AIM Photonics names Rochester native director

The New York Center for Research, Economic Advancement, Technology, Engineering and Science has chosen an optics industry veteran as the new leader of the American Institute for Manufacturing Integrated Photonics (AIM Photonics).

Michael Cumbo will begin his role as executive director on July 6, officials said. He succeeds Michael Liehr in the role.

“The AIM Photonics executive team is pleased to welcome Dr. Cumbo, a highly experienced and accomplished technology executive, as the next leader of this important manufacturing institute,” said NY CREATES President Douglas Grose. “Mike brings valuable experience to AIM Photonics as a results-oriented, customer-centric technology business leader, in addition to his proven ability to move technology and teams ‘from lab to fab,’ and transforming new technologies into profitable businesses.”

AIM Photonics is the nation’s first Photonic Integrated Chip manufacturing institute advancing integrated photonic technology. The leadership change comes as AIM Photonics marks its fifth anniversary.

“AIM Photonics is advancing New York state’s leadership in optics, photonics and imaging by attracting industry innovators from across the globe, building on Gov. Cuomo’s targeted upstate investment that has grown the Finger Lakes region as an OPI industry hub,” said Empire State Development Acting Commissioner and President and CEO-designate Eric Gertler. “Dr. Michael Cumbo’s experience and leadership will no doubt help AIM to further expand its presence both statewide and around the world and we are pleased to officially welcome him aboard as the consortium’s new CEO.”

Prior to his new role, Cumbo served as vice president of optics for ZYGO Corp., a unit of AMETEK, which designs, develops and produces complex electro-optical systems and high-precision optical components for the medical and life sciences, defense and aerospace, semiconductor and industrial OEM markets.

Cumbo also is the founder and chairman of Sandia Electro-Optics Corp. in Albuquerque, N.M., an employee-owned enterprise devoted to the incubation of innovative measurement instruments in the life science and environmental sensing market segments.

“As we celebrate AIM Photonics’ 5-year anniversary and look to the next five years, what better way to celebrate than to welcome back to Rochester Michael Cumbo,” said Ed White, National Photonics Initiative chairman and associate vice president for AIM Photonics Test, Assembly and Packaging facility in Rochester. “AIM Photonics will benefit significantly from Mike’s technology leadership expertise, and I look forward to working with him to continue the advancement of the TAP facility and sharing his vision for the next five years and beyond.”

Prior to his work with ZYGO, Cumbo spent three decades managing various levels of photonic technology development across the globe, most recently as president of IDEX Optics & Photonics. He holds a Ph.D. in optics and an M.S. in optical engineering from the University of Rochester, as well as an M.S. in electrical engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology.

“I am excited to be joining the talented team at AIM Photonics, the nation’s premier integrated photonics manufacturing institute,” Cumbo said. “The recent innovations and applications demonstrated by AIM Photonics are already changing the world as we know it. I’m honored to continue the efforts and look forward to expanding the technological opportunities in my home town of Rochester, N.Y., as well as within the state of New York and across the nation.”

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