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Students from Diverse Backgrounds Benefitting from Accelerated Training Program

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Students from Diverse Backgrounds Benefitting from Accelerated Training Program

Students from Diverse Backgrounds Benefitting from Accelerated Training Program

A Danville woman in her 40s who grew up on a tobacco farm and spent most of her career in behavioral health. A former Navy Corpsman father and his 22-year-old daughter from California. Two active-duty Marines stationed out of San Diego and a Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer who spent most of his first 12 years of service at sea.  

These are just a few of the students enrolled in the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program’s sixth cohort. This growing prototype program housed at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) in Danville provides the skills and qualifications for adult learners to immediately enter the submarine and defense industrial base – the system of companies that produces parts and equipment for the U.S. military.  

The program brings a diverse group of students to Danville to develop the skills needed for a quality career bolstering our country’s defense. Students have come from 26 states, range from age 17 to 50s, and bring a wide range of previous career experience. Boasting an 86% graduation rate, the program takes these learners and prepares them for meaningful careers. Approximately 75% of graduates so far have gone on to work directly in the defense and submarine industrial base.  

ATDM prepares adult learners for manufacturing careers that support the United States military.  Students from dozens of states with various career backgrounds are completing the accelerated, four-month training.   The program currently offers five tracks: welding, non–destructive testing (NDT), quality control inspection (metrology), additive manufacturing and CNC machining.   By 2025, 800-1,000 students will graduate annually. Each of the five tracks will be offered across three shifts. 

“We’ve had a retired schoolteacher, a chef who worked at one of Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants, active-duty military, veterans and a host of other backgrounds and career experiences. We see everything from companies sending their employees here for upskilling to people with no experience whatsoever in manufacturing and everyone in between. What they all have in common is a willingness to learn in a rigorous environment.”  – ATDM Director Dr. Debra Holley

Non-destructive Testing: A Family Affair 

Greg Williams is a Navy Veteran who spent 13 years in active duty, concluding his service as an Independent Duty Hospital Corpsman. After moving with his family from California to Durham, N.C., in 2022, Williams was interested in a new career path.  

“I spent the first half of my life focusing on medicine. To do a shift into something mechanical and something on the manufacturing side, I thought it would be a good challenge,” Williams said. 

A January 2023 email from the Wounded Warrior project included some information about the ATDM program. The program immediately caught Williams’ eye, and he reached out to ATDM staff within a few days.  

But he was not just interested in the program for himself. More than 2,600 miles away in Pullman, Wash., Williams’ daughter Lilly Concepcion, 22, was living on her own for the first time, working as a barista.  

“I was trying to scrape together enough money as I possibly could to survive on my own, and it just wasn’t cutting it,” Concepcion said. “When my dad told me about ATDM, I was definitely very intrigued to think that maybe I could start a career path that would take me further.”   

Today, the pair have completed more than a third of the non-destructive testing track in the ATDM program, often studying and spending time together outside of class. With housing in Danville’s River District provided to students as part of the program, Williams’ wife and two sons are also here while he completes the program.  

Greg Williams and his daughter Lilly Concepcion are participating in the non-destructive testing cohort of the ATDM program.

“It has been exciting to be able to learn a new process together. This is something neither of us had any experience in,” Williams said.  

Non-destructive testing is an analysis technique that evaluates the properties of a material for characteristic differences or welding defects and discontinuities, all without causing damage.  

Having already met with several companies and actively working with ATDM student support staff on her resume, Concepcion is confident that she will have a job opportunity lined up by the time she graduates in September.  

“I would love to work on submarines in some way. At the end of this I just want to help out where I can in the industry.”  – Lilly Concepcion, ATDM Non-Destructive Testing Student

“It’s definitely an exciting time to try to figure out where do we want to go next,” Williams said, noting that he is exploring different options and is not bound to any one location. “It’s not a matter of can I find a job, it’s going to be what’s most conducive for what I want.”  

Looking for a New Career 

Dana Lunsford has a long resume highlighted by stints in law enforcement before spending the bulk of the 2010s and early 2020s working in the Behavioral Health field focusing on the seriously mentally ill population as a Clinical Manager and Supervisor in Southern Virginia. 

“As far as behavioral health is concerned, you name it, I pretty much did it here in Southern Virginia,” said Lunsford, who grew up on a local tobacco farm.  

After a taxing, travel-filled year working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Lunsford began working with FedEx as a temporary stop while exploring next steps. With her children grown and exploring their adult lives, Lunsford was looking for a major career shift and was open to whatever that looked like.  

“You are never too old to learn something new. I feel learning new things and stepping outside of one’s comfort zone and taking on a challenge is very important for self-development and career growth.” – Dana Lunsford, Welding Student in ATDM Program

An internet search about programs in welding – a trade she had always been interested in learning more about– led her to ATDM, which immediately caught her attention.  

After a long career in behavioral health, Danville native Dana Lunsford enrolled in the welding track of the ATDM program. “We’ll see where it takes me.”

Now several weeks into the welding track of ATDM, Lunsford is fascinated with the different welding types and applications she is learning. The program trains students like Lunsford to American Welding Society standards.  

Like Concepcion and Williams, Lunsford is already engaging with industry and working on her resume and is not bound to any one location.  

“There are a lot of excellent career prospects out there,” she said. “We’ll see where it takes me.”  

Upskilling the Military  

Marine Corporal Ahgden Haversack and Sergeant Lionel Moss were hand selected by their seniors to participate in the Additive Manufacturing cohort of the ATDM program. Haversack had completed a U.S. Marine Corps additive manufacturing course and had done some 3D printing for aircraft while Moss had worked as a machinist for rotary aircraft parts. Both received some formal training but were still learning a lot on the job.  

Today they are two of the 11 active-duty military participants in the additive manufacturing cohort of ATDM. While ATDM primarily develops the civilian workforce needed to produce equipment and parts, military personnel also benefit from having formal training.  

Marine Corporal Ahgden Haversack (right) described the ATDM program as invaluable. “I can produce a better product and give the military a better product.”

Chief Petty Officer Jonathan Zlocki, a Coast Guard electrician, is going to manage the operations of an additive manufacturing facility in New Orleans after completion of the ATDM program.

Marine Sergeant Lionel Moss, stationed in San Diego, is one of 11 active-duty military participants in the Additive Manufacturing track of the ATDM program.

“Invaluable” is how Haversack describes the rapid, hands-on learning and instruction ATDM provides. He says that this course is helping him to kick bad habits he may have developed and is providing him the foundational knowledge needed to improve and expand the way he manages operations in San Diego.  

