Leadership

Company prepares for strategic growth in the face of unprecedented opportunities for the U.S. semiconductor industry

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – September 14, 2023 – SkyWater Technology (NASDAQ: SKYT), the trusted technology realization partner, today announced John Sakamoto will be joining the company as president and chief operating officer, effective September 25, 2023. In his new role, Sakamoto will be responsible for all day-to-day business and manufacturing operations, driving consistent profitability, implementing growth strategies, and ensuring smooth and efficient operations across the enterprise.

During the business transformation initiative currently underway, which SkyWater launched with third party consultants earlier this year, the company determined that an operational leader with Sakamoto’s skills and experience would help accelerate the transformation process aimed at achieving greater levels of scale, revenue, and profitability.

Reporting to CEO Thomas Sonderman, Sakamoto will join SkyWater with 25 years of experience in various executive leadership positions with Altera, Intel, and Marvell, where he consistently achieved financial and strategic objectives through the implementation of effective business processes. His expertise includes market strategy, organizational growth, general management, business unit leadership, sales, operations, engineering, and acquisition integration.

“The semiconductor industry has an unprecedented opportunity before it, driven by the ever-increasing demand for new technologies manufactured in the U.S., including emerging growth applications such as AI, and further bolstered by the potential of significant CHIPS funding over the next several years,” said Sonderman. “This is exactly the right time to bring strong operational leadership to our organization. As a long-time consumer of foundry services, John will bring a strong customer-centric focus to SkyWater as we grow and scale our business model. I look forward to collaborating with him to propel the company to new heights.”

“I’m very excited about SkyWater’s pioneering Technology as a Service (TaaS) business model, which enables customers to bring innovative solutions to market quickly,” said Sakamoto. “With the growing demand for a U.S.-based semiconductor supply chain, SkyWater’s onshore silicon manufacturing solutions and diverse technology capabilities position the company well for tremendous growth as this decade unfolds.”

About SkyWater Technology

SkyWater (NASDAQ: SKYT) is a U.S.-based semiconductor manufacturer and a DMEA-accredited Category 1A Trusted Foundry. SkyWater’s Technology as a Service model streamlines the path to production for customers with development services, volume production and heterogeneous integration solutions in its world-class U.S. facilities. This pioneering model enables innovators to co-create the next wave of technology with diverse categories including mixed-signal CMOS, ROICs, rad-hard ICs, power management, MEMS, superconducting ICs, photonics, carbon nanotubes and interposers. SkyWater serves growing markets including aerospace & defense, automotive, biomedical, cloud & computing, consumer, industrial and IoT. For more information, visit www.skywatertechnology.com/.

SkyWater Technology Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements that are based on the Company’s current expectations or forecasts of future events, rather than past events and outcomes, and such statements are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Key factors that could cause the Company’s actual results to be different than expected or anticipated include, but are not limited to, factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of its annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and in other documents that the Company files with the SEC, which are available at http://www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.

SkyWater Company Contact: Tara Luther | 952.851.5023 | tara.luther@skywatertechnology.com
SkyWater Media Contact: Lauri Julian | 949.280.5602 | lauri.julian@skywatertechnology.com

US ISES to focus on “Strengthening the U.S. Semiconductor Ecosystem”

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – May 4, 2022 – SkyWater Technology (NASDAQ: SKYT), the trusted technology realization partner, today announced that Thomas Sonderman, the company’s president and CEO, will be a keynote speaker at the first U.S. International Semiconductor Executive Summit. The US ISES provides a unique platform for leaders to strategize future industry opportunities. The theme of the Summit is “Strengthening the U.S. Semiconductor Ecosystem” and offers collaboration and networking for semiconductor companies facing common challenges.

Taking place in Scottsdale, Arizona from May 9–10, 2022, the event brings together participants from different sectors of the semiconductor supply chain and consists of political, business, financial, and research and industry leaders all under one roof.

Sonderman’s keynote will focus on strategies for revitalizing U.S. leadership in semiconductor manufacturing. The current chip shortage and unprecedented pandemic have put a spotlight on supply chain vulnerabilities in the U.S.

According to Sonderman, “Creating a balanced and secure microelectronics supply chain is critical to reduce risk and enhance national security.  This includes establishing a National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) to drive synergistic innovation by bridging the gap between public and private sector R&D and commercialization. It also includes enabling comprehensive workforce development by increasing support for STEM education and apprentice programs and rapidly expanding the use of public-private partnerships to build the fabs of the future.”

