Velo3D Welcomes Back Dr. Zach Murphree as VP and GM

Velo3D, Inc. reports the return of Dr. Zach Murphree as vice president, general manager, overseeing the company’s go-to-market and product management functions. Dr. Murphree, who previously spent nearly 8 years at Velo3D is rejoining the company after a brief tenure at Freeform, a startup building autonomous metal 3D printing factories.

During his tenure at Velo3D, Dr. Murphree was a key member of the executive leadership team, where he played an instrumental role in the design and rollout of Velo3D’s additive manufacturing technology. He worked with Velo3D’s earliest customers to gather feedback about their challenges with legacy additive manufacturing technology and incorporate those insights into Velo3D’s stand-out solution, which provided the ability to achieve machine-to-machine repeatability. This work unlocked scalable additive manufacturing.

“There are not many people who have the breath of additive manufacturing experience that Zach has, and I believe I speak for everyone at Velo3D that we are delighted to welcome him back to the company,” says Brad Kreger, Velo3D CEO. “Zach is not only a beloved leader but also a highly respected figure in the industry and we’re happy to see him continue to build on the legacy he left at Velo3D. His return will be a significant boost to our business as we complete our realignment initiatives and continue our adoption growth in the defense and aerospace industries.”

Dr. Murphree’s contributions were critical in Velo3D’s development of its original Sapphire printer and the large-format Sapphire XC printer. In addition, Dr. Murphree’s background in aerospace was pivotal in Velo3D meeting the needs of its first customers in the new space industry. As Velo3D continues to expand its presence in the defense and general aerospace sectors, Dr. Murphree’s expertise help support this next phase of growth.

“Some of my most memorable achievements of my career took place at Velo3D and I am excited to rejoin the incredible team and help lead critical product development and go-to-market initiatives within the company,” says Dr. Murphree. “I believe in the company's mission and its innovative technology, and I am committed to helping drive success during this next phase of growth for the company.”

Dr. Murphree will report to CEO Brad Kreger. He has more than 20 years of experience in various research, product development, engineering, and business development roles at various organizations across aerospace, energy, and manufacturing technology. He holds a Ph.D and Bachelor of Science from The University of Texas at Austin.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.