IACMI is collaborating with Pennsylvania State University, University of Tennessee, and Jobs for the Future to scale up the U.S. Department of Defense’s METAL program.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.—As part of an effort to address critical workforce shortages in the U.S. casting and forging industry, IACMI–The Composites Institute® recently entered into multi-million dollar partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) Program to support what it called “a groundbreaking national workforce initiative.”
According to a release from IACMI-The Composites Institute (the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation®), the partnership involves collaborating with Pennsylvania State University (PSU), the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK), and Jobs for the Future (JFF) to support the Metallurgical Engineering Trades Apprenticeship and Learning (METAL) program. Established in response to the DoD’s identification of a need for an additional 122,000 skilled personnel in essential roles by 2028, METAL aims to strengthen national defense through workforce development and technological advancement.
METAL focuses on growing the U.S. industrial base’s competitiveness against national security threats. The initiative seeks to develop a resilient domestic workforce to sustain and enhance the nation’s casting and forging capabilities through 2050. This effort will address vulnerabilities within the U.S. defense supply chain, which currently relies heavily on foreign sources for critical cast and forged products, the release said.
“The shrinking supply chain and shortage of skilled labor demands an immediate response,” said Technical Director of Metallurgy and Manufacturing for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy, Matthew Draper, Ph.D., in the release. “Our partnerships equip us to develop robust training programs that not only meet the immediate needs but also prepare the workforce for future technological advancements. This is something that will provide a cornerstone for the future of the casting and forging sector and provide opportunities for individuals to move into good paying, dynamic, and meaningful careers.”
Already experienced in providing technical training through programs like America’s Cutting Edge (ACE), IACMI said it will expand educational initiatives focusing on essential base metal processes, including casting, forging, and plate production nationwide. The goal is to cultivate a skilled workforce ready to embark on and sustain careers in these industries. This includes engaging a diverse audience, from K-12 students to adults seeking further training or new career pathways.
Joannie Harmon, vice president of workforce development for IACMI, emphasized the strategic importance of the initiative:
“Fostering the development of an industrial base workforce and ensuring the availability of the right skill sets—from skilled trades on the shop floor to doctoral-level engineering in research—is vital to national security,” said Harmon, in the release. “Our goal for METAL is to ensure that the nation’s advanced manufacturing workforce is a source of strategic and competitive advantage for the United States. Supporting the casting and forging sector is a critical role IACMI plays in creating a robust talent pipeline with twenty-first-century capabilities and skills.”