As the global authority in its fields, the Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) will host a pivotal session during its Nov. 4-6, 2024, AMPP Western Conference.
Titled “Empowering Blue-Collar Trades through Workforce Development,” the session will take place on Nov. 5, 2024, from 3:45 to 5:00 p.m. Pacific time in San Diego, California, USA.
This timely panel, moderated by workforce development expert Courtney Culpepper, will feature leading voices from the labor and defense sectors as they share strategies to address the urgent need for skilled workers in the submarine industrial base.
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) faces a critical challenge: balancing the recapitalization of its sea-based nuclear deterrent while building new attack submarines. This task requires tens of thousands of workers skilled in multiple industrial trades. However, this workforce's current and projected shortages pose significant risks to national security and defense operations.
Panel speakers include:
- Katherine Dames, Managing Director, Blue Forge Alliance
- Clinton Schuhart, California Workforce Lead, Submarine Industrial Base
- John Snell, Sr. Program Manager for Maritime Trades, Old Dominion University
- Shawn Avery, President and CEO, Hampton Roads Workforce Council
- Bill Miley, Talent Pipeline Program Flag Lead, Southern California
According to AMPP, this panel will focus on identifying gaps in existing workforce capabilities; enhancing training programs; and improving recruitment processes to fortify the blue-collar labor force.
The session will explore how government agencies, industry leaders, non-profits, and academic institutions can collaborate to streamline recruitment, upskill workers, and strengthen the nation’s submarine production capacity.
Key discussion points will include:
- The DoD’s challenge of building and repairing submarines while addressing a significant skilled labor shortage;
- Solutions to improve recruitment and training processes for blue-collar workers;
- Collaboration between government, industry, and educational institutions to bridge skill gaps;
- The future of the submarine industrial base and its impact on national security.
In summary, this forum presents an essential opportunity to tackle workforce development challenges head-on while securing the necessary skilled labor for critical industries to grow.
For more information on the session or to attend the AMPP Western Conference, visit www.ampp.org/events/western-conference or contact AMPP’s customer support team at (281) 228-6200.
About AMPP
AMPP is a global community of professionals focused on the protection of assets and the performance of industrial and natural materials. Established in 2021 following a merger between NACE International and SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings, the new association unites 145 years of corrosion control and protective coatings expertise and service to industry and members worldwide.
Today, AMPP is the world’s largest corrosion control and protective coatings organization, serving more than 35,000 members in more than 140 countries. AMPP is headquartered in the United States with offices in Houston and Pittsburgh, along with additional offices in Brazil, Canada, China, Dubai (training center), Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom.