John Keatts serves as the Welding Department Lead for the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program. Keatts is responsible for the day-to-day training operations and instruction of the ATDM Welding Program. This includes oversight of welding instructors and technicians, as well as acting as an American Welding Society Certified Welding Inspector (AWS CWI), developing curriculum, delivering instruction, advising students, and much more.
His resume combines hands-on training, apprenticeship education, real-world experience, and instructing aspiring welders. Keatts’ served as a Welding Instructor for Danville Community College (DCC); however, his roots began as a third-generation Boilermaker. He has had an abundant welding career, which has enabled him the opportunity to work in a multitude of capacities: government contracts, repairing nuclear reactors, traveling internationally regularly for emergency welding demands, instructing/supervising a critical team testing new automatic welding operations, and utilizing his experiences as an opportunity to counsel future generations of welders to learn and grow into a rewarding career.
Keatts believes he must aid in building the next generation of welders by sharing his knowledge and skills.
