The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) celebrated the graduation of the latest cohorts of the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program on Nov. 3, recognizing 111 graduates who completed intensive, hands-on training for careers in the defense manufacturing sector. The ceremony honored graduates from Cohorts 26-6 and 26-7.
These cohorts completed accelerated training across key trades, including welding, CNC machining, non-destructive testing and quality control, preparing them for immediate employment within the submarine and defense industrial base. Cohort 26-6 completed the program’s standard 16-week curriculum, while Cohort 26-7 was a pilot welding cohort that condensed training into an intensive 12-week format.
ATDM continues to scale a national pipeline of skilled workers for critical manufacturing roles, helping address workforce needs throughout the defense industrial base.
With this cohort, the program has now graduated more than 1,700 skilled tradespeople who are strengthening the nation’s defense workforce pipeline and address critical manufacturing needs throughout the submarine industrial base.
“You may have come here looking for a job, but you are leaving with an opportunity to do something essential, something that truly makes a difference.” – Jason Wells, Executive Vice President, Manufacturing Advancement
Watch the recorded livestream of the November 3, 2026 ATDM Graduation ceremony
Students prepared for manufacturing careers
Supporting National Defense through Workforce Development
The United States faces an urgent workforce challenge: tens of thousands of skilled trades professionals are needed in the coming years to meet production goals for submarines and other naval vessels. Traditional training pipelines cannot scale quickly enough to meet this demand.
ATDM was created to address that need by compressing years of training into focused programs that prepare adult learners for immediate employment. While most cohorts complete a 16-week curriculum, Cohort 26-7 participated in a pilot effort that further streamlined welding training into 12 weeks while maintaining the program’s emphasis on hands-on instruction and workforce readiness.
Students train in high-demand manufacturing disciplines including welding, CNC machining, non-destructive testing and quality control. Graduates gain the technical expertise required to perform precision work essential to national defense.
To reduce barriers to entry, the program covers tuition and housing, enabling participants from across the country to train here in Danville and pursue new career opportunities all over the United States.
Strengthening the Defense Workforce Pipeline
The Nov. 3 ceremony celebrated graduates from two ATDM cohorts, reflecting the program’s continued growth and ability to rapidly prepare skilled workers for careers supporting the nation’s defense manufacturing needs.
Graduates completed training across multiple shifts and disciplines and are now prepared to enter careers that support the submarine industrial base and broader defense manufacturing workforce.
The ceremony also recognized student volunteerism and community engagement, highlighting the importance of leadership and service alongside technical excellence.
graduate spotlight
The ceremony’s student speaker, Paul Hoang, completed the quality control program. He reflected on a journey that took him from military service and years living abroad to the ATDM program.
Originally from Texas, Hoang was living in Japan when he learned about ATDM through a Veterans Affairs newsletter. After weighing the option for a year, he relocated to Danville in search of a new mission and a way to contribute to something larger than himself. He has accepted a position with a supplier of nuclear reactors for U.S. Navy submarines and aircraft carriers.
“ATDM was a perfect way for me to channel my dedication and duty back to something that directly supports our nation moving forward,” he shared.
Preparing a Mission-Ready Workforce
ATDM continues to play a critical role in strengthening the submarine industrial base by rapidly training skilled workers and connecting them with employers across the country.
The program maintains strong outcomes, with approximately 80% of graduates employed within 60 days of completion. Through direct employer engagement, career fairs and industry-informed curriculum, ATDM ensures graduates are prepared to contribute immediately in mission-critical roles.
Josh Sturgill, A Deputy Branch Head for Workforce Development with the Submarine Industrial Base Program Office, served as keynote speaker. A former submarine sailor and the father of two ATDM graduates, Sturgill emphasized the importance of quality manufacturing and the role graduates will play in supporting national defense.
“Not once in my entire career did I question the quality of the machine around me. No submariner ever has to question the quality of the machine around them,” he said.
