Roane State announces workforce training partnership with IACMI as part of America’s Cutting Edge

Roane State is proud to announce its workforce training partnership with the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing InnovationÒ (IACMI) as the community college becomes just the third location in the State of Tennessee to offer specialized no-cost machine tool training opportunities through America’s Cutting Edge (ACE).

ACE is a joint Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Energy (DOE) effort launched in 2020 to reestablish American leadership in the machine tool industry through transformative thinking, technology innovation and workforce development.

Expanding the number of training centers is a key part of ACENet, the emerging national network of regional machine tools innovation and workforce development centers. Through ACE, DoD’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment program established a national CNC machining training program developed by University of Tennessee Knoxville (UTK) professor Tony Schmitz. The programbrings together the scientific expertise of Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility and the proven workforce development capabilities of IACMI. Roane State now joins UTK and Pellissippi State Community College as ACE training centers in Tennessee.

“All of us at Roane State are so excited to partner with IACMI and become an official ACE training center, expanding this excellent national initiative in our communities,” said Teresa Duncan, the college’s vice president of workforce and community development. “Projects like ACE are the ones that will make a big impact on our students, our communities and local businesses.”

“The need for skilled individuals in the machine tool industry is urgent and only expected to grow,” added Roane State President Chris Whaley. “This partnership is just one of many ways we are working to expand our pipeline to local industry and ensure they have the workforce they need to succeed.”

Through ACE, participants can receive free online training and qualify for hands-on, in-person training in the machine tool industry. No prior training or experience is required.

To date, ACE has delivered online courses in Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining to more than 2,800 students from all 50 states and in-person bootcamp style training to more than 150 students, all at no cost to participants.

The first Roane State opportunity for local training will be a CNC Bootcamp held at Oak Ridge High School October 10-14, 2022. The camp will tailor its program for current Middle College students in Mechatronics and recent graduates of the program as well as dual enrollment and area high school students.

Additional information is available online at AmericasCuttingEdge.org. Registration for online training is also available at the site by clicking “Register for ACE” and entering the required information. Be sure to choose Roane State Community College as your associated ACE program.

About Brad Jones

Brad is the Owner/Operator of BBB TV 12, and has been with the company since August of 1996. Brad is a 1987 graduate of Coalfield High School and a 1995 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Communications. He won the 1995 broadcast production student of the year award. Brad worked at Shop at Home, Inc. a home shopping network that was located in Knoxville, TN from 1993 - 1995 and then at Via TV (RSTV, Inc.) from 1995 - 1996. After some freelance work in Nashville, Brad joined the BBB Communications staff in August of 1996. A short stint at WVLT TV as a news photographer was in 2001, but he continued to work at BBB TV as well. Brad is married to Nicole Jenkins Jones, a 1990 graduate of Oak Ridge High School, who works at Oak Ridge Gastroenterology and Associates in Oak Ridge. They have 3 kids, Trevor Bogard, 27, Chandler 22, and Naomi 13. On December 12, 2013 they welcomed their first grandchild, Carter Ryan Bogard. Brad is also the assistant boys basketball coach at Coalfield High School for the past 11 years. In 2013-14 the Yellow Jackets won their first district title since 1991 and just the 4th in school history.

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