Congresswoman Scanlon, Superintendent Watlington, and Rear Admiral Pappano Celebrate New Hires at U.S. Navy’s Philly Region Talent Pipeline Signing Day
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 5, 2023
Contact:
Sylvie Gallier Howard, sylvie@equitablecitiesconsulting.com, 215-478-3286
Carina Figliuzzi, Communications Director, Office of Congressperson Mary Gay Scanlon, Carina.Figliuzzi@mail.house.gov, (202) 225-2011
Marissa Orbanek, Communications Officer, Office of Communications and External Relations, School District of Philadelphia, morbanek@philasd.org, 215-917-9973
Photos: Attached
Congresswoman Scanlon, Superintendent Watlington, and Rear Admiral Pappano Celebrate New Hires at U.S. Navy’s Philly Region Talent Pipeline Signing Day
Philadelphia, PA – US Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon, School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Tony B. Watlington, Sr., Ed.D., and Rear Admiral Pappano, Program Executive Officer, Strategic Submarines, joined regional employers, educators and other U.S. Navy officials for the second-year Signing Day event of the Pennsylvania Talent Pipeline Project.
The second year of the program touted significant outcomes, including the participation of 40 employers, 41 educational partners, and the creation of 280 jobs (224 jobs were created in Cohort #1). The Signing Day program also recognized retention by employers, with 29 employers celebrating the one year anniversary of 168 hires who participated in Cohort #1. Due to the success of the Philly Talent Pipeline program, the program is expanding, with coverage in the Pittsburgh/Allegheny County region, southern New Jersey, and most recently in Boston.
“The Navy Yard is home to some of the most exciting emerging economic activity in Philadelphia, with employers spanning industries from shipbuilding, to baking, to life sciences — and everything in between,” said Congresswoman Scanlon. “These employers need skilled workers, and the Navy Yard Skills Initiative is helping to make those connections. The program’s growth over the past two years has been amazing—with hundreds of student graduates at dozens of employers throughout the Philadelphia region. I’m proud to have secured funding to support this exciting program, and I’m incredibly thankful to the Navy, the schools, and the employers for their collective work to make it happen.”
In May 2021, the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and the U.S. Navy launched an initiative with the mission of energizing and engaging the Defense Industrial Base through the creation of maritime focused manufacturing pipelines that recapitalize the defense workforce and address critical trade skill gaps required across the maritime and defense ecosystems. The United States Navy selected the Philadelphia region and Pennsylvania as a target investment area due to a high concentration of maritime-related businesses that provide goods and services to the U.S. Navy. The U.S. Navy and Secretary of Defense have more than $300 billion planned for investments in new submarines, aircraft carriers, and ships, over the next several decades. Pennsylvania has the most defense suppliers (~300) and critical suppliers (40+) of any state for the Navy’s submarine and aircraft carrier programs, but suppliers nationwide are struggling to meet their workforce needs.
In a proactive effort to build its workforce in the face of national labor shortages, the U.S. Navy, Office of the Secretary of Defense, and the Philadelphia Navy Annex teamed with local employers and academic institutions to develop a program committed to building sustainable talent pipelines in this region and energizing the regional economy. The program focuses on teaching small- and medium-sized employers how to improve their talent acquisition and retention by building talent pipelines in area high schools, community colleges, and Career & Technical Education (CTE) Centers.
“The School District of Philadelphia is proud to continue this impactful partnership with the U.S. Navy, one that is increasing opportunities for students here in Philadelphia by connecting K-12 education, postsecondary education and workforce programs,” said Superintendent Tony B. Watlington, Sr., Ed.D. “Congratulations to our students who have made the decision to join the skilled workforce. We wish them much success, stability and reward in this exciting and robust new career.”
The District offers 120 total CTE programs throughout more than 30 high schools and serves nearly 6,000 students. Students enrolled in these programs acquire both technical and academic skills by industry professionals, using state-of-the-art equipment in over 40 occupational areas. Students also have the opportunity to earn industry-recognized certifications related to their respective career focus.
“The Pennsylvania Talent Pipeline Program is a critical component of our nation’s security initiatives and submarine building operations. The young men and women who are joining our workforce today are essential to fulfilling our mission and I want to welcome and salute them for the hard work that they have demonstrated leading up to this day. We feel confident that this cohort of workers and future talent coming through the Talent Pipeline Program will help us in meeting our expanding needs”, added U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Pappano.
Current Participating Employers in Greater Philadelphia:
Philly Shipyard Inc.
Rhoads Industries
Derbyshire Marine & Tool Co.
Naval Surface Warfare Center
Naval Foundry and Propeller Center
DC Fabricators Inc. .
Kingsbury Inc.
L3 Harris Technologies
Navy Supply Systems Command
Philadelphia Ship Repair
Metals USA.
Jenkins Machine
Lehigh Carbon
General Dynamics Electric Boat
Holtec international
Marine Tech Wire and Cable, Inc.
York Precision Machining and Hydraulics
Cleveland Cliffs, Inc.
Billet Industries
Lehigh Heavy Forge Corp
Precision Custom Components
Everson Tesla
PRL Industries
North Atlantic Ship Repair
Greiner Industries
Johnson Controls
Everson Tesla Incorporated
Arkay Solutions
Custom Alloy Corp.
Mistras Group Inc.
Pennsylvania Machine Works
IGM
NDI Engineering Company
Columbia Research Laboratories
Wolfe Tool and Machine
Beta Machine and Fabrication
Partner Academic Institutions in Greater Philadelphia:
Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing
Bucks County Community College
Community College of Philadelphia
Delaware County Community College
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology
Williamson College of the Trades
Father Judge High School
Benjamin Franklin High School
Jules E. Mastbaum High School
A. Philip Randolph Technical High School
Swenson Arts and Technical High School
Thomas A. Edison High School
Science Leadership Academy at Beeber
Science Leadership Academy High School
Kensington High School
Murrell Dobbins High School
Lehigh Career and Technical Institute
Lancaster County Career and Technology Center
Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical School
York Tech
Northampton Community College
Carer Institute of Technology
Welding Testing & Training Institute
Cumberland Perry Area Career & Tech
Camden County College
Chester County Technical College High School
Dauphin County Technical School
Lebanon County Career & Technical Center
Middlesex County Vocational Technical Schools
Rowan College at Burlington County
New Oxford High School
County College of Morris
Essex County Donald M. Payne Sr. School of Technology
Mercy Career and Technical High School
Middlesex College
West Side High School
Universal Audenried Charter High School
Philadelphia Technician Training Institute
Burlington County Institute of Technology
Delaware County Tech
Cape May County Technical School
Partner Intermediaries:
National Defense Industrial Association
Submarine Industrial Base Council
Philadelphia Works
Philly Youth Network
Aircraft Carrier Industrial Base Council
Jewish Employment and Vocational Service Human Services
General Dynamics/Electric Boat
Philadelphia Gear (Timken)
The Manufacturers’ Association
York County Alliance for Learning
Manufacturers Resource Center
Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation
Curtiss– Wright
New Jersey Pathways
Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center
New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program
New Jersey Workforce Development
Montgomery County Workforce Development
Marine Machinery Association
Philly Shipyard Commissioner
Project MFG
Montgomery County Intermediate Unit
Newport News Shipbuilding
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