At the Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CAM) and Missouri Protoplex, innovation is driven not just by technology but by the people who bring it to life. One of those people is Brad Deuser, whose career has been shaped by a deep respect for hands-on problem-solving and a passion for building systems that work.
Brad grew up in a working-class family where fixing things, building things, and doing the job right were everyday values. “I didn’t grow up around engineers by title,” Brad says, “but I was surrounded by people who thought like engineers. People who understood systems, tools, and solving problems with creative solutions, even if those solutions were MacGyvered bubble gum fixes.” That early exposure to systems thinking and hands-on creativity laid the foundation for a career focused on solving real-world problems with practical, innovative solutions.
Brad’s move to Missouri S&T was not something he had planned. At the time, he was working in Global R&D at Anheuser-Busch InBev and reached out to his former graduate advisor with a simple question. That email led to a conversation about a new role at CAM. “The timing was wild,” he recalls. “I had about a decade of industry experience, and it turned out my background was a perfect fit for what they needed in the Protoplex.” After visiting campus and seeing the vision firsthand, he knew it was a rare opportunity to help build something meaningful from the ground up.
Now, as a Senior Manufacturing Engineer and Operations Manager, Brad leads research in advanced manufacturing technologies like friction stir and cold spray additive manufacturing. He manages projects, mentors students and engineers, oversees lab operations, and helps onboard new team members. “It’s a great balance of technical depth and team development,” he says. “I get to work on projects that push boundaries while helping others grow into their roles.”
One of his most impactful contributions has been helping design the Missouri Protoplex facility itself. Acting as a bridge between engineers, university planners, and architects, Brad helped shape the layout of labs, equipment, and infrastructure to ensure the space would be adaptable for future technologies. “It felt a bit like playing a real-life SimCity with actual stakes,” he says. “Now, watching the construction transform those blueprints into reality is surreal.”
Brad’s approach to problem-solving is methodical and collaborative. “I start by really trying to understand the problem fully. What is the core issue, what constraints are at play, and what data is available,” he explains. He breaks problems into manageable parts, relies on data-driven decision-making, and stays flexible when new information emerges. “Collaboration is key. I often bounce ideas off colleagues to get different perspectives. And I always try to keep the bigger goal in mind.”
That mindset was shaped in part by mentors like Scott Kellerman, a former manager at Anheuser-Busch. “Scott’s leadership taught me that great engineering is as much about integrity and mindset as it is about skill,” Brad says. One lesson that stuck with him was the importance of defining the problem before jumping to solutions. “His insistence on trusting data rather than bending it to fit desires reminded me that truth and clarity come from honest observation, not wishful thinking.”
In the fast-evolving world of advanced manufacturing, Brad sees both challenges and opportunities. “Balancing innovation with reliability, managing complex equipment, and integrating new methods into existing workflows all require careful planning,” he says. Training skilled operators without disrupting production is another ongoing challenge. But he is optimistic about where the field is headed. “Additive manufacturing is moving beyond prototyping into mainstream production. We will see more automation, better materials, and hybrid approaches that combine additive with traditional methods.”
Looking ahead, Brad’s goal is to help build a research environment where innovation thrives and practical solutions come to life. “I want to support our engineers and teams so they can push the boundaries of advanced manufacturing,” he says. “Ultimately, I hope to contribute to technologies that make a lasting difference in both industry and education.”
Brad Deuser’s story is one of thoughtful leadership, grounded expertise, and a commitment to building not just better technologies but better teams. His work at CAM and Missouri Protoplex is helping shape the future of advanced manufacturing, one challenge, one solution, and one well-defined problem statement at a time.