BizTucson Nextgen Leaders: Katie Schwertz – Senior Manager of Optical Assemblies and Technology, Edmund Optics
Katie Schwertz’s award-winning advocacy and work in optics elevates an industry cluster that already attracts global notice for its innovation and excellence.
As senior manager of optical assemblies and technology at Edmund Optics, Schwertz has amassed 15 years of applied industry experience in optical and optomechanical design. She has co-authored two books–the SPIE Field Guide to Optomechanical Design and Analysis and
Photonics Rules of Thumb, 3rd Edition.
Schwertz currently serves as Chair of the Optics Valley industry cluster in Arizona and on the board of directors for the Arizona Technology Council. She is also a Fellow of SPIE, a senior member of Optica, and served on the SPIE board of directors from 2020 to 2022.
She is the 2024 recipient of the SPIE President’s Award, which recognizes meritorious service of outstanding benefit to the society and was recognized in the 2025 Electro Optics Photonics100 list.