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
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.
