Precision Manufacturing Boot Camp marks 3rd graduation with industry, community partners
Nashua Community College and SENEDIA – The Alliance for Defense Tech, Talent, and Innovation, hosted the Spring 2024 New Hampshire Signing Day event on March 29 for the New England Submarine Shipbuilding Partnership.
This event celebrated students who have or will be completing NCC’s Precision Manufacturing Boot Camp and connecting to careers in the New England submarine industrial base.
“The strength of our Naval force ultimately relies on a robust pipeline of skilled Machinists and other defense industry professionals who build, equip, modernize, and deploy a powerful fleet of submarines that are at the forefront of our national defense. "
“SENEDIA is proud to power the New England Submarine Shipbuilding Partnership and support workforce development efforts like this Precision Manufacturing Boot Camp program. Together, we are preparing people for good-paying careers, empowering our military, protecting our national security, and advancing a critical, $119 billion industry for New England,” said Fox.
The Precision Manufacturing Boot Camp launched last spring, and has helped students from across Southern New Hampshire prepare for entry-level careers in defense manufacturing.
“Careers in defense manufacturing, in particular submarine shipbuilding, are essential to our national security,” said U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Scott Pappano, program executive officer for strategic submarines. “To continue to operate worldwide, our service members depend on the support the shipbuilding workforce and infrastructure industry provide. The men and women who serve within the Defense Industrial Base are the future of our Nation and will define where we go in the next decade, generation, and century. We’re grateful to Nashua Community College, SENEDIA, Granite State Manufacturing and all of the employers and manufacturers who contribute to growing the defense workforce of tomorrow.”
The 10-week program is free for students, thanks to the support from The New England Submarine Shipbuilding Partnership – powered by SENEDIA through their contract with the Department of Defense’s Innovation, Capability, and Modernization Office’s National Imperative for Industrial Skills initiative.
The boot camp also receives strong support from Granite State Manufacturing, which offers interviews to all students who complete the class.
“The NCC Precision Manufacturing Boot Camp embodies our commitment to nurturing talent and fostering innovation in the manufacturing industry. We are incredibly proud of all the graduates. Their hard work and dedication reflect the bright future of manufacturing.”
“This program gives students a start to their career in manufacturing,” said Jon Mason, the director of workforce development at Nashua Community College. “It is amazing to watch a student when the light goes on and they grasp the concept of the work. The staff, and especially the Manufacturing staff, are behind this program 110 percent and it shows.”
At the event, graduates from the 3rd cohort received their certificates. Congratulations: Trevor Bouchard, Christopher Coconis, Ethan Colby, Yaritza Cruz, Aiden Hughes, Brian Liriano, Edgardo Lopez, Christian Padin, and Damien Valley.
Representatives from New Hampshire’s Federal Delegation attended as well, including staff from the offices of Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Representative Annie Kuster, Senator Maggie Hassan sent a letter of support and Representative Chris Pappas provided a video message.
Vice Chancellor Chuck Lloyd from the Community College System of New Hampshire, and NCC’s Interim VP of Student and Community Affairs Barry Garside welcomed attendees and thanked the industry and community partners for their support.
Allison Joseph, Executive Director of MY TURN, Inc., praised the boot camp model for effectively connecting MY TURN, Inc. students with career opportunities, and for the alumni camaraderie, “The boot camps really gel together and support each other.”
Student speaker Christian Padin spoke about the satisfaction of the machining work, and what his new career trajectory has meant for him. “When I first got accepted into this program, I was homeless, and what I received here has been life changing – the support from the college, my class, and the community. I couldn’t dream of a more qualified team to teach us, we’ve gained a solid foundation.”
About the Precision Manufacturing Boot Camp
Students learn basic machining and basic CNC Mill and Lathe setup, operation, and programming. The training also includes an introduction to Mastercam, Solidworks and G and M Code programming.
A typical training day would begin with lectures and coursework at Nashua Community College, followed by shop floor training using CNC machines and related software.
While in the program, students get to tour local companies, and they are guaranteed an interview with Granite State Manufacturing and other local industry partners upon completion.
There’s still time to sign up for the next Precision Manufacturing Boot Camp starting Monday, April 15 at Nashua Community College. To learn more or sign up, visit nashuacc.edu/precision-manufacturing-boot-camp.