Sonderman added, “By aggressively taking these actions, the U.S. can lay the groundwork for the next wave of emerging manufacturing technologies that will support the ever-increasing global demand for advanced microelectronics.”

For more information on the US ISES, please visit: www.usises.com.

About SkyWater Technology

SkyWater (NASDAQ: SKYT) is a U.S.-owned semiconductor manufacturer and a DOD-accredited Trusted supplier. SkyWater’s Technology as a Service^SM model streamlines the path to production for customers with development services, volume production and heterogeneous integration solutions in its world-class U.S. facilities. This pioneering model enables innovators to co-create the next wave of technology with diverse categories including mixed-signal CMOS, ROICs, rad-hard ICs, power discretes, MEMS, superconducting ICs, photonics, carbon nanotubes and interposers.  SkyWater serves growing markets including aerospace & defense, automotive, biomedical, cloud & computing, consumer, industrial and IoT. For more information, visit: www.skywatertechnology.com.

SkyWater Technology Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements that are based on the Company’s current expectations or forecasts of future events, rather than past events and outcomes, and such statements are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Key factors that could cause the Company’s actual results to be different than expected or anticipated include, but are not limited to, factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of its annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and in other documents that the Company files with the SEC, which are available at http://www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.

SkyWater Company Contact: Tara Luther | 952.851.5023 | tara.luther@skywatertechnology.com

SkyWater Media Contact: Lauri Julian | 949.280.5602 | lauri.julian@skywatertechnology.com

Experienced financial and technology executive joins board to help accelerate next phase of financial growth

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – February 7, 2022 – SkyWater Technology (NASDAQ: SKYT), the trusted technology realization partner, today announced the appointment of Greg Graves to its board of directors, effective March 2, 2022.

Mr. Graves has served as chief financial officer of Entegris, Inc., a leading supplier of advanced materials and process solutions for the semiconductor and other high-technology industries, since April 2007 and served as senior vice president, strategic planning and business development from 2002 to 2007. He has also served as a director of Laird Superfood since 2018. Prior to joining Entegris, Mr. Graves held positions in investment banking and corporate development, including at Piper Jaffray, RBC (Dain Rauscher) and The Pillsbury Company. From 2017 to 2019, he served as a director and chairman of the audit committee of Plug Power Inc. Mr. Graves has served on the board of directors of the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation since 2016 and has been chairman of the audit and finance committee since 2019. Mr. Graves received a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of accounting and taxation degree from the University of Alabama. He also received a Master of business administration degree from the University of Virginia.

“We are delighted for Greg to join our board and audit committee, given his decades of executive experience in finance and accounting as well as his board experience with leading organizations,” said Gary Obermiller, chairman of the board. “Greg will bring expertise in a key area for SkyWater and his guidance will be an asset in helping position the company for increased financial growth.”

“Greg will be an outstanding addition to our distinguished board of directors, helping to develop our delivery of long-term shareholder value,” said Thomas Sonderman, SkyWater president and CEO. “His leadership background in the semiconductor industry will be valuable to SkyWater as we continue to grow and diversify the company.”

“I am excited to join the board of directors of SkyWater during this transformational era in the semiconductor industry,” said Greg Graves. “I look forward to working with an outstanding team to help create sustainable value for both the company and its shareholders.”

About SkyWater Technology

SkyWater (NASDAQ: SKYT) is a U.S.-owned semiconductor manufacturer and a DOD-accredited Trusted supplier. SkyWater’s Technology as a Service^SM model streamlines the path to production for customers with development services, volume production and advanced packaging solutions in its world-class U.S. facilities. This pioneering model enables innovators to co-create the next wave of technology with diverse categories including mixed-signal CMOS, read-out ICs, rad-hard, power discretes, MEMS, superconducting ICs, photonics, carbon nanotubes and interposers. SkyWater serves growing markets including aerospace & defense, automotive, biomedical, cloud & computing, consumer, industrial and IoT. For more information, visit: www.skywatertechnology.com.

SkyWater Technology Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements that are based on the Company’s current expectations or forecasts of future events, rather than past events and outcomes, and such statements are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Key factors that could cause the Company’s actual results to be different than expected or anticipated include, but are not limited to factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the prospectus the Company filed with the SEC on April 22, 2021, its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 3, 2021 and in other documents that the Company files with the SEC, which are available at http://www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.

SkyWater Company Contact: Tara Luther | 952.851.5023 |  tara.luther@skywatertechnology.com
SkyWater Media Contact: Lauri Julian | 949.280.5602 | media@skywatertechnology.com