Championing Tomorrow's U. S. Technical Workforce

This is a handbook for emerging programs that addresses the real world needs of employers, trainers, college administrators, faculty, workforce development professionals, economic development councils, regulatory organizations, and sponsoring groups that are working to provide a richer pool of candidates for entry level jobs as well as journeymen technical specialists pursuing careers in challenging technical fields. The approaches, experiences, and principal factors for success described in this book provide unique and vital best practices and lessons learned for anyone seeking to prepare a technically qualified workforce for hands-on careers in fields such as advanced and integrated manufacturing, robotics and mechatronics, aviation assembly and repair, marine and automotive technology, telecommunications, and aerospace-related technologies. Included are examples of the structures and strategies that resulted in the effective development of inspirational leadership able to instill professional work ethic and teach and apply the hands-on technical skills and competencies suitable for a host of emerging jobs in today's challenging economy and global competition. "Championing Tomorrow's U. S. Technical Workforce" captures the key elements in an on-going battle to cope with the trends of global competition and technological change inherent in America's aerospace programs. Through the pioneering efforts and results by a group of dedicated partners from business and industry, education, and government agencies, this book catalogs the practices that succeeded in training and qualifying workers to become credentialed as certified aerospace technicians(r).