Northwest Aerospace News February | March 2018 Issue No. 1 | Page 14

T hese programs are successful in large part due to industry partnerships supporting the demand for a skilled workforce in the area. Proactive businesses wrote letters in support of proposed curriculum to win a grant that launched NIC’s original aerospace program. Their curriculum approach is unique in that it’s constructed of stacking credentials. A student can earn certifications as they go. Certifications culminate in an associate degree. All the programs mentioned here hinge on two things— industry recognition of current or future weaknesses in workforce training, and a catalyst to connect business to educators, pinpointing and driving funding for new programs. Through honest and candid dialogue, the Pacific Northwest aerospace hub has decidedly and innovatively raised the bar. The region may be known for birthing an impressive list of companies, goods, and services, but a new international aerospace resource has been cleared for takeoff. A deeply knowl- edgeable and technically skilled aerospace manufac- turing and aeronautics tech- nology workforce, schooled up and mentored by the best in the industry, is cleared for takeoff and is soaring to new heights. 14 Washington’s Center of Excellence (COE) in Aerospace & Advanced Materials Manufacturing Mary Kaye Bredeson President www.coeaerospace.com [email protected] 425-388-9987 Advanced Manufacturing Training & Education Center Everett Community College Robert Prosch Associate Dean of Aviation www.everettcc.edu/ccec/amtec 425-388-9093 [email protected] Washington Aerospace Training & Research Center Edmonds Community College washingtonaerospace.com [email protected] 425.347.8928 Aviation Maintenance Technology Spokane Community College Dave Cox Dean of Instruction for the Technical Education Division Spokane Community College www.scc.spokane.edu/TechEd/ Aviation 509-533-8675 [email protected] Aerospace Apprenticeship and Journeyman Training (an AJAC program) Spokane Community College www.scc.spokane.edu/TechEd/Ap- prenticeship.aspx 509-324-2590 Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee www.ajactraining.org [phone] [email protected] Advanced Technology and Manufacturing Institute Oregon State University mbi-online.org 541.713.1341 [email protected] Aerospace Center North Idaho College Patrick O’Halloran Aersopace Director www.nic.edu/aerospace 208-676-7145 [email protected] Robin Bishop is a freelance writer and editor in the Inland Northwest. She can be reached at - [email protected]. NORTHWEST AEROSPACE NEWS