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Dr. Kandasamy is a metallurgist, welding engineer, inventor, and entrepreneur specializing in solid-phase materials and manufacturing technology development. He earned his bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering from the Government College of Engineering, Salem, India followed by a master’s degree in Welding Engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Trichy, India and a Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India. In 2009, Dr. Kandasamy moved to the United States to pursue a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Center for Friction Stir Processing at Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, Missouri. He later continued his research at the Center for Friction Stir Processing at the University of North Texas, Denton. Texas. In 2012, he joined Aeroprobe Corporation, Blacksburg, VA as Lead Engineer and continued as Technology Director, where he played a pivotal role in developing Additive Friction Stir Technology from concept to commercialization and served as Principal Investigator for federally funded programs. In 2015, Dr. Kandasamy joined Oerlikon Metco to establish an additive manufacturing business line, now known as Oerlikon AM US Inc., where he served as R&D Manager and Principal Materials Engineer. After becoming a U.S. citizen in 2019, he moved back to Blacksburg, VA and founded Enabled Engineering, a company dedicated to developing and commercializing novel materials and manufacturing processes that advance the boundaries of possibilities in manufacturing engineering. Since founding Enabled Engineering, Dr. Kandasamy has invented and secured patents for SolidStir® technologies in the U.S. and internationally and is making significant advancements in the field of solid-phase materials processing and additive manufacturing.
Mr. Dress is a former NASA Executive with recent space industry experience. Before joining Enabled Engineering, David was the Director of Civil Space for Gravitics, Inc., a developer and supplier of space station infrastructure and cargo carriers. Prior to this position, David retired in 2023 from the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) in Hampton, Virginia after 41 years of service. David was the Director of the Space Technology and Exploration Directorate (STED) at NASA Langley. David led the Directorate in creating, advocating, managing, and executing a diverse portfolio of projects supporting the Agency’s Space Technology and Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorates (STMD, ESDMD, and SOMD). In addition, he served as the Center Programmatic Lead for Advanced Manufacturing, ensuring LaRC’s structures and materials expertise was utilized for both NASA’s and broader manufacturing needs. Previously, David was the LaRC Lead for the Level II Constellation Program activities and the Lead for the Mission and Technical Integration Group (at the Johnson Space Center) in Systems Engineering and Integration for Constellation where he served as the SE&I Mission Lead for the Ares I-X Test Flight. Previous jobs from 2003 to 2007 at LaRC included Deputy Director for Experimental Research Services and Head of the Research Facilities Branch. David received his B.S. degree in Aerospace and Ocean Engineering from Virginia Tech and a Master’s degree in Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Sciences from George Washington University.
David received numerous awards during his career including the NASA Exceptional Service Medal in 2012. He has published over 40 papers, is an Associate Fellow in the AIAA, and was inducted into the 2024 Academy of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Excellence at Virginia Tech.
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Dr. Pankaj Kulkarni is a Mechanical Engineer at Enabled Engineering, specializing in the design and development of SolidStir® Extrusion and Additive manufacturing technologies. He joined Enabled Engineering after earning a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Central Florida, where his research focused on creating MRI-guided systems for prostate biopsy and advancing biomedical device innovation. During his doctoral studies, he co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications, including a book chapter in the Handbook of Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention. Before pursuing his doctorate, Dr. Kulkarni worked in India as an Application Engineer specializing in FEA simulation, providing consulting expertise for academic and corporate clients. He trained professionals across aerospace and healthcare sectors in using Ansys for structural analysis of mechanical components. Dr. Kulkarni holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical engineering from the University College of Engineering, Kota, India
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Dr. Gumaste specializes in the R&D of SolidStir® technologies and is an accomplished researcher with extensive experience in both academia and industry. Dr. Gumaste earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of North Texas, where his dissertation focused on enhancing structural performance through process–material co-design for friction-stir-based additive manufacturing. He completed his Masters in Materials Science and Engineering at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar investigating the fabrication and characterization of Al1050–B₄C friction stir surface composites. He holds a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from Walchand College of Engineering, where he developed interest in manufacturing and design.
Dr. Gumaste has authored or co-authored over 17 peer-reviewed research publications, along with contributing to one book chapter and holding a patent in friction stir technology. His research has earned numerous scholarly accolades and has significantly contributed to advancements in friction-stir-based manufacturing, with his doctoral studies laying the groundwork for a fundamental understanding of SolidStir® technology. His work has provided key insights into the process physics of SolidStir®, aiding in the development of a conceptual model to better comprehend its mechanisms and applications. Through his contributions to solid-state processing and AM, Dr. Gumaste continues to drive innovation by bridging fundamental research with practical applications, further advancing the field of materials processing.
Kumar Kandasamy
Founder & CEO
Dr. Kandasamy is a metallurgist, welding engineer, inventor, and entrepreneur specializing in solid-phase materials and manufacturing technology development. He earned his bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering from the Government College of Engineering, Salem, India followed by a master’s degree in Welding Engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Trichy, India and a Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India. In 2009, Dr. Kandasamy moved to the United States to pursue a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Center for Friction Stir Processing at Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, Missouri. He later continued his research at the Center for Friction Stir Processing at the University of North Texas, Denton. Texas. In 2012, he joined Aeroprobe Corporation, Blacksburg, VA as Lead Engineer and continued as Technology Director, where he played a pivotal role in developing Additive Friction Stir Technology from concept to commercialization and served as Principal Investigator for federally funded programs. In 2015, Dr. Kandasamy joined Oerlikon Metco to establish an additive manufacturing business line, now known as Oerlikon AM US Inc., where he served as R&D Manager and Principal Materials Engineer. After becoming a U.S. citizen in 2019, he moved back to Blacksburg, VA and founded Enabled Engineering, a company dedicated to developing and commercializing novel materials and manufacturing processes that advance the boundaries of possibilities in manufacturing engineering. Since founding Enabled Engineering, Dr. Kandasamy has invented and secured patents for SolidStir® technologies in the U.S. and internationally and is making significant advancements in the field of solid-phase materials processing and additive manufacturing.
David Dress
Director of Business Development
Mr. Dress is a former NASA Executive with recent space industry experience. Before joining Enabled Engineering, David was the Director of Civil Space for Gravitics, Inc., a developer and supplier of space station infrastructure and cargo carriers. Prior to this position, David retired in 2023 from the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) in Hampton, Virginia after 41 years of service. David was the Director of the Space Technology and Exploration Directorate (STED) at NASA Langley. David led the Directorate in creating, advocating, managing, and executing a diverse portfolio of projects supporting the Agency’s Space Technology and Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorates (STMD, ESDMD, and SOMD). In addition, he served as the Center Programmatic Lead for Advanced Manufacturing, ensuring LaRC’s structures and materials expertise was utilized for both NASA’s and broader manufacturing needs. Previously, David was the LaRC Lead for the Level II Constellation Program activities and the Lead for the Mission and Technical Integration Group (at the Johnson Space Center) in Systems Engineering and Integration for Constellation where he served as the SE&I Mission Lead for the Ares I-X Test Flight. Previous jobs from 2003 to 2007 at LaRC included Deputy Director for Experimental Research Services and Head of the Research Facilities Branch. David received his B.S. degree in Aerospace and Ocean Engineering from Virginia Tech and a Master’s degree in Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Sciences from George Washington University.
David received numerous awards during his career including the NASA Exceptional Service Medal in 2012. He has published over 40 papers, is an Associate Fellow in the AIAA, and was inducted into the 2024 Academy of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Excellence at Virginia Tech.
Anurag K Gumaste
M&P Research Scientist
Dr. Gumaste specializes in the R&D of SolidStir® technologies and is an accomplished researcher with extensive experience in both academia and industry. Dr. Gumaste earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of North Texas, where his dissertation focused on enhancing structural performance through process–material co-design for friction-stir-based additive manufacturing. He completed his Masters in Materials Science and Engineering at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar investigating the fabrication and characterization of Al1050–B₄C friction stir surface composites. He holds a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from Walchand College of Engineering, where he developed interest in manufacturing and design.
Dr. Gumaste has authored or co-authored over 17 peer-reviewed research publications, along with contributing to one book chapter and holding a patent in friction stir technology. His research has earned numerous scholarly accolades and has significantly contributed to advancements in friction-stir-based manufacturing, with his doctoral studies laying the groundwork for a fundamental understanding of SolidStir® technology. His work has provided key insights into the process physics of SolidStir®, aiding in the development of a conceptual model to better comprehend its mechanisms and applications. Through his contributions to solid-state processing and AM, Dr. Gumaste continues to drive innovation by bridging fundamental research with practical applications, further advancing the field of materials processing.
Pankaj Kulkarni
Mechanical Engineer
Dr. Pankaj Kulkarni is a Mechanical Engineer at Enabled Engineering, specializing in the design and development of SolidStir® Extrusion and Additive manufacturing technologies. He joined Enabled Engineering after earning a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Central Florida, where his research focused on creating MRI-guided systems for prostate biopsy and advancing biomedical device innovation. During his doctoral studies, he co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications, including a book chapter in the Handbook of Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention. Before pursuing his doctorate, Dr. Kulkarni worked in India as an Application Engineer specializing in FEA simulation, providing consulting expertise for academic and corporate clients. He trained professionals across aerospace and healthcare sectors in using Ansys for structural analysis of mechanical components. Dr. Kulkarni holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical engineering from the University College of Engineering, Kota, India