Opportunity provided in partnership with American Ordnance and the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant.
Middletown, Iowa – LIFT, the Department of Defense-supported national advanced materials and manufacturing innovation institute, successfully deployed its Operation Next® adult training program in collaboration with Southeastern Community College (SCC) and successfully certified forty adult learners in advanced manufacturing skills.
Students earned industry-recognized Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA) and Manufacturing Skills Standards Council (MSSC) certifications. The goal of the program is to strengthen the area’s talent pipeline – a key initiative of the Secretary of War’s initiative to rebuild our military by enhancing the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) and the Organic Industrial Base (OIB).
To ensure training aligned with local defense needs, LIFT collaborated closely with fellow DoD Manufacturing Innovation Institutes, MxD and ARM, with funding from the Office of the Secretary of Defense Manufacturing Technology Program through the Office of Naval Research, to assess skills gaps within the region and at American Ordnance, which operates the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant in Middletown, Iowa. This analysis led LIFT to partner with SCC to deliver targeted technical coursework for the prospective and incumbent workforce.
At SCC, participants engaged in a series of rapid credentialing programs, delivered over an intensive 2–3-month period, including:
Completion of these courses prepared graduates to earn their SACA Silver Certification or MSSC CPT+ 4.0 Certification, positioning them for immediate impact in advanced manufacturing roles.
Providing access to modern, industry-aligned training marks an important step in building a robust, future-ready workforce, not only for American Ordnance and the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant, but for the Department of Defense’s organic industrial base as a whole.
“This funding is about people and opportunity,” stated Brenda Rubey, Director, SCC Center for Business. “By expanding training in the career areas of automation and quality, we’re equipping Southeast Iowans with in-demand skills while giving our local companies the talent they need to succeed and grow.”
“Strengthening our nation’s manufacturing workforce is essential to maintaining our technological edge and ensuring mission success. Programs like Operation Next® play a critical role in preparing individuals with the advanced skills and certifications needed to meet the evolving demands of modern manufacturing,” said Keith DeVries, Director of DoD ManTech. “This collaboration between LIFT, Southeastern Community College, and the local community demonstrates the power of innovation and partnership in building a highly capable and ready workforce to support our national security objectives.”
“Reinforcing and strengthening the talent pipeline for our Defense Industrial Base and Organic Indutrial Base are the best ways we will ensure the U.S. is not just catching up to, but surpassing our global adversaries,” said Dr. Robert Shaner, Chief Workforce Development Officer, LIFT. “By providing these additional training and certification opportunities, we can make sure our workforce is leveling up and providing our warfighters with the best technologies available.”
LIFT’s Operation Next delivers hands-on, career-ready training through community colleges and vocational institutions nationwide. Developed in partnership with the National Institute for Metalworking Skills, the American Welding Society, and Amatrol, the program equips active-duty servicemembers, military families, and civilians with the tools and credentials needed to step immediately into high-demand, high-wage manufacturing careers
About LIFT
LIFT, operated by the American Lightweight Materials Manufacturing Innovation Institute, is the Detroit-based, public-private partnership between the Department of Defense, industry, and academia, committed to the development and deployment of advanced manufacturing technologies, and implementing talent development initiatives to better prepare the workforce today and in the future. LIFT funded in part by the Department of Defense with management through the Office of Naval Research. Visit https://lift.technology/ or follow on LinkedIn at LIFT or on Twitter @NewsFromLIFT to learn more.
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