Tampa Brass & Aluminum expanding local headquarters

For the Tampa Brass & Aluminum Corporation executive team, the goal is straightforward. President and owner Aubrey Greene and his staff want to advance defense manufacturing capabilities in the Tampa Bay area. 

Currently, the nearly 70-year-old company is expanding its Hillsborough County headquarters. The project comes after a series of new military contract awards. As part of the effort, the organization will add 50 jobs and invest $58 million in new machinery and equipment. The initiative was officially announced this month. 

In January 2025, the organization filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. 

Tampa Brass & Aluminum provides manufacturing services for missiles, submarine components and other mission-critical assets for the U.S. Air Force and Navy, among other defense customers. It has also worked with commercial businesses such as Outback Steakhouse. 

The company’s capabilities include precision machining, fabrication and non-destructive testing. Maria Long, Tampa Brass & Aluminum vice president of strategy and operations, explained that speed is critical in the warfighting supply chain process. 

“We’re really focused on implementing manufacturing 4.0 and smart manufacturing efficiencies,” she said. “While we’re going to increase headcount, a big focus for us is increasing efficiency and capacity through the use of automation, additive manufacturing and robotics.” 

Tampa Brass & Aluminum is interested in exploring investment opportunities out of state. However, Greene explained that it was essential to focus on the bay region first. 

“There’s a lot of growth in Tampa and there’s a lot of involvement and engagement from the county and the business community as a whole,” he said. “Quality of life was the key decision factor. The culture is extremely diverse. There’s a lot of opportunities from the labor market standpoint.” 

Greene added that the close proximity to Tampa International Airport also played a role in the decision. 

Tampa Brass & Aluminum has had a longstanding relationship with the University of South Florida with regards to its internship program. Working with local young talent has been a “critical” experience for the company.

Currently, the organization is hiring for a variety of roles including non-destructive testing technician, non-destructive testing supervisor, quality control inspector, welding inspector and nuclear engineering technician. 

Tampa Brass & Aluminum was founded in 1957 by Sam Leto Sr., a first generation Italian-American. According to the company’s website, the Leto family “leased a small building and began pouring metal castings for the shipping and phosphate industry in the Tampa area.”

It was a three man operation. Within 15 years, the company would hire approximately 20 employees. Over time, the Tampa Brass & Aluminum team would expand its services. Greene took over ownership in December 2024. 

The Tampa Bay Economic Development Council has played a supporting role in Tampa Brass & Aluminum’s expansion project. 

“Tampa Brass & Aluminum’s expansion is a great example of the strength and diversity of Hillsborough County’s manufacturing sector,” said Tampa Bay Economic Development Council FY2026 Chair Archie Collins in a prepared statement. “Their continued investment and plans to create more jobs are especially significant as we work to grow the advanced manufacturing companies and supply chains that support our region’s vital defense industry.”

Tampa Brass & Aluminum website