ATDM Cohort 26-6 Graduates
- Richard Adams (PA)
- Nicholas Alexander (HI)
- James Bailey (NC)
- Arion Cotterman (PA)
- Mikael Echols (VA)
- Alexander Gretok (PA)
- William Jaudon (TX)
- Allen Mawn (PA)
- Angel Rocha (TX)
- Mason Stewart (PA)
- Thomas Williams (VA)
- Kolawole Ayeyunmi (NY)
- Alex Bernstein (ME)
- An Dang (CO)
- Alexander Ezell (AR)
- Solomon Gehan (VA)
- Isaiah Gehan (VA)
- Christian Hart (NM)
- Hagar Hassan (VA)
- Josh Mackey (OH)
- Michelle McElyea (VA)
- Juan Nunez Alvarez (VA)
- Briseis Ortega (IL)
- Veronica Perez-Cavner (VA)
- Alexander Vickery (PA)
- Jett Cunningham (SC)
- Brendon Da Cruz (VA)
- Zachary Deaton (KY)
- Gavin Glover (VA)
- Jacob Masters (VA)
- Liam Seagle (CO)
- Julianne Toepp
- James Wells (PA)
- Jasmine Arlequin (VA)
- Darcy Ballenger (TX)
- Paul Barrett (MI)
- Connor Baugh (NC)
- Thomas Blackmon (VA)
- Harlan Cao (VA)
- Smith Cingolani-Cochran (CA)
- Benjamin Conrad (NC)
- Spencer Corum (CA)
- Mike De La Cruz (NY)
- Alex Fisher (VA)
- Lucas Gift (OH)
- Keith Griffith (TN)
- Alireza Hassanzadeh (WA)
- Sean Hutfles (VA)
- Anthony Jolivette (TX)
- David Kent (FL)
- Anthony Loera (OH)
- Kyle Mitchell (PA)
- Kory Moser (FL)
- Viridiana Saucedo (AL)
- Wynn Sherman (VA)
- Jaqwartavius Smith (GA)
- Sophia Unciano (CA)
- Caneisha Warren (MS)
- Conner Cox (OH)
- Dennis Foutz Jr. (OH)
- Paul Hoang (TX)
- Christian Hopkins (NY)
- Kevin Jackson (CA)
- Cristi Nguyen (VA)
- Scott Stang (OH)
- Guenivere Starling (OH)
- Manuel Vasquez (CA)
- Jennifer White (AL)
- Richard Adams (WA)
- Jose Alicea (FL)
- Aidan Baker (NY)
- Isaac Breland (VA)
- Demontre Britton (VA)
- Zildjian Crumpton (VA)
- William Ingram (VA)
- Steven LoCascio (NJ)
- Gabriel Merritt (IA)
- Cody Vincent (VA)
ATDM Cohort 26-7 Graduates
12-week pilot welding cohort
- Iman Brown (VA)
- Lucas Calvetti (VA)
- Lawrence Christian (MD)
- Avery Loveland (IL)
- Liam Markham (VA)
- Daniel Santos (VA)
- Joel Seamster (VA)
- Alex Setterholm (VA)
- Printice Stone (VA)
- Aidin Walton (VA)
- Rylan Woodard (VA)
- Joseph Battaglia (VA)
- Dominic Bazan (WA)
- Kingsley Brown (MD)
- Travis Chopyak (VA)
- Owen Devitt (NJ)
- Jason Menendez-Izaguirre (NC)
- Dillon Myers (MD)
- Kyrie Pauley (VA)
- Gissel Santiago Hernandez (AZ)
- Jonas Schwartz (MD)
- Fate Swanson (VA)
- Tierre Walden (VA)
- Gersson Argueta-Herrera (MD)
- Terrence Craig (CA)
- Shane Johnson (MD)
- Landon Lamontagne (VA)
- Shawn Nelson Jr. (PA)
- Abigail Parton (GA)
- Maxwell Schuster (VA)
- John Wiggs (NC)
APPLY TO ATDM
ATDM is currently accepting applications from motivated individuals ready to launch a career in advanced manufacturing and support the nation’s defense.
About ATDM
The Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing program provides focused, industry-driven training to equip participants with skills critical for defense manufacturing. This initiative is funded through the National Imperative for Industrial Skills by the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program Office within the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.
About the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research
The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research serves Virginia as a regional catalyst for economic transformation with applied research, advanced learning, manufacturing advancement, conference center services and economic development efforts. IALR’s major footprint focuses within Southern Virginia, including the counties of Patrick, Henry, Franklin, Pittsylvania, Halifax and Mecklenburg along with the cities of Martinsville and Danville. The organization houses and leads the ATDM program with the support of various partners.
