CCAC Recognized as Regional Partner in United States Navy's Pennsylvania Talent Pipeline Project
Pictured left to right: Mike Thompkins, Asst. Dean of Business and Technology; Rear Admiral Scott Pappano, Program Executive Officer for Strategic Submarines; Dr. Sara Conroy, Dean of Business and Technology; Dr. Debra Roach, Vice President for Workforce Development; Jeannine Westlock, Account Executive for Workforce Development; CMDCM Josh Sturgill, Senior Enlisted Advisor to Team Submarines.
Pittsburgh
The Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) participated in the signing ceremony recognizing partners in the Pittsburgh Flag of the Pennsylvania Talent Pipeline Project. Held at the Carnegie Science center on June 20, the signing day was an event to acknowledge the education partners, businesses and students who are participating in the regional initiative.
With plans to launch a new generation of submarines, the U.S. Navy is coordinating education and business partnerships to ensure that supplies of the more than 1 million parts needed to build a single submarine are readily available. The Pennsylvania Talent Pipeline Project's goal is to help suppliers find employees with the skills they need. The project, part of the broader Mid-Atlantic Submarine Talent Pipeline initiative, recently expanded to include Pittsburgh, planting a symbolic "Flag" in our region in April.
Dr. Debra Roach, CCAC's Vice President for Workforce Development, has been actively involved in coordinating efforts to engage defense contractor companies who partner with CCAC for training - as well as other technical education providers in and around Pittsburgh - to match skilled students with these U.S. Navy suppliers.
"CCAC has already begun connecting our workforce development partner companies with students trained in programs at our West Hills Center. We will continue to play a strategic role in this important initiative that will help boost our local economy and ensure our national security," said Dr. Roach.
"The Pittsburgh region is critical to the future growth of the submarine industrial base and assisting industry in building reliable talent pipelines. The strength of the talent pipeline is as vital as any capability of an actual submarine," said U.S. Navy CMDCM Josh Sturgill, Senior Enlisted Advisor to Team Submarines during the Pennsylvania Pipeline Project's April roundtable event.
It is anticipated that the Pennsylvania Talent Pipeline Project will impact the Pittsburgh economy by creating and sustaining a maritime and defense industrial base-focused pipeline that enables employers to re-capitalize their workforce through recruiting, hiring, training and retaining a skilled workforce with critical trade skills for one year as productive and engaged new employees.
Employers that are part of the critical maritime supply chains will commit to hire and retain program graduates into well-paying and mission-critical careers. The goal is to grow their unique talents and ensure long-term success within the maritime defense industry.