Purdue alumnus and global transformation leader Keith Krach — Chairman of the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue, the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council, and the Global Tech Security Commission — receives the 2025 ASME-SME Merchant Manufacturing Medal of Honor for his extraordinary contributions to technology, innovation, and economic statecraft.

Presented by Vincent W. Howell, 2025 SME President, the award recognizes Krach’s pioneering impact across robotics, e-commerce, digital trust, and global manufacturing leadership.

Vincent Howell’s introduction:

“The 2025 awardee is Keith Krach, Chairman of the Krach Institute for Tech Diplomacy at Purdue University, the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council, and the Global Tech Security Commission, who is being recognized for exceptional technological contributions and innovations in supply chain management that have transformed the manufacturing sector.

A graduate of Purdue University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, and of Harvard Business School, where he earned an MBA, Krach is known for transformational leadership in the fields of robotics, engineering, software, e-commerce, higher education, philanthropy, and economic statecraft.

At General Motors, he became the youngest-ever vice president at 26. After roles at Cadillac, the New York Treasurer’s Office, and the GM Technical Center, he led GMF Robotics, a joint venture with FANUC, that became the world’s largest manufacturer of industrial robots.

As Chief Operating Officer of Rasna, he created the category of mechanical design synthesis and propelled it to number three on the Inc. 5000 before acquisition by PTC.
Krach co-founded Ariba, inventing the category of B2B e-commerce and scaling its market cap to $40 billion.

As DocuSign’s CEO and Chairman, Krach transformed it from a startup to the world’s most trusted enterprise software company by creating the category of digital transaction management, building the DocuSign Global Trust Network to over one billion global users, and turning the company name into a verb.

He was also Chairman of Purdue’s Board of Trustees and Angie’s List, led Sigma Chi globally, served as Benchmark Capital’s first Entrepreneur in Residence, and founded GMN, the world’s largest online mentoring network.

As Under Secretary of State, Krach led U.S. economic diplomacy, developed the Global Economic Security Strategy, spearheaded the largest U.S. onshoring with Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC), was the architect of the $280 billion CHIPS Act, built the Clean Network to defeat China’s 5G master plan, and became the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Taiwan in 41 years.

As a result of these national security initiatives, Krach and his family were sanctioned by the Chinese Communist Party.

One year later, Krach was nominated for the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize for his Trust Doctrine, defending democracy and global tech security.

Please join me in welcoming Keith Krach to the stage.”

About the M. Eugene Merchant Manufacturing Medal

Established by ASME and SME, this prestigious award celebrates individuals who have made pioneering contributions to manufacturing science and practice, embodying innovation, leadership, and lifelong commitment to advancing industry.

Watch Keith Krach’s inspiring acceptance remarks as he shares how lessons from his father’s small Ohio shop shaped his vision for driving global productivity, strengthening economic security, and building a more trusted world.

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