2026-2027 | Executive Committee (EC) Officers
Chair: Hristo Hristov
Hristo Hristov possesses strong management background, extensive experience and technical knowledge acquired through industrial research and development (R&D), novel initiatives and high-quality products deliverables. One can only gain from his expertise in managing advanced technical organizations, teams, operations, and challenging research programs from concept generation to market. Hristo’s expertise has shaped within advanced industries such as overfill / fail-safe fluid detection and valuable liquid resource processing systems, defense, robotics, surface-mount technology (SMT), non-destructive technologies (NDT) and industrial equipment.
Vice Chair: Jim Scutti
Jim Scutti, Corporate Fellow R&D, Boston Scientific Corporation; Fellow ASM International.
Metals and manufacturing processing subject matter expert with 46 years deep experience in the medical devices and aerospace industries. Provides expertise for R&D, Manufacturing, Quality and Supplier organizations throughout all 7 Divisions within Boston Scientific Corporation. Researches, defines, develops, leads projects and solves problems through knowledge and experience with metals and manufacturing processes, in conjunction with critical thinking, careful analyses and designed experiments. Selects, analyzes and qualifies materials & processes, develops IP, serves as subject matter expert on various Product Development, Sustaining Engineering, Quality and Regulatory teams. Leads teams of engineers and Technicians in Exploratory R&D projects, applying advanced and additively manufactured materials to develop innovative and novel medical devices on time and in scope.
Holds 40 Patents, Jim completed his Metallurgy education at MIT, receiving his M.S. in 1982 and B.S. in 1980. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in Massachusetts and Delaware and was awarded Fellow of ASM International in 2009.
Metals and manufacturing processing subject matter expert with 46 years deep experience in the medical devices and aerospace industries. Provides expertise for R&D, Manufacturing, Quality and Supplier organizations throughout all 7 Divisions within Boston Scientific Corporation. Researches, defines, develops, leads projects and solves problems through knowledge and experience with metals and manufacturing processes, in conjunction with critical thinking, careful analyses and designed experiments. Selects, analyzes and qualifies materials & processes, develops IP, serves as subject matter expert on various Product Development, Sustaining Engineering, Quality and Regulatory teams. Leads teams of engineers and Technicians in Exploratory R&D projects, applying advanced and additively manufactured materials to develop innovative and novel medical devices on time and in scope.
Holds 40 Patents, Jim completed his Metallurgy education at MIT, receiving his M.S. in 1982 and B.S. in 1980. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in Massachusetts and Delaware and was awarded Fellow of ASM International in 2009.
Treasurer: Santosh Jha
Dr. Santosh K. Jha is currently the Director (R&D/Admin.) & Business Manager of Surmet Corp., an advanced specialty materials solution company, headquartered in Burlington, MA. Dr. Jha joined Surmet Corp. as a Materials Scientist in August 2002. Here, working with a group of scientists and engineers, he focused on the development of ALON and Spinel Optical Ceramics. His job responsibilities at Surmet include overseeing and managing multiple R&D programs sponsored by Surmet, the U.S. Department of Defense and other federal agencies. In this capacity, Santosh has helped Surmet carry out R&D programs worth over $110 million.
Santosh has over 20 years of R&D experience and has published more than 45 research papers in the areas of high temperature materials such as titanium aluminides and thermal barrier coatings, optical ceramics, and specialty coatings. Prior to joining Surmet in August 2002, Santosh worked at the University of Central Florida, Orlando.
With a Ph.D. from IIT Bombay, Santosh also had the privilege of working as a Visiting Scientist at the KFA, Juelich, Germany as recipient of the prestigious Indo-German DLR fellowship.
Santosh has over 20 years of R&D experience and has published more than 45 research papers in the areas of high temperature materials such as titanium aluminides and thermal barrier coatings, optical ceramics, and specialty coatings. Prior to joining Surmet in August 2002, Santosh worked at the University of Central Florida, Orlando.
With a Ph.D. from IIT Bombay, Santosh also had the privilege of working as a Visiting Scientist at the KFA, Juelich, Germany as recipient of the prestigious Indo-German DLR fellowship.
Secretary: Oleksandr Pareniuk
Oleksandr Pareniuk, PhD, is a metallurgist with more than a decade of experience in research and development, process scale-up, and the commercialization of advanced metallic materials. He currently serves as a Senior R&D Metallurgist at Phoenix Tailings, where his work focuses on the metallization of critical rare earth compounds, vacuum induction melting, and the development of special alloys.
A recipient of the Scholarship of the President of Ukraine for Young Scientists, Dr. Pareniuk combines strong academic credentials with hands-on industrial expertise in metallurgical process development, physical modeling, induction melting, quality assurance, and applied materials research. He is the author of more than 27 scientific and technical publications, has contributed to a Ukrainian utility model patent, and is named as an inventor on a U.S. provisional patent application.
A recipient of the Scholarship of the President of Ukraine for Young Scientists, Dr. Pareniuk combines strong academic credentials with hands-on industrial expertise in metallurgical process development, physical modeling, induction melting, quality assurance, and applied materials research. He is the author of more than 27 scientific and technical publications, has contributed to a Ukrainian utility model patent, and is named as an inventor on a U.S. provisional patent application.
Interested in joining the Executive Committee (EC) or our E-Board?
Email your resume, a short description of yourself, and reason of interest to [email protected]
Email your resume, a short description of yourself, and reason of interest to [email protected]