Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing

What Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing does

Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) is a workforce development program operated by The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) in Danville, Virginia, and funded through the U.S. Department of Defense's National Imperative for Industrial Skills initiative administered by the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program Office (IBAS). The program delivers 600 hours of intensive, hands-on instruction over 16 weeks across five skilled trades tracks: additive manufacturing, CNC machining, non-destructive testing (NDT), quality control inspection (metrology), and welding. Students earn nationally recognized credentials including Haas, NIMS, American Welding Society, OSHA 10, and Autodesk certifications, with curriculum aligned to Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) and American Society of Non-destructive Testing (ASNT) requirements for the submarine industrial base.

The program serves two distinct customer bases. On the student side, ATDM recruits adult learners nationwide — with a focus on transitioning military veterans, active-duty SkillBridge participants, and career changers — through online applications, career fairs, and dedicated veteran recruitment channels. Students attend tuition-free with furnished housing in the Danville River District and transportation provided, while remaining responsible only for meals and personal expenses. On the employer side, ATDM works with more than 200 defense manufacturing companies — including Huntington Ingalls/Newport News Shipbuilding, General Dynamics (Bath Iron Works, Electric Boat), BWX Technologies, Austal USA, Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Trident Refit Facility, Collins Aerospace, and Ellwood National Forge — providing workforce upskilling, pre-hire sponsorship, and direct graduate placement. Reported outcomes include an 85% placement rate within 30 days of graduation and 80% placement in the submarine industrial base within two months.

ATDM originated as a 2020 pilot under a $1.78 million contract from the U.S. Army Contracting Command-Rock Island, launched as a program around 2021 as a public-private consortium among DoD/IBAS, IALR, Danville Community College, Phillips Corporation, and The Spectrum Group, and scaled into a new 100,000-square-foot ATDM Maritime Training Center that opened on the IALR campus in 2025. The Navy Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence is co-located on the same campus. The program operates as a non-commercial, grant-funded workforce initiative rather than a revenue-generating enterprise, targeting 800–1,000 graduates annually against a Navy-estimated need of more than 100,000 additional skilled workers in the submarine industrial base over the next 10 years.

Name

Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing

Legal name

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research

Website

https://atdm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ATDM is a federally funded, IALR-operated workforce training program in Danville, Virginia, delivering 16-week accelerated skilled-trades training (CNC, welding, NDT, additive manufacturing, metrology) to veterans and career changers for placement with over 200 U.S. defense industrial base employers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense Manufacturing Workforce Training

NAICS

Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Manufacturing (EDABALAP)

akta.pro secondary industries

Welding Inspection, QA/QC & NDT Prep Training (e.g., CWI) (EDAOADAF), Welding Codes, Safety & Compliance Training (AWS/ASME/OSHA) (EDAOADAG), CNC Plasma/Laser Cutting & Automated Fabrication Training (EDAOADAH)

Keywords

• Defense manufacturing training
• Skilled trades workforce
• CNC machining training
• Additive manufacturing education
• Welding certification training

Headquarters

HQ city

Danville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: ATDM is funded through the National Imperative for Industrial Skills initiative launched in 2020 by the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Program Office (IBAS) in the office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. Students receive full scholarships covering tuition, housing, and transportation.
2. Employer Partnership Programs: Companies sponsor employees for training or recruit graduates directly. Employers can upskill existing workers, send conditional pre-hires for training, or hire from program completers. ATDM provides workforce pipeline services to defense manufacturing employers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

ATDM delivers four-month accelerated training programs in five defense manufacturing trades — additive manufacturing, CNC machining, non-destructive testing, quality control/inspection (metrology), and welding — to prepare individuals for careers in the Defense Industrial Base. The program is operated by the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) at a 100,000-square-foot facility in Danville, Virginia, with tuition fully funded through the U.S. Department of Defense's Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) program. Since 2021, ATDM has graduated more than 1,400 students and works with over 200 employer partners across the Defense Industrial Base.

Product overview

The Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program is a workforce training platform that offers five distinct skilled trades programs: Additive Manufacturing, CNC Machining, Non-Destructive Testing (NDT), Quality Control Inspection (Metrology), and Welding. The program provides 600 hours of intensive training over 16 weeks (four months) at the ATDM Maritime Training Center in Danville, Virginia. Students receive comprehensive support including housing, transportation, tutoring, and career placement services. The programs collectively prepare graduates for employment in the submarine industrial base (SIB) and defense industrial base (DIB), with an 85% employment rate within 30 days of graduation. The program partners with over 200 employers nationwide for job placement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Additive Manufacturing Training Program Four-month accelerated program providing hands-on training in 3D printing and additive manufacturing processes used in defense production. Designed for adult learners seeking entry-level careers in the Defense Industrial Base.
• CNC Machining Training Program Four-month accelerated program teaching computer-controlled machine tool operation for precision manufacturing of defense components. Targets adult learners pursuing skilled machinist roles in the Defense Industrial Base.
• Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Training Program Four-month accelerated program in non-destructive testing methods used to inspect defense components and structures without causing damage. Prepares students for NDT technician roles in defense manufacturing.
• Quality Control / Inspection (Metrology) Training Program Four-month accelerated program in quality control and metrology techniques used to measure and verify dimensional and material specifications of defense components. Designed for adult learners entering inspection roles.
• Welding Training Program Four-month accelerated program covering welding processes required in defense manufacturing, including structural and precision welding techniques. Targets adult learners pursuing welding careers in the Defense Industrial Base.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% of program completers secure employment within 30 days of graduation
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020IALR is the parent organization and lead implementing partner for the ATDM program. Hosts the 100,000 sq ft ATDM Maritime Training Center on its campus in Danville, Virginia. IALR President Telly Tucker leads workforce development efforts.
• Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIdentifies skills gaps in the Submarine Industrial Base that ATDM addresses. ATDM curriculum meets NAVSEA non-destructive testing requirements. Matt Sermon, Executive Director of Strategic Submarines, supports program scaling.
• Danville Community College (DCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner in the public-private consortium developing and delivering ATDM training. Students have access to Mary M. Barksdale Library. Provides academic infrastructure and credentials.
• Phillips CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner in the public-private consortium developing ATDM. Contributes industry expertise and resources to program development.
• The Spectrum GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner in consortium. Charlie Dale and RDML Tom Kearney (USN Ret.) represent the group in program leadership.
• BuildSubmarines.commajorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational advertising and recruitment platform co-branded with ATDM. Part of #CarWithAMission NASCAR campaign. Drives national awareness of defense manufacturing career opportunities.
• BuildFreedom.USmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-branded training provider connecting workers to defense manufacturing careers. Part of national recruitment effort.
• Navy Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AM CoE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-located with ATDM at IALR campus. Navy celebrated formal opening October 2022. Creates operational efficiencies and shared resources between programs.
• Huntington Ingalls/Newport News ShipbuildingmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor submarine shipbuilder actively recruiting ATDