Institute for Advanced Learning and Research
Driving Economic Transformation
Cedric and Ethan Bond
Cedric and Ethan Bond are brothers who took very different paths before finding the same destination: training through the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program and careers at Newport News Shipbuilding.
In this episode, they talk about career crossroads, the reality of hands-on training, and why building ships for the U.S. Navy feels personal—especially with a brother currently deployed at sea.
Recruiting skilled manufacturing talent is expensive, time-consuming, and unpredictable. But it doesn’t have to be.
Recorded during a recent career fair for the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program at IALR, this episode features Slade Gardner from Big Metal Additive, John Duncan from Penn United Technology and Ashley Webb from Vulcan Tool Company. They explain why they rely on ATDM to meet their workforce needs.
From reduced training risk to graduates who “hit the ground running,” these employers explain what makes ATDM different and why the program continues to deliver value to companies across the defense industrial base.
Whether you’re hiring one machinist or building a long-term talent pipeline, this is the employer story behind ATDM.
In this special mini episode, IALR President Telly Tucker sits down with Casie Hansen, who recently graduated from the Non-Destructive Testing track of the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM). Casie shares how she discovered ATDM, what it was like to uproot her life and start over at 40 and how the program’s training and wraparound support helped her step confidently into a completely new career path.
What does it actually take to move a new technology from the lab to the shop floor and make it stick?
In this episode of Inside IALR, host Caleb Ayers is joined by Jason Wells, John Ring, Josh Sims, and Jeremiah Williams for a deep dive into IALR’s Center for Manufacturing Advancement (CMA).
Together, they highlight how CMA functions as a hands-on optimization arm focused on operationalizing existing technologies and helping manufacturers avoid the infamous “valley of death” between readiness levels and real production. It’s not a research institute,
The conversation covers CMA’s full-stack approach to manufacturing advancement, from precision machining, additive post-processing, and metrology to automation, robotics integration and digital/AI enablement.
The team explains how the CMA serves as a non-biased third-party testbed where manufacturers can explore new technologies, validate processes and refine workflows without shutting down production or making massive capital bets. The CMA comes alongside companies as a partner—not a vendor—to help them get to “more, better, faster, cheaper” without just shifting bottlenecks somewhere else.
What does it really take for families in Southern Virginia to make a living — no extras, just the basics? And are those jobs actually available?
In this data-rich episode, host Caleb Ayers talks with Jessie Vernon, Director of Employer Engagement and Experiential Learning at IALR, and economist Colin Emberland from Chmura Analytics. Together, they break down the Southern Virginia Living Wage and Job Availability Study, comparing today’s landscape to a similar 2016–2017 analysis.
They explore the region’s growing share of higher-wage jobs, a major and urgent gap in healthcare, the evolving role of manufacturing, and how many families can actually meet a living wage with the jobs currently posted. You’ll also hear why education and training pipelines matter, how job quality is just as important as job quantity, and what this all means for employers, educators and residents across GO Virginia Region 3.
GO TEC — Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers — is transforming how middle schoolers explore potential futures. Today’s episode dives deep into how it works.
Host Caleb Ayers sits down with GO TEC teachers Laurie Cossaboon and Justin Adams, along with GO TEC Region 3 Training Coordinator Chris Griffith, to unpack the program’s statewide expansion and classroom impact.
The conversation explores the eleven GO TEC modules, which introduce students to everything from precision machining and robotics to cybersecurity, healthcare and virtual reality welding. The guests share how the program adapts to different school schedules, how teachers receive hands‑on training at regional training labs and why the “aha moments” are so frequent in these classes.
They also highlight how GO TEC helps students understand math and science concepts in practical, memorable ways, sometimes even changing how students view themselves and their abilities. With stories ranging from welding tournaments to coding breakthroughs, this episode shows how GO TEC connects curiosity with real opportunity.
What do submarines, aircraft and even theme park rides have in common?
They all rely on Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) to ensure safety and reliability.
In this episode of Inside IALR, host Caleb Ayers talks with Phil Bowers, NDT instructor for the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program, and Michael Donnelly, NDT manager with Industrial Inspection & Analysis at the Center for Manufacturing Advancement. Together, they unpack the fascinating history of NDT — from its origins in the railroad era to its role in modern defense manufacturing — and explore the science behind methods like ultrasonic testing, X-ray imaging and eddy current inspection.
Plus, find out why NDT careers are in high demand and how technology like AI and robotics is shaping the next generation of inspections.
The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research will observe its annual holiday closure beginning Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. Our campus will reopen on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.
During this time, all facilities and services will be closed, including:
We look forward to welcoming you back in the new year!
The IALR team wishes you a safe and joyful holiday season with friends and family.
As we celebrate this holiday season and prepare to welcome a new year, I want to express my sincere appreciation to our partners, the people and organizations we serve, and the entire Southern Virginia community.
Together, we’ve made incredible strides in advancing innovation, workforce development and economic growth. The impact of our collective work is changing lives and reaching far beyond our region.
This season serves as a reminder of the power of collaboration and the importance of intentionally investing in one another. May your holidays be filled with peace, joy and meaningful time with family and friends.
I look forward to continuing to work with our partners to build on this momentum in 2026 as we continue to drive innovation and create impactful opportunities for all.
Telly Tucker
President, IALR
In this episode of Inside IALR, we sit down with two of our most experienced research associates, Amy Turner and Rob Chretien.
Each has more than a decade of hands-on experience in IALR’s research labs. They’ve witnessed significant changes in agricultural research, from theoretical plant genetics to cutting-edge applied science, during that time.
Learn about their work with beneficial plant bacteria (endophytes), precision agriculture and controlled environment systems that promise to revolutionize food production. Hear stories of unusual experiments, like rearing black soldier fly larvae, and discover how partnerships with industry are turning research into real-world solutions.
This episode shifts the focus from student success stories to the broader impact of the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program on the maritime industrial base. Joined by Mike Villanueva of BAE Systems, Michael Ripich of ATF, and Justin Scarce from ATDM, the conversation explores how companies are leveraging ATDM graduates to fill vital roles in shipbuilding and defense manufacturing. From welding and NDT to CNC machining, the program’s accelerated, hands-on training is helping employers meet urgent workforce needs.
Hear firsthand accounts of how career fairs at ATDM differ from traditional hiring events, why companies are sending their own employees for upskilling and how ATDM is helping solve one of the nation’s most pressing challenges: building submarines and ships to protect national security.
Host Caleb Ayers sits down with Meredith Gregory, Director of Digital Strategy and Program Management, to explore the real-world applications of artificial intelligence in manufacturing and business. Meredith shares her journey from Northern Virginia to IALR, explains the foundational math behind AI and discusses how companies can adopt AI tools to solve specific problems. From resume restructuring to computer vision for defect detection, this episode is packed with valuable insights for anyone interested in integrating AI into their operations.
In this episode of Inside IALR, host Caleb Ayers is joined by Ereina Avery (Austal USA), Jon Harrison (Phillips Corporation), and Jason Wells (IALR) for a deep dive into the Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AM CoE). Together, they explore how this unique public-private consortium is transforming the Navy’s supply chain by developing and deploying 3D-printed parts for ships and submarines. From powder bed fusion to wire arc deposition, the team breaks down the technologies, the challenges of scaling additive manufacturing and the mission-driven collaboration that makes it all possible.
Hear how the AM CoE has delivered critical parts in record time, created transferable technical data packages, and built a model for innovation that supports both the warfighter and the future of manufacturing.
In this special episode of Inside IALR, we take you straight to the floor of the Career ChoICE Youth Expo, a dynamic, hands-on career fair designed for middle and high school students across Southern Virginia. Hear directly from students as they explore everything from virtual reality welding and flight simulators to radiologic technology and forestry. Employers and educators share why this event matters—and how it’s helping shape the region’s future workforce. Whether it’s a seventh grader dreaming of the presidency or a tenth grader discovering equestrian veterinary medicine, this episode is packed with inspiration, curiosity, and real-world impact.
The Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program is preparing the next generation of skilled workers for the U.S. Navy’s Maritime Industrial Base. With an 85% job placement rate and graduates from nearly every state, ATDM is creating real career opportunities. In this episode, recent graduates Dylan Carter and Angel Gallaher describe how the program equipped them with technical expertise and career-ready confidence.
In this episode of Inside IALR, we sit down with President Telly Tucker and Executive Vice President of Operations Dr. John Hughes for a wide-ranging conversation about growth, leadership and the mission of the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research. From managing exponential expansion to filling workforce gaps, Tucker and Hughes reflect on how IALR continues to transform lives in Southern Virginia and beyond. Along the way, they share candid insights on challenges, opportunities, and the people who make it all possible.
This episode offers a thoughtful look behind the curtain at IALR’s momentum, future regional economic transformation, leadership in action, and how innovation takes shape across research, manufacturing, workforce and education.
What is it like to be a woman teaching advanced manufacturing in a field where men make up the majority?
Hear it from three members of the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) instructional team: welding instructor Makayla Baker, metrology instructor Holly Lyle and welding technician Autumn King. As the only women on a team of nearly 40 instructors and technicians, they share their career journeys, classroom experiences and what it means to mentor the next generation of manufacturing talent.
Through their stories, you’ll hear how ATDM’s fast-paced, 600-hour program equips students for life-changing careers in welding, metrology and more—and why representation matters in the skilled trades. This conversation highlights the impact of teaching, perseverance, and opportunity.
Welding instructor Makayla Baker, metrology instructor Holly Lyle and welding technician Autumn King
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What happens when Ph.D. candidates, master’s students, undergrads and interns all share the same greenhouse? You get a powerful, layered research environment that grows more than just plants.
In this episode of Inside IALR, we explore how the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Innovation Center is not only advancing sustainable agriculture but also training the next generation of researchers and industry leaders. A partnership between IALR and Virginia Tech, the CEA Innovation Center blends hands-on research, mentorship and workforce development.
You’ll hear how students at four different educational levels are conducting applied research on plant disease management, beneficial microbes and nutrient optimization. From mentoring interns to designing dissertation-level experiments, these students are learning and growing.
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Whether you’re an educator, student, grower or just curious about the future of agtech, this episode offers a glimpse into how research, education and industry come together under one greenhouse roof.
What is it like to be an intern at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research? In this episode of Inside IALR, hear from five of the 18 interns who spent their summer working across IALR’s divisions—from applied research and economic development to manufacturing advancement and GO TEC.
You’ll hear from:
They reflect on what they learned, the real-world impact they made, and how the experience is shaping their future careers.
What if you could track a plant’s health and growth every 15 minutes, all automatically and without ever touching it?
In this episode of Inside IALR, Dr. Scott Lowman, Vice President of Applied Research at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, explores the SMART Platform—IALR’s Spatially and Mechanically Accurate Robotic Table system. These high-tech tables combine robotics, precision imaging and automation to capture tens of thousands of data points per experiment, helping researchers analyze plant growth, stress response and even subtle movements in real time.
Learn how the SMART Platforms allow for entire plant life-cycle testing for beneficial microbes and enable real-time monitoring of plant health. You’ll hear about how interns have played a central role in coding and refining the system, how companies can contract research on the tables and how this technology is helping lay the groundwork for more sustainable agriculture.
Whether you’re into agtech, robotics, plant biology or data science, this episode connects it all. Plus, you’ll hear how this one-of-a-kind platform is opening doors for students and researchers alike.
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Registered apprenticeships pair paid, hands-on work with classroom lessons to grow dependable talent. In this Inside IALR episode, host Caleb Ayers talks with:
They share insights on:
In this episode of Inside IALR, host Caleb Ayers talks with Patrick Crowley and Ronald Green, recent graduates from the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program.
Listen in as they share:
In this episode of Inside IALR, we dive deep into the world of metrology, a crucial trade that plays a significant role in national defense manufacturing. The episode features Tony Almeida, Regional Sales Manager at Mitutoyo, and Jarrod Hankins, Metrology Instructor at IALR’s Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program.
Metrology is the science of measurement. It ensures that parts are manufactured with incredible precision, often down to microns. Together, they highlight how metrology ensures that parts used in defense manufacturing, particularly in the Navy’s shipbuilding and repair operations, meet the highest standards of quality.
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Let’s hear from Randy Johnson, founder of God’s Pit Crew, a faith-based disaster relief organization headquartered in Danville, Virginia, and Tracy Fink, Vice President of the IALR Conference Center. God’s Pit Crew has transformed from a simple altar prayer 26 years ago into an extensive operation that has responded to over 200 disasters across more than 30 states and 15 countries.
Randy shares the remarkable growth of God’s Pit Crew and explains their strategic four-pronged disaster response: delivering essential supplies, providing immediate cleanup and tree removal, rebuilding homes—including an unprecedented commitment to constructing 25 new homes this year for Hurricane Helene victims—and redistributing over $5 million annually in donated goods to local nonprofits within 200 miles of Danville. Tracy highlights the longstanding partnership with IALR and details the annual benefit banquet hosted every year at the IALR Conference Center, which gathers nearly 1,000 supporters and showcases the organization’s profound impact.
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Let’s hear from Jake Taylor, Technical and Training Manager of the Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC®) program managed by IALR. GO TEC is an innovative career initiative providing middle school students across Virginia with engaging, hands-on experiences in technology, manufacturing and engineering careers.
Jake shares how GO TEC rapidly expanded from a pilot program in Danville and Pittsylvania County to over 50 middle schools statewide, with further growth anticipated. He explains the strategic approach to maintaining consistency while addressing regional industry differences and details the logistical complexities involved in equipping classrooms, training educators and ensuring continuous program improvement.
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