.M. Keck Center for 3D Innovation
Distinguished advanced manufacturing leader brings decades of national lab experience to UTEP
EL PASO, Texas (Aug. 28, 2025) – James P. Carney, Ph.D., is the new executive director of The University of Texas at El Paso’s W.M. Keck Center for 3D Innovation, one of the nation's premier university-based additive manufacturing (AM) research facilities. His appointment begins Sept. 1. Carney brings extensive leadership experience in advanced manufacturing from his recent role as manager of the Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation (CAMINO) at Sandia National Laboratories.
“Dr. Carney has had an impressive career in additive manufacturing, and I am excited to see how he can take the Keck Center to the next level,” said UTEP President Heather Wilson.
The W. M. Keck Center for 3D Innovation, a unique multidisciplinary research facility that occupies more than 36,820 square feet at UTEP, houses more than $8 million in research infrastructure, including over 100 advanced manufacturing systems. The center focuses on additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, technology development; engineered and structured materials; and advanced AM applications, with combined facilities for advanced manufacturing, metrology and reverse engineering and materials characterization and testing.
“Dr. Carney’s vision for integrating cutting-edge technology with practical applications will strengthen UTEP's role as a national leader in advanced manufacturing research," said Kenith Meissner, Ph.D., dean of the UTEP College of Engineering. “His record of building successful advanced manufacturing programs at the national laboratory level, paired with his technical expertise and commitment to workforce development, makes him the right leader to expand the Keck Center's impact across research, education, and industry partnerships.”
Carney's appointment comes after a distinguished career spanning national defense, biotechnology and advanced materials research. Most recently at Sandia National Laboratories, he successfully established CAMINO as a focal point for Sandia's advanced manufacturing strategy, developing key facilities and leading initiatives in rapid prototyping, workforce development and technology transition. Previously, he managed the Advanced Materials Laboratory at Sandia and held leadership positions at the U.S. Army DEVCOM Chemical Biological Center and the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
Carney holds a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry from Loyola University Chicago and a B.S. in Chemistry/Education from Niagara University. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, holds multiple patents and has received numerous recognitions, including the Department of Energy Secretary's Appreciation Award.
"I am thrilled to join UTEP and lead the W.M. Keck Center for 3D Innovation at this pivotal moment in advanced manufacturing," said Carney. "The center's impressive infrastructure and multidisciplinary approach position it uniquely to drive innovation in advanced manufacturing while preparing the next generation of engineers and scientists for the rapidly evolving manufacturing landscape."
To learn more about the Keck Center’s work, visit utep.edu/keck/.
Last Updated on August 28, 2025 at 12:00 AM | Originally published August 28, 2025
By MC Staff UTEP Marketing and Communications