“I have all this knowledge that I didn’t have before,” he said. “The parts that I made that I thought were perfect before I got here might not be perfect now because I have a higher standard. I can produce a better product and give the military a better product.”   

Having Marines like Haversack and Moss be able to create more parts themselves will save the military time and money.  

“We’re hitting this thing at both ends now,” Moss said. “Any time there’s a problem, it’s either we can 3D print it or we can machine it out of metal and get that bird back in the air.”   

Haversack and Moss are the most experienced students in the cohort, which allows them to rebuild and expand their knowledge while also helping others in the class. One of the students they have worked with is Chief Petty Officer Jonathan Zlocki, a Coast Guard electrician who spent most of his career wiring ships and other infrastructure. Upon his completion of the program, Zlocki will be standing up an additive manufacturing facility for the Coast Guard in New Orleans.  

“When I go back, I can more effectively use the training I’m getting here to train others and manufacture parts,” Zlocki said.  

IALR Shares Partnerships, Progress and Transformation in Annual Report

IALR Shares Partnerships, Progress and Transformation in Annual Report

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) has published its 2021-2022 annual report, which highlights innovative and collaborative partnerships across departments that are transforming the economy of Southern Virginia.  

“Significant economic growth has resulted due to robust partnerships across the region. IALR stands ready to serve as Virginia’s go-to partner for education and workforce development, business and economic growth, and a globally competitive business ecosystem.” – IALR President Telly Tucker.

View the Full Report 

One of the pivotal moments of the report period is the creation and adoption of the new IALR Strategic Plan, which will guide IALR’s work and efforts for the next five years. With input from key stakeholders, the plan establishes strategic goals to outline how IALR can best capitalize on its unique strengths to impact the region. 

Just some of the new initiatives and programs launched, announced or expanded during FY 21 and FY 22:  

The Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC™) framework is spreading into schools across the Commonwealth. The GO TEC program is just one component of the newly developed and proven EmPOWER system – an employer-driven model to systematically connect students to careers through career awareness, exposure, and engagement and experience. Future and current members of the workforce, as well as businesses, find joint benefits in problem-solving teamships, apprenticeships, externships and internships, mock interview days and more.  

While striving to promote a diversified economy by serving a variety of industries, much of IALR’s impact in 2021-2022 was in the manufacturing sector. Expanding the existing middle-school-through-college workforce development pipelines, the new Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program is a rapid adult-learner model that prepares talent for jobs in the defense industrial base. ATDM launched in 2020 and is already proving successful and showing what modern public-private partnerships should look like. In addition, IALR partnered with the Commonwealth of Virginia and Danville Regional Foundation to construct the Center for Manufacturing Advancement, a new destination for manufacturers ready to optimize and scale and home to the U.S. Navy’s Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence.  

Through the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Innovation Center, a joint project with Virginia Tech, IALR has established itself as a global leader in the CEA industry. The presence of the innovative research and state-of-the-art equipment are already making an impact on Southern Virginia. Thanks to best-in-class resources, including lab spaces and staff, the Applied Research team provided 30 companies with applied research and testing services like analytical chemistry, polymer testing and more.  

In partnership with the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance (SVRA) and many other economic development organizations, IALR is proud to champion the area while working with local, regional and state partners. In FY 21 and 22, the Southern Virginia region saw $498 million in announced capital investment and 1,288 new jobs. IALR contributed to economic success by serving as a temporary home for growing businesses by providing critical testing services and lab space to innovative companies across industries. The Bridge to Recovery Program connected companies with suppliers and helped businesses become more resilient post-pandemic.  

The Institute Conference Center hosted a variety of events geared toward the growth of industry sectors and Southern Virginia, including trainings and economic development activities. Numerous companies, including anchor and growing employers held successful job fairs, connecting community members with quality employment. An extensive renovation of the main building and a relaunch of Megabytes, IALR’s on-site café, have allowed the Institute Conference Center to provide even better service for the 20,800 guests who visited.  

ATDM Instructor and Technician Hiring Fair

ATDM Instructor and Technician Hiring Fair

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) is actively seeking talented instructors and lab technicians for its Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program and will be hosting a Hiring Fair on Monday, May 15. The nationally recognized training program is on track to produce 800-1,000 qualified candidates to fill critical vacancies in the defense industrial base by 2025. ATDM serves as a national defense imperative supporting the submarine industrial base through workforce development.

Those interested can register online and book a 60-minute appointment from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to interview and tour program facilities. ATDM is hiring experienced professionals in the fields of welding, additive manufacturing, CNC machining, quality control inspection (metrology), and non-destructive testing. Some positions start immediately; others will begin this Fall. 

Book a 60-Minute Appointment 

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Instructors and technicians wanted for innovative defense manufacturing program

Instructors and technicians wanted for innovative defense manufacturing program

ATDM job fair offers opportunities to train its next cohort of students.

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) is actively seeking talented instructors and lab technicians for its Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program and will be hosting a Hiring Fair on Monday, May 15. The nationally recognized training program is on track to produce 800-1,000 qualified candidates to fill critical vacancies in the defense industrial base by 2025. ATDM serves as a national defense imperative supporting the submarine industrial base through workforce development.

Those interested can register online and book a 60-minute appointment from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to interview and tour program facilities. ATDM is hiring experienced professionals in the fields of welding, additive manufacturing, CNC machining, quality control inspection (metrology), and non-destructive testing. Some positions start immediately; others will begin this Fall. 

ATDM’s 16-week, hands-on curriculum rapidly develops skilled workers with industry-recognized credentials for employment in the defense industry. The campus of IALR provides state-of-the-art training labs to accommodate America’s scaling needs for defense manufacturing talent. 

Job Fair Details

ATDM Classes

Two people look at a quality inspection machine

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About IALR

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research serves Virginia as a regional catalyst for economic transformation through 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. For more information, visit www.ialr.org.

About ATDM

Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing is a prototype training platform for rapidly training skilled workers in key trades such as CNC machining and welding for employment in the defense industry. ATDM was developed as a public-private consortium between the Department of Defense, the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), Danville Community College (DCC), Phillips Corporation, and The Spectrum Group in consultation with the defense industry. IALR is leading a multi-year pilot project to test and evaluate ATDM as a training platform for regional training centers supporting the defense industrial base. The pilot project is funded through the National Imperative for Industrial Skills initiative which was launched in 2020 by the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program Office (IBAS) in the office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Allison H. Moore, Director, PR & Communications            

Institute for Advanced Learning and Research                                                    

allison.moore@ialr.org | 434.766.6766                 

57 Students Graduate from Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing Program

57 Students Graduate from Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing Program

A group of 50+ ATDM graduates pose for a picture at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research

The 5th cohort of students graduated from the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing Program on May 2.

Local leaders and U.S. Navy representatives gathered to celebrate the 5th cohort of graduates entering the workforce pipeline for the Department of Defense.

The Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program hosted a completion ceremony on Tuesday, May 2, at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) to celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of the 57 students in its January cohort, the 5th cohort in the program’s history.

This 16-week, hands-on curriculum rapidly develops skilled workers with industry-recognized credentials for employment in the defense industry. Such skills include welding, CNC machining, additive manufacturing, quality control inspection (metrology) and, for the first time with this graduating class, non-destructive testing. Graduates of the cohort represent 14 states and earned a collective 304 nationally recognized credentials.

“It is extremely gratifying to see another cohort of students graduating from ATDM with the skills needed to meet the high demand of our submarine industrial base,” said Rear Admiral Scott Pappano, Program Executive Officer, Strategic Submarines, United States Navy. “It is important to realize that we are rebuilding manufacturing and the industrial base, which is vital to our national security. The Navy thanks you for what you are doing.”

Event Photo Gallery

Since ATDM instruction first began in 2021, the 5th cohort is the first to complete all training on the campus of IALR, a space upfitted to provide a state-of-the-art bridge training solution. Partner Danville Community College (DCC), which previously co-hosted classes on its campus, will continue to provide premier ATDM training curriculum and instruction. The training partners will then locate the program within a planned new ATDM Regional Training Center, to be constructed on IALR’s campus by 2025. This building will house all training under one roof and accommodate America’s scaling needs for defense manufacturing talent. In addition to program lead IALR, as well as curriculum provider DCC, other partners of the Department of Defense program include technology provider Phillips Corporation and strategic consulting partner The SPECTRUM Group.

“We are thrilled to continue to lead this impactful training program that has improved the lives of so many across our nation thanks to these dedicated partnerships,” said Telly Tucker, President of IALR. “ATDM not only helps provide promising men and women with the skill sets for high-quality employment with leading companies, but it also helps ensure the success of our nation’s armed forces with the equipment they need to safely and effectively protect our nation and allies.”     

“The ATDM program is unique and unlike any training in the nation,” said Dr. Jerry Wallace, President of DCC. “The students are getting an exclusive learning experience and the faculty have the opportunity to be a part of a nationally recognized program helping to improve our country’s defense.”

Vice Admiral Norb Ryan, USN (Ret.) with The SPECTRUM Group expressed his sincere congratulations to all the ATDM graduates as they get ready to launch their careers helping to build our U.S. Navy’s newest submarines.

“To the entire Danville ATDM Team, a heartfelt Navy ‘Bravo Zulu’ for your awesome leadership and inspiring instructional skills in helping these superb graduates achieve their potential and contribute to our nation’s national defense,” said Vice Admiral Ryan.

A student wearing an ATDM shirt walks toward the stage at graduation.

Director of Phillips Corporation, Rick Morgan, said the company is extremely pleased with the progress of ATDM’s suite of advanced manufacturing training programs.

“Phillips is very proud of its collaboration overseeing the creation and delivery of additive manufacturing (AM) curriculums in partnership with our technology vendors,” said Morgan. “We believe that ATDM’s AM training program is, and will increasingly be, an essential resource for accelerating the delivery of skilled technicians to U.S. Navy and all other military service branches. Developing training programs focused on the most relevant applications of AM technology will also be a growing essential resource for a U.S. Defense Industrial Base increasingly charged with building robust, dependable, and innovative supply chain options for our military services.”  

Enroll in the ATDM Program

About IALR

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research serves Virginia as a regional catalyst for economic transformation through 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. For more information, visit www.ialr.org.

About ATDM

Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing is a prototype training platform for rapidly training skilled workers in key trades such as CNC machining and welding for employment in the defense industry. ATDM was developed as a public-private consortium between the DoD, the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), Danville Community College (DCC), Phillips Corporation, and The Spectrum Group in consultation with the defense industry. IALR is leading a multi-year pilot project to test and evaluate ATDM as a training platform for regional training centers supporting the defense industrial base. The pilot project is funded through the National Imperative for Industrial Skills initiative which was launched in 2020 by the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program Office (IBAS) in the office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Allison H. Moore, Director, PR & Communications        Faith O’Neil, Director, PR & Marketing

Institute for Advanced Learning and Research                    Danville Community College                       

allison.moore@ialr.org  |  434.766.6766                              faith.oneil@danville.edu  |  434.797.8450

Instructor, Staff Positions Available for Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing Program

Instructor, Staff Positions Available for Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing Program

The Institute for Advance Learning and Research and Danville Community College are collectively hiring 38 positions for the program.

DANVILLE, Va. (March 7, 2023) – The Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program is hoping to fill 38 positions, including 24 instructors, within the next six months to support the program’s goals of rapidly training adult learners with the skills necessary to enter the defense industrial base. The program, which works to fill high-demand jobs producing parts to repair, upfit, and build submarines for the U.S. Navy, is led by the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) as a public-private consortium with the U.S. Department of Defense, Danville Community College (DCC), Phillips Corporation, and the Spectrum Group in consultation with the defense industry. Full-time and seasonal intern positions are available at IALR as well as DCC.

Over the next year, the ATDM program will be hiring for positions that support recruitment, veteran recruitment and support, housing and community services, employment outreach, and program support. Additionally, IALR will further support the program by adding positions for grants and contracts specialists, curriculum development, training and technology coordination, and communications and marketing. IALR also plans to hire an Afghan Support Specialist to recruit, translate for, and support students within the Afghan population. A detailed list of employment opportunities is available at ATDM.org/join-our-team.

“These positions are an integral part of ATDM’s mission to quickly funnel workers to the defense industrial base with skill sets that position employers to meet the research and manufacturing demands of today’s military,” said Dr. Debra Holley, ATDM Director. “The experience of these newly hired professionals will equip the ATDM program to ramp up significantly in the next year to achieve ambitious goals set for the next two years.”

DCC also has job openings for instructor and technician positions in the fields of additive manufacturing, CNC machining, metrology, nondestructive testing, and welding—the trades promoted through ATDM.

“Danville Community College is proud to partner with the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research to support the continued growth of ATDM,” said Dr. Jerry Wallace, President of Danville Community College. “We are in the process of hiring an additional 14 instructors and technicians over the next 60 days to meet the needs of this exciting program and we anticipate that the number of jobs created through this initiative will only increase in the future.”

ATDM is being scaled as a national defense manufacturing pipeline that, when at full operation in 2024, will provide 800–1,000 qualified candidates to fill critical vacancies across the defense industrial base. Positions are needed to meet the demand, particularly as the program prepares to break ground on a future 100,000-square-foot training facility later this year.

ATDM was created to teach the skills needed for increasing military equipment production. In recent years, other countries have increased military technology production while the U.S. has remained stagnant. Recognizing the need to increase military production, the U.S. government also realized that manufacturing in the U.S. is now a mere 12% of the national workforce sector compared to the start of WWII, when approximately one-third of the U.S. workforce was in manufacturing. ATDM supports U.S. efforts to build a strong arsenal for defense as well as the trained workforce to build that arsenal.

Due to the importance of submarines in military defense, the U.S. Navy is supporting ATDM so students are trained in the skills needed to repair, upfit, and build submarines. These skills are transferable to other defense industry companies, as well. Students earn the skills for great-paying, in-demand defense industry jobs in these skilled trades:

  • Additive Manufacturing
  • CNC Machining
  • Non-destructive Testing
  • Quality Control Inspection (also known as Metrology)
  • Welding

Professionals interested in applying for jobs at ATDM can visit ATDM.org/join-our-team to learn more. For an updated list of the open positions at Danville Community College, visit https://jobs.vccs.edu/. For an updated list of open positions at IALR, visit https://www.ialr.org/employment/.  

Folks who want to learn more about enrolling in ATDM program classes can go to https://atdm.org/atdm-enrollment-application.

About IALR

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research serves Virginia as a regional catalyst for economic transformation through 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. For more information, visit www.ialr.org.

About ATDM

Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing is a prototype training platform for rapidly training skilled workers in key trades such as CNC machining and welding for employment in the defense industry. ATDM was developed as a public-private consortium between the DoD, the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), Danville Community College (DCC), Phillips Corporation, and The Spectrum Group in consultation with the defense industry. IALR is leading a multi-year pilot project to test and evaluate ATDM as a training platform for regional training centers supporting the defense industrial base. The pilot project is funded through the National Imperative for Industrial Skills initiative which was launched in 2020 by the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program Office (IBAS) in the office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.

MEDIA CONTACT: Rachel Spencer, 540-798-6278, rachel@visitaccess.com.

Center for Manufacturing Advancement Opens, Welcoming U.S. Navy as First Project Partner

Center for Manufacturing Advancement Opens, Welcoming U.S. Navy as First Project Partner

$28 million center invests in manufacturing technology, industry partnerships to support Virginia’s competitive assets

The Center for Manufacturing Advancement (CMA), a state-funded project located on the campus of the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), is open and ready to attract new businesses and jobs to the Commonwealth of Virginia.

“As we strive to make Virginia the best place for veterans to live, work and raise a family, I am thrilled to announce the groundbreaking of our new IALR Center for Manufacturing Advancement in Danville,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “This partnership will diversify, transform and grow Southern Virginia’s production capability for the Submarine Industrial Base as well, marking another major win for Virginia’s defense economy and labor market.” 

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin joined IALR and industry partners for a ribbon cutting to recognize the CMA as Virginia’s newest pro-business platform for developing manufacturing technologies that support business expansion in the region and skilled workforce development.

“The Institute of Advanced Learning and Research is a national model of an adaptive education system that delivers the skilled workforce that our business community and industries require today and for tomorrow,” said Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera.  “It shows how a locally driven, state supported and federally shared Institute can quickly meet the needs of the business community and build the advanced manufacturing pipeline.”

The 51,250-square-foot facility is a $28.8 million investment to promote collaboration among technology leaders and to provide state-of-the-art space for industry partners to optimize their operations and scale. Both existing manufacturers in the region looking to expand and manufacturers looking to enter Southern Virginia with a new site location will benefit. The CMA will help these companies improve quality and innovate technologies that aid economic and manufacturing competitiveness.

“The advancements that are to come out of the Center for Manufacturing Advancement will have significant implications for developing the processes that support manufacturing expansion, as well as the workforce needed to support that growth,” remarked Telly Tucker, President of IALR. “Today’s manufacturing and workforce challenges require comprehensive and innovative approaches to the way industry collaborates, along with significant investments in infrastructure, equipment and people. The CMA fosters each of these obligations in a way that will benefit the region, the Commonwealth, and the country.”

Funded largely by the Commonwealth of Virginia, the CMA was built in cooperation with Virginia’s Division of Engineering and Buildings with financial incentives provided by the Economic Development Administration, IALR and the IALR Foundation, and the Danville Regional Foundation. The CMA and IALR campus resides on land owned by the Danville-Pittsylvania Regional Industrial Facility Authority.

“The Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors has strategically and successfully targeted advanced manufacturing as a major component of our economic development efforts,” said Vic Ingram, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors and the Regional Industrial Facility Authority (RIFA). “We are so excited to see the positive impact the Center for Manufacturing Advancement has on Danville and Pittsylvania County’s recruitment of new advanced manufacturing companies. I am confident this facility will greatly benefit Pittsylvania County, the City of Danville, and our entire region.”

“The opening of this center is the next big step for our city and region in our effort to become an advanced manufacturing hub and further transform the community in which we live,” said City of Danville Mayor Alonzo Jones. “By providing manufacturers with everything they need to launch and grow, the center will be an important economic development tool. It will grow the portfolio of companies that decide to call our community home, and provide new job opportunities for our citizens. We are a proud partner in this effort.”

Center for Manufacturing Advancement

The two-story CMA features:

  • rapid-launch facilities that will enable new businesses to begin limited operations off-site during what is traditionally the initial downtime as new businesses wait for their factory to be constructed and equipped to support full operations;
  • an ISO-certified inspection lab that will provide integrated inspection capabilities required to validate product quality. This service will reduce the start-up phase for a new company by 4 to 6 months, the time required to certify an inspection lab;
  • process improvement labs, including the CNC Machining Innovation Lab, that will enable new and existing businesses to improve their processes in a more expeditious manner, thereby ensuring global competitiveness;
  • an industry 4.0 integration and training lab that will support next-generation manufacturing requirements
  • a platform for collaborative innovation that allows manufacturing companies, technology companies and engineering students to work together to discover, integrate and showcase emerging technology; and
  • concierge service that provides the wrap-around support needed by companies new to the U.S. during their critical start-up phase.

“The opening of the Center for Manufacturing Advancement brings state-of-the-art technological support and increased workforce development capabilities to the economic growth efforts in Danville, Pittsylvania County, and the entire region,” said Representative Bob Good (R-Va.) 

The opening of the CMA took place during the second annual Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) Summit where stakeholders convened on topics pertaining to closing skills and workforce gaps within the naval defense industrial base. United States Secretary of the Navy, Carlos Del Toro, and other defense leaders, legislators, and industry groups addressed the challenges and opportunities for building a labor pool that supports emerging technologies for supplying the nation’s shipbuilding industry.

“The Center for Advanced Manufacturing will help close critical supply chain gaps and accelerate defense manufacturing. It will enable partners to move and adapt at the speed of technology, and directly complements the ATDM program,” said Craig Crenshaw Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs. “ATDM is a great opportunity for our Veterans who are supremely suited to the culture and competencies of defense manufacturing. They provide an immediate connection to the mission.”

The United States Navy will be the first project partner locating in the CMA, selecting three of the high bays as part of a new center of excellence they announced at the ATDM Summit.

“This investment of $28.8 million is a huge win for the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research as well as Danville and Pittsylvania County. Education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and IALR continues to create new opportunities for students in Southside Virginia,” said Virginia Senator Bill Stanley. “I would like to thank Governor Youngkin for his work in this project as we ensure that Southside and Southwest Virginia is the best place to live, work, and to raise a family.” 

The U.S. Navy Opens Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Danville

The U.S. Navy Opens Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence in Danville

Joint Navy-OSD Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing Program to Benefit from new Multi-Million-Dollar Training Facility

The U.S. Navy is launching its Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AM CoE) within the State of Virginia’s Center for Manufacturing Advancement (CMA) on the Danville Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) campus. The creation of the AM CoE marks the first project partnership for the CMA. It demonstrates the Navy’s commitment to investing in and delivering the skilled workforce necessary to strengthen and expand the Navy’s industrial base to achieve the Nation’s strategic defense objectives.

A first for the Navy, the AM CoE will provide a platform for training a skilled additive manufacturing workforce through partnership with the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program, a rigorous, focused 24/5 training schedule that graduates student cohorts every four months in multiple disciplines critical to the defense industrial base (DIB). Industrial manufacturing partners include major shipbuilders like General Dynamics Electric Boat, Huntington-Ingalls Newport News Shipbuilding, Austal USA as well as key industry experts like Phillips Corporation, Industrial Inspection and Analysis, FasTech, Mitutoyo, and Master Gage & Tool, to bring multiple processes utilized by the DIB under one roof to improve efficiencies and reduce barriers to entry for manufacturers hoping to enter additive manufacturing.

Utilizing three full bays dedicated to accelerating and scaling additive manufacturing parts and qualification processes, the AM CoE’s principal functions will be to:

  • Promote adoption of mature industrial qualification processes and data to earn technical warrant holder approval for additive manufacturing production;
  • Enable scale and speed to address material readiness challenges and critical fragilities in the castings/forgings market space;
  • Pave a path for sustainable and scalable additive manufacturing production capability in the submarine industrial base.

“Building and sustaining the Navy’s defense industrial base workforce has become a national security imperative, and the demonstration of partnership and collaboration that is represented here in Danville, Virginia today is part of the ‘Whole Government, Whole of Industry’ approach that must be in place to ensure the domestic manufacturing capacity that is required to maintain the Navy’s maritime edge, and surge to meet a dynamic threat environment,” said Matt Sermon, Executive Director, PEO Strategic Submarines.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the AM CoE was held during the second annual ATDM Summit where the U.S. Navy, Office of the Secretary of Defense, and additional federal, state and local government officials joined with partners from defense industry and academia to convene topics pertaining to closing skills and workforce gaps within the naval defense industrial base.

During the ceremony, the announcement was also made that the ATDM program, which aims to provide 800-1,000 qualified candidates to fill critical vacancies in the DIB annually by 2024, will expand with the creation of a regional training facility adjacent to the CMA. The multimillion-dollar investment into over 100,000 square feet of dedicated training capability, capacity, and infrastructure will enable ATDM to rapidly scale up to its full potential and add to the economic momentum in Southern Virginia. The Danville and Pittsylvania County Regional Industrial Facility Authority provided land for the initiative.

“The launch of the AM CoE and the announcement of scale-up potential for ATDM go hand-in-hand with IALR’s approach to support the technological and workforce development needs of Industry. We are excited to leverage our new Center for Manufacturing Advancement and work with the Navy and other partners,” said Telly Tucker, President, IALR. “ATDM is one of the strongest examples of what full integration of industry in the training process looks like, by bringing key partners together to be vested in the time-to-talent process and ensuring the unique requirements of shipbuilders and suppliers are achieved quickly to meet the demands of our nation’s defenses.”

“The events we celebrate today – centered on workforce, technology, and the space where those two priorities must meet – are game changing. The scale and urgency needed in these areas is a fundamental differentiator in our Navy’s ability to preserve peace, and when necessary, compete and win,” added RADM Scott Pappano, PEO Strategic Submarines.” 

Danville’s DoD-Funded Training Program Graduates Third Cohort in Shipbuilding and Ship Sustaining Skilled Trades

Danville’s DoD-Funded Training Program Graduates Third Cohort in Shipbuilding and Ship Sustaining Skilled Trades

35 workers from 14 states rapidly trained for employment in defense industry

As a high-performance manufacturing hub, Danville offers an innovative training model that more recently includes a federal pilot project attracting participants on a national scale to defense industrial base trades. The third cohort of students, including 35 adult learners from 14 states, graduated from the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program on Aug. 5. This 16-week, hands-on curriculum rapidly develops skilled workers with industry recognized credentials for employment in the defense industry.

Dr. Debra Holley, ATDM Director at IALR, and Dr. Jerry Wallace, Danville Community College President, award certificates to completers of the third cohort of the DoD initiative to prepare workers for skilled trades positions in the defense industry – the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing Program. Thirty-five individuals from 14 states finished the 16-week program on Aug. 5 and have already received job offers from Newport News Shipbuilding, Electric Boat and BWX Technologies.

ATDM trains workers in key trades to fill skill gaps in welding, CNC machining, quality control inspection and additive manufacturing. The program was developed as a public-private consortium between the U.S. Department of Defense, Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), Danville Community College (DCC), Phillips Corporation and The Spectrum Group, in coordination with maritime defense industry partners and Navy stakeholders. Scaling the ATDM program is a priority effort planned in the Submarines Industrial Base budget, and a key enabler in the Navy’s ability to reach and sustain the required submarine production cadence, deliver on the construction of the Navy’s number-one priority Columbia Class submarine, and ensure sustainment of existing platforms. This program is also positioned to have a significant impact across all maritime programs and platforms, and includes addressing workforce constraints at shipbuilders, shipyards and the sub-tier supply chain.

“At every level in our industrial base, manpower readiness is not a choice, it is an absolute requirement for success. The people graduating from the ATDM program are how I know our Navy and Nation will continue leading in the maritime domain,” said Admiral Scott Pappano, Program Executive Officer, Strategic Submarines. “There is nothing more important than ensuring we have the workforce to lead, innovate, and execute our Navy’s programs and platforms, and this pipeline provides these men and women with an incredible opportunity to join our mission in family-sustaining careers that are in critical demand.”

IALR is leading the multi-year pilot project to test and evaluate ATDM as a training platform for regional training centers supporting the defense industrial base. The pilot project is funded through the National Imperative for Industrial Skills initiative which was launched in 2020 by the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program Office (IBAS) in the office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.

“IALR continues to serve as a leading model of intentional, effective workforce development initiatives to generate a sustainable pipeline of work-ready talent for high-performance manufacturers and other target sectors,” said Telly Tucker, president of IALR. “We thank our ATDM partners and congratulate these students on their accomplishments; knowing that we played a role in securing a high-quality job for these men and women while also helping our nation’s defense manufacturers is extremely fulfilling.”

The ATDM curriculum is customized to the skills and training needs of the naval shipbuilding and sustainment sector of the defense industrial base. Training takes place in Danville on the campuses of IALR and DCC, and DCC serves as the curriculum provider.

“We’re incredibly proud of the DCC Knights who have completed the ATDM training,” said Dr. Jerry Wallace, president of Danville Community College. “Thanks to our strong partnership with the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, access to this unique, specialized training is available right here in Danville. These students have mastered skills over the last four months that will propel them forward into high-paying careers, impacting the defense manufacturing industry for years to come. We cannot wait to see where their hard work and dedication leads them.”

Phillips Corporation serves as the technology provider for the ATDM training program, and provides the latest equipment for high-quality, industry-focused training.

“Phillips Corporation is very pleased to continue our training and advanced manufacturing roles with IALR’s ATDM program,” said Rick Morgan, Director, Phillips Corporation. “A terrific example of success related to the mission of this program is that Phillips has hired a recent ATDM graduate of one of the four training programs, in this case a member of the additive manufacturing training cohort. Our new employee, a Marine Corps veteran, will be living and working in Danville for Phillips Corporation on additive and other advanced manufacturing projects as part of Phillips’ continuing commitment and dedication to ‘Team Danville’ programs.”

IALR hosted an ATDM completion ceremony on Aug. 5. Dr. Debra Holley, ATDM Director, and Dr. Jerry Wallace, DCC President, awarded completion certificates. Commissioner Daniel Gade with the Virginia Department of Veterans Services served as keynote speaker. Students hailed from Hawaii, California, Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Indiana, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts. Of the 35 graduates, two are Navy veterans, two are active Navy personnel, and three are Afghan allies. Fourteen of the students were incumbent workers, sponsored by their employers to advance and expand their skills; sponsoring industry partners included Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Curtiss-Wright (New York), Bearon Manufacturing (Pennsylvania), and others. The remaining graduates are working with ATDM placement staff to gain employment; to date, students have received offers from Newport News Shipbuilding, Electric Boat and BWX Technologies.

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research serves Virginia as a regional catalyst for economic transformation with applied research, advanced learning, economic development, manufacturing advancement and conference services. 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. For more information, visit www.ialr.org.

Danville Community College is a two-year institution of higher education under the state-wide Virginia Community College System. DCC’s service area includes the City of Danville, Pittsylvania County, and Halifax County. For more information about the college’s more than 100 programs of study, visit www.danville.edu.

Completers of the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) Additive Manufacturing program receive their completion certificates and are accompanied by DCC additive manufacturing instructor Eric Collie (left).

ATDM CNC Machining participants pose with their certificates of completion, along with DCC precision machining instructor Justin Owen (left) and DCC machining technician Wesley Cifers (right).

DCC welding instructor Brian Penny (front, center) celebrates with completers of the ATDM Welding cohort as well as DCC welding technician Darrell Buchanan (second from right).

Completers of the ATDM Quality Control Inspection (metrology) program celebrate receiving their certificates with DCC dimensional metrology instructor Josh Worthley (right) and DCC metrology technician Jacob Corvin (left).
Congressional Leaders Continue Support of ATDM

Congressional Leaders Continue Support of ATDM

With continuing support of congressional leaders, the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program remains in step with growth goals. ATDM members updated Congressman Bob Good and Senator Mark Warner on the 16-week program that trains adults in CNC machining, quality control inspection, welding and additive manufacturing.

Good and Warner have been instrumental in the ATDM program’s funding and have visited the training facilities. They learned of current successes, as well as the scale-up plan to train 800-1,000 students a year within five years.

The visit also introduced IALR’s new president, Telly Tucker. IALR has served as team lead with Advanced Manufacturing Director Troy Simpson. Norb Ryan Jr., of The SPECTRUM Group, joined the visit as well. SPECTRUM serves as government relations expert on the ATDM team. Other team members include Danville Community College, instructional provider, and Phillips Corporation, technology provider. Visit atdm.org to learn more.

Congressman Bob Good, IALR President Telly Tucker, IALR’s Troy Simpson and The SPECTRUM Group’s Norb Ryan discuss continued support for the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) Program.

Tucker and Simpson thank Senator Mark Warner for his support of ATDM as it plans to scale up and train 800-1,000 students annually within five years.

ATDM Program Continues to Grow

ATDM Program Continues to Grow

The Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program, led by IALR, continues to grow in its support of the National Imperative for Industrial Skills initiative of the U.S. Department of Defense. The program, created to build a highly skilled domestic defense manufacturing workforce, welcomes James Hubbard, Joyce Culley and Sherri Dickens to new roles.

As ATDM Technical Program Manager, Hubbard oversees day-to-day technical operations, training and ATDM activities. He also develops strategic partnerships and supports curriculum development. Hubbard previously served as the ATDM Additive Manufacturing Instructor and formerly as Curriculum Developer. He holds an A.A.S. in Integrated Machining Technology and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech.

Culley serves as the ATDM Placement and Recruitment Coordinator. Prior to joining ATDM, she was the Director of Career, Technical, and Adult Education at Danville Public Schools and has over 30 years of experience in higher education and public K-12 education. She holds a B.A. and MBA from Averett University.

Dickens works as the ATDM Program Coordinator II in the Advanced Manufacturing division. She joined IALR in 2020 as the Multimedia Technician for the GO TEC program and recently transitioned to the new ATDM position. Dickens holds a certificate in IT Systems Management and is in the process of earning her Associate in Business Management.

