Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) celebrated the achievements of 87 students who graduated as part of the program’s 11th cohort during a ceremony on June 11 at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR). To date, this was the largest cohort of graduates in the program, which prepares adult learners for manufacturing careers.
“ATDM is a skilled-labor boot camp. This is such an important program. You all are part of the Navy as far as I’m concerned, whether you’re in uniform or not.” – Matthew Zirkle, Retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral
A 16-week, hands-on program, ATDM prepares adult learners with the skills needed to work in the submarine and defense industrial base – the system of companies that produce parts and equipment for the U.S. military. ATDM includes 600 hours of instruction and produces skilled talent with industry-recognized credentials. This program expands the pool of skilled workers in five tracks – welding, CNC machining, additive manufacturing, non-destructive testing and quality control inspection (metrology) – needed to develop submarines and other military equipment.
This cohort included students from welding, CNC machining, non-destructive testing and additive manufacturing across multiple shifts.
Margaret Abrams, who completed the third-shift CNC Machining program and will work with Huntington Ingalls in Newport News, was the student speaker for the ceremony.
“I cannot express enough how fantastic of an opportunity ATDM is. This has been a dream come true. I’m sad to leave but thrilled to start my new job.” – Margaret Abrams, ATDM Graduate
This cohort brings the total number of ATDM graduates to 559 since the program launched in 2021.
Approximately 800-1,000 students will graduate from the ATDM program annually starting in 2025. The Navy’s National Training Center, housed on IALR’s campus, is under construction and slated for completion in 2025. When the training center is completed, each of the five tracks will be offered across three shifts.
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 primary footprint focuses within Southern Virginia, including the counties of Patrick, Henry, Franklin, Pittsylvania, Halifax and Mecklenburg, along with the cities of Martinsville and Danville. To learn more, click here.
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, 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 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. To learn more, click here.
