Greenville Leader

Lockheed Martin and Greenville Technical College recently graduated the first cohort of their new apprentice program, bolstering Lockheed Martin and the region’s skilled technical workforce.

After seeing impactful results from a two-week pre-apprenticeship training program that Lockheed Martin and the college began in 2020, company and college leadership decided to implement a new six-week apprenticeship program, in which participants are treated as Lockheed Martin employees, do not pay tuition and are offered positions as full-time apprentices upon program completion. The program’s first cohort of 12 individuals graduated at the end of 2022 and have begun work as sheet metal apprentices, supporting the site’s F-16 Production Operations, which recently achieved first flight of its first new F-16 Block 70 aircraft.

“The new apprentice program provides participants with hands-on, paid training experience in an accelerated format, enabling graduates to go to work with the skills they’ve learned in the six-week program,” says Kim Howard, vice president, Integrated Fighter Group Production Operations at Lockheed Martin. “It’s a great opportunity because we’re developing the talent that will support F-16 production for years to come, as we continue delivering on our growing backlog of 128 new production F-16s.”

“With F-16 production, Lockheed Martin needs qualified new hires, and the college is working with the company to produce skilled employees,” says Dr. Keith Miller, president of Greenville Technical College. “This is a perfect example of a strong industry/education partnership that positively impacts the economy and the community as it provides a pathway to strong careers.”

The next cohort for the program is planned to begin in the May/June 2023 timeframe depending on demand needs. Desired qualifications for the program are as follows:

• Basic computer skills
• Manufacturing or production experience, including but not limited to drilling, sealing, using precision measuring equipment and installing fasteners
• Willingness to learn; self-disciplined
• Quality focused and strong attention to detail
• Strong oral and communication skills
• Ability to work well individually and as a team

Click here to learn more about Lockheed Martin’s apprenticeship programs and here to explore job opportunities at the Greenville site.

Lockheed Martin and Greenville Technical College are longstanding partners, working together to continue growing a crucial skilled workforce pipeline. At the Greenville Technical College Aviation Center, students learn foundational aviation skills in the Lockheed Martin Fabrication Lab that help them prepare for long-term, fulfilling careers in the aviation industry.

Photo: Kim Howard, vice president, Integrated Fighter Group Production Operations at Lockheed Martin, presents new apprentices with F-16 lapel pins and challenge coins.

Original source can be found here.