ATDM also held its second Workforce Connections event to engage students with hiring employers. Six companies and one organization representing multiple industries participated, offering connections and resources for job opportunities. Visit atdm.org for more details.

First ATDM Additive Manufacturing Cohort Graduates

First ATDM Additive Manufacturing Cohort Graduates

Ten students and their instructors celebrated successfully completing the first cohort of the ATDM Additive Manufacturing track during a completion ceremony held at IALR.

The first Additive Manufacturing cohort has graduated from the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program. This new track was added in November 2021 and is an important addition given the growing significance of the new technology in advanced manufacturing.

Students in the Additive Manufacturing track earned several credentials including OSHA 10 and a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt. They are waiting on certification results for Certified Additive Manufacturing Fundamentals, which is issued by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, and Autodesk Certified Associate in CAD for Mechanical Design, which certifies skilled use of Fusion 360 CAD software.

Daniel Hyler, a Pittsylvania County native, who graduated from Chatham High School in 2021, completed the first CNC Machining track last summer and just completed the first Additive Manufacturing track this month. “It has been very helpful, and a lot more than I thought,” said Hyler. “The more I learned, the more I wanted to learn. I would recommend it. The environment is the best. The teachers work well with you.”

After completing the CNC Machining ATDM track, Hyler started working for FasTech as a CNC Machinist in October. Now, he will use his skills learned in the Additive Manufacturing track to help him in his job where he runs CNC mills and additive manufacturing machines.

“The entire group was really driven,” said James Hubbard, who served as the instructor through Danville Community College, an ATDM instructional partner. “We didn’t know what to expect – several didn’t even know what modeling was – but now they’re modeling assemblies and intricate things of that nature. Their skill sets will allow them to get a job in any modern manufacturing environment.”

Another student Rashida Grear, from Norfolk, Va., who works at Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center (MARMC) and is an active-duty sailor in the U.S. Navy also praised the program. “MARMC is trying to learn more mass production methods of operation,” said Grear. “We do things very manually, but we are getting newer equipment to train sailors on.” Grear stated that her ATDM training will prepare her for her role on a team that will be dedicated to 3D printing which will be extremely beneficial.

In addition to the Additive Manufacturing track graduates, the second cohort from the ATDM Welding, Metrology/Quality Assurance and CNC Machining tracks also graduated in March.

The ATDM program is specifically designed to help adult learners with varying educational and workplace experiences earn the skills necessary to make an immediate impact in the defense industrial base. The four-month curriculum is designed to offer the skills and nationally recognized credentials directly requested by the industry.

ATDM Summit Tackles Skill Gaps in Defense Industrial Base to Support U.S. Navy

ATDM Summit Tackles Skill Gaps in Defense Industrial Base to Support U.S. Navy

 

U.S. Senator Warner serves as keynote speaker for inaugural event

The Department of Defense’s (DoD) Office of Industrial Policy, through its Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) Program, welcomed key stakeholders to the first Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) Summit at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) in Danville, Va., on August 25. IALR is leading a three-year pilot project to develop, exercise and evaluate ATDM as a potential training platform for a network of regional training centers across the United States.

The ATDM Summit’s theme was “Workforce Challenges in Defense Manufacturing: ATDM – Meeting the Demand for Scale and Velocity.” The event introduced ATDM and discussed how this new program contributes to closing skills and manpower gaps that are impacting the ability of the defense industrial base to support America’s Navy. U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) delivered the keynote speech.

“For years, I’ve been talking about the importance of addressing our nation’s chronic underinvestment in workers. Today, it’s more clear than ever that to maintain the capability of our military, and chart a strategic path forward, we will need to invest in the people who are going to make that possible. That’s our men and women in uniform as well as the civilians and industrial base who support them,” said U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA). “We need innovative approaches to workforce development – like IALR, like the ATDM program – to help make that happen.”

Other ATDM Summit presenters included Jesse Salazar, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy; Rear Admiral Scott Pappano, Program Executive Office, Columbia class submarine program; Adele Ratcliff, Director of Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program; and Troy Simpson, Director of Advanced Manufacturing for IALR.

“As we continue to ensure our national security objectives are met, and that our warfighters have the platforms and systems they need to maintain free access across the maritime domain, I cannot overemphasize the significance of our defense industrial base workforce,” said Rear Admiral Pappano. “We have to demand the same levels of scale and urgency across our shipbuilding and ship sustainment trades as we do our Naval capability, capacity, and readiness…that is exactly what this program is designed to achieve.”

“The advances here in Danville have resonance far beyond shipbuilding and will enable the future of American production by cultivating the people who will build our country back better,” said Jesse Salazar, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy. “The ATDM model, led by Team Danville, will help the DoD scale American capacity to manufacture the exceptional parts, machines, and resilient supply chain materials our warfighters need.”

“The need for the level of training offered by ATDM has been clearly defined, especially in light of the country’s defense industrial base workforce needs,” said Mark Gignac, Executive Director of IALR. “We appreciate the support of Sen. Mark Warner and our other stakeholders which, in addition to support from the U.S. government, will be critical to scale the ATDM program model as we move forward. Much appreciation also goes to our partners, Danville Community College, Phillips Corporation, The SPECTRUM Group, and to funding provided by the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program.”

“The ATDM Summit showcases the power of a strong, rebounding community with great leadership,” said Dr. Brian Jackson, Vice President of Workforce Services for Danville Community College, the instructional provider for ATDM. “There are outstanding opportunities in Danville, and it was great to see leadership from around the country focusing on our community and our success.”

“Phillips Corporation is proud to participate with Team Danville in its quest to scale ATDM from its present Pilot stage to a national training program,” said Rick Morgan, Director of Phillips Corporation, the technology partner for ATDM. “We are convinced that ATDM will be a vital resource in addressing the widening gap of advanced manufacturing workers required to support the extensive supply chain needs of our nation’s Defense Industrial Base. The Summit demonstrated that we have achieved a strong alignment of local and national political and industry leaders in support of Team Danville’s ATDM initiatives.”

“ATDM demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships. It is a high-impact program at many levels,” said Charlie Dale, Partner, The SPECTRUM Group. “While addressing critical skill shortages in the defense industry, it provides extraordinary opportunities for a diverse group of women and men to begin careers in advanced manufacturing. Every ATDM student is a true pathfinder in the rebirth of manufacturing in America. SPECTRUM is very proud to be a member of Team Danville and passionate about ATDM’s mission to advance and grow America’s skilled workforce.”

In March 2020, the DoD launched the National Imperative for Industrial Skills (NIIS) Initiative to catalyze coordinated, multi-level public and private efforts across the nation’s industrial skills workforce development ecosystem. NIIS aims to close defense-critical workforce gaps, expand national production capacities, and improve U.S. industrial resiliency. ATDM is the flagship program in NIIS for training skilled workers for America’s defense industrial base in critical trades such as welding, CNC machining, metrology and additive manufacturing.

About ATDM

Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing is a prototype training platform for rapidly training skilled workers in key trades for employment in the defense industry. ATDM was developed as a public-private consortium between the DoD, the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), Danville Community College (DCC), Phillips Corporation, and The SPECTRUM Group in consultation with the defense industry. IALR is leading a multi-year pilot project to test and evaluate ATDM as a training platform for regional training centers supporting the defense industrial base. The pilot project is funded through the National Imperative for Industrial Skills initiative which was launched in 2020 by the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program Office (IBAS) in the office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. All training is conducted in Danville, Va. For more information, visit www.atdm.org.

See the following Flickr album link for images from the ATDM training facilities open house, the ATDM social and the ATDM Summit: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmWv2ova

 Visit https://youtu.be/egldO2Feeck for the ATDM overview video that was shared at the ATDM Summit.

Students, defense manufacturers, educators and supporters attend the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) open house on Aug. 24 at Danville Community College, the instructional provider for ATDM. Stakeholders also participate in an evening social and the inaugural ATDM Summit the following day at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, the ATDM project leader. Sen. Mark Warner served as the keynote speaker at the summit, which focused on “Workforce Challenges in Defense Manufacturing: ATDM – Meeting the Demand for Scale and Velocity.”

 

IALR Awarded $1.78 Million Department of War Contract for New, Innovative Skilled Worker Training Program for Defense Industrial Base

IALR Awarded $1.78 Million Department of War Contract for New, Innovative Skilled Worker Training Program for Defense Industrial Base

The U.S. Army Contracting Command-Rock Island (ACC-RI) has awarded a $1.78 million contract to the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) and Danville Community College (DCC) for a pilot project to develop the prototype training program, Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM). The base year of the contract includes instructional staff and curriculum development to address workforce gaps for Defense Industrial Base (DIB) companies.

“Thanks to this transformative opportunity from the DoD, the ATDM program will allow us to fill critical workforce gaps while building the capacity of our nation’s Defense Industrial Base,” said Mark Gignac, Executive Director for IALR, the fiscal agent and ATDM program lead. “We are fortunate to be joined by exemplary partners—DCC, a leader in workforce development programs; Phillips Corporation, a champion of next-generation manufacturing solutions; and The SPECTRUM Group, a consulting firm experienced in the defense industry. I look forward to seeing the program grow under the leadership of IALR’s Troy Simpson, and I thank Sen. Mark Warner and other legislators for supporting these efforts.”

“Danville Community College’s excellence and experience in technical training aligned to industry needs makes our institution the perfect partner for the ATDM pilot program,” said Dr. Jacqueline Gill Powell, president of Danville Community College. “This program will provide another unique opportunity for our students while training needed workforce for the defense industry. By leveraging our existing advanced manufacturing infrastructure and industry expert knowledge, we are positioned to support the ATDM program now and into the future.”

The initial ATDM pilot will focus on the naval shipbuilding sector and will train skilled workers in the DIB skill gaps of CNC machining, welding, metrology/quality assurance and additive manufacturing. A fast-track, intensive and targeted program, ATDM offers universal application across the DIB and the inherent flexibility to be customized for specific manufacturing sectors. It also addresses one of the top workforce development priorities of the Department of War’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) program – the need to train skilled workers at scale and velocity to address skill gaps and manpower shortages in the DIB. The ATDM contract was issued under the CORNERSTONE OTA, an integrated contract vehicle that supports the IBAS program.

ATDM will support the recently launched IBAS National Imperative in Industrial Skills (NIIS) for the creation of an industrial skills workforce development ecosystem. NIIS aims to close existing industrial workforce skill gaps and improve America’s capacity to recruit, train and deliver sufficient numbers of workers with industrial skills to meet defense supply chain requirements. A major objective of the pilot project will be to evaluate ATDM’s contributions to NIIS as a model training platform in a national network of regionally-based training centers serving the various industrial sectors of the DIB.

“Congratulations to the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research and Danville Community College consortium for securing a $1.78 million award from the Department of Defense (DoD) for their workforce training pilot program, as part of DoD’s National Imperative for Industrial Skills (NIIS) Initiative, which aims to scale up workforce training for our nation’s defense industrial base. The Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing pilot program ramps up key skills such as welding, additive manufacturing and metrology, and serves as a model for our nation,” said U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA). “Given significant gaps that exist in our nation’s defense industrial base, we must pursue innovative models of workforce training such as this one in order to meet our essential national security needs. I’m proud to have been part of today’s announcement, and commend all of the hard work that has gone into developing this program. I look forward to seeing the impact of this training in developing indispensable talent for naval shipbuilding. I’m also optimistic about the jobs that this pilot program will create during this difficult time, and the effect that those jobs will have on the regional economy.”

IALR and DCC have partnered with Phillips Corporation, one of the nation’s largest suppliers of state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment, and The SPECTRUM Group, a leading defense consulting firm. The public-private consortium consulted with the defense industry to develop the ATDM program.

Alan Phillips, President/CEO of Phillips Corporation states, “We are proud to be joining IALR, Danville Community College and The Spectrum Group to team on implementing ATDM in the important mission to bridge the skills gap in the USA’s Defense Industrial Base. We believe IALR has the ideal combination of strong leadership, excellent infrastructure, resourceful strategic partners and a highly innovative training formula that will enable success in executing the objectives of ATDM. We look forward to contributing our advanced manufacturing industry knowledge in the areas of subtractive and additive metalworking technologies as we partner with IALR to offer compelling and deployable training programs.”

“ATDM will take the extraordinary manufacturing and workforce development infrastructure that exists in the Danville region to the national level with the potential to make a significant contribution to our nation’s security. SPECTRUM is delighted to be on the Danville team,” said Charlie Dale, Partner of The SPECTRUM Group.

Photos Courtesy of DCC and the City of Danville

Danville Community College (DCC) students train on the latest precision machining technology as part of Danville-Pittsylvania County’s workforce development model, which has been lauded by Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, U.S. Sen. Mark Warner and others as a benchmark program. DCC will work with the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, program lead of a newly awarded contract from the Department of Defense, to develop an innovative Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing program and address Defense Industrial Base skill gaps in CNC machining and other areas.