CNC Bootcamp returns to Oak Ridge this spring

A popular bootcamp is returning to Oak Ridge High School this spring thanks to a recent partnership between Roane State Community College and the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation^® (IACMI).

Roane State announced its workforce training partnership with IACMI last year, making the college just the third location in the State of Tennessee to offer specialized no-cost machine tool training opportunities through America’s Cutting Edge (ACE). 

ACE is a joint Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Energy (DOE) effort launched in 2020 to reestablish American leadership in the machine tool industry through transformative thinking, technology innovation and workforce development.

Roane State and Oak Ridge High School educators joined specialized instructors over fall break for a CNC Bootcamp at the high school. The session welcomed the youngest ever ACE training participant, Oak Ridge student Harry Shanafield, who was 13 when the camp took place.

“That’s pretty cool, but I don’t think it matters because I can learn just like everyone else,” he told camp organizers when learning about the milestone. Shanafield used Fusion 360 design software during the camp and machined his first part with a 5-axis machine.

Many of the camp’s participants plan on pursuing careers in fields such as electrical engineering, machining, robotics, and aerospace.

“You’re always going to have a job. All the jobs are in CNC now because they’re so efficient,” said camp participant Eric Ellis, 19. “Everything you will see out there, a machinist has touched or designed, and I think that’s really cool.”

“Free programs like the CNC Bootcamp with IACMI and ACE are a critical component of our plan to meet the needs of the manufacturing workforce in our region,” said Teresa Duncan, Roane State’s vice president for workforce and community development. “As those needs grow, we will continue to invest in quality training and education opportunities for our students of all ages and skill levels.”

The CNC Bootcamp will return this spring at Oak Ridge High School with exact dates to be announced soon. Additional locations will be added as the program expands. Registration information will be shared online. Visit roanestate.edu/ACE for the latest information.

If you have a group that would like to participate as a cohort, please contact camp coordinator Evan Lohrey at lohreye@roanestate.edu. More information about the programs is available online at AmericasCuttingEdge.org.

About Roane State Community College

Roane State is a two-year college providing transfer programs, career-preparation programs and continuing education. Founded in 1971, the college has locations in Roane, Campbell, Cumberland, Fentress, Knox, Loudon, Morgan, and Scott counties as well as a branch campus in Oak Ridge. For more information, visit roanestate.edu or call (865) 882-4554. Remember, eligible adults can now attend Roane State tuition-free with the new Reconnect grant. Learn more at roanestate.edu/reconnect.

About IACMI – The Composites Institute

IACMI – The Composites Institute is a 130-plus member community of industry, universities, national laboratories, and federal, state, and local government agencies working together to accelerate advanced composites design, manufacturing, technical innovation, and workforce solutions to enable a cleaner and more sustainable, more secure, and more competitive U.S. economy. IACMI is managed by the Collaborative Composite Solutions Corporation (CCS), a not-for-profit organization established by The University of Tennessee Research Foundation. A Manufacturing USA institute, IACMI is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Manufacturing Office, as well as key state and industry partners.