Leaders across the Department of War, U.S. Navy, Submarine Industrial Base and defense manufacturing gathered in Danville, Virginia, to discuss a national security imperative: attracting and training qualified workers to maintain the Navy fleet. Held at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), the forum featured Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) and the Navy Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AM CoE) as key efforts in mobilizing the future workforce and creating operational efficiencies in defense manufacturing.
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More than 300 representatives from across government and defense manufacturing gathered at IALR in Danville, Va., to discuss the future of workforce training in support of workforce needs in the submarine industrial base.
Addressing the critical connection between defense manufacturing and national security was Vice Admiral Robert Gaucher, director, submarine programs, who highlighted how the industry will need to continue to evolve as new innovations in advanced manufacturing are developed.
“A foundation of our maritime superiority is our skilled workforce within the submarine industrial base,” said Vice Adm. Gaucher. “By accelerating training, we are forging the future readiness of the United States Navy. For five years, ATDM has consistently armed students with the knowledge and experience needed to build and maintain our submarine fleet. We are counting on ATDM, local leadership and our industry partners to continue to press so we grow the capacity and skillsets we need to deter, and if necessary, defeat any adversaries.”
A panel of defense manufacturing leaders shared their experiences partnering with ATDM for workforce training, as the program seeks to partner with more than 300 defense manufacturing employers nationwide. Since launching in 2021, more than 1,400 students have graduated, with 80% employed in the submarine industrial base within two months, according to program data. The program is quickly gaining momentum to reach its goal of graduating 1,000 defense workers annually.
“Meeting the mission of training more than 10,000 workers annually to support the defense industrial base requires coordination across federal agencies, state government and industry partners,” said Telly Tucker, IALR president. “This is a national challenge that IALR is committed to addressing through our interconnected programs that support aligned technology and workforce development advancements to achieve this mission.”
The forum concluded with a tour of the new ATDM Maritime Training Center, home to the ATDM program. The 100,000-square-foot facility houses industry-grade CNC machines, welding bays, additive manufacturing equipment and non-destructive testing labs – the same tools that graduates will use on the production floor.
As demand for skilled defense manufacturing workers continues to grow, IALR’s ATDM program and the Navy’s AM CoE remain committed to supporting industry leaders through accelerated training and advanced innovation to secure the future of the U.S. submarine fleet.
About ATDM
Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) was created to teach the skills needed to increase military equipment production in the United States. The program is located at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in Danville, Virginia. Students at ATDM are trained in the skills needed to repair, upfit and build submarines, and these skills are transferable to other defense industry companies. Students earn the skills needed to secure 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) and welding. For additional information, visit https://atdm.org/.
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.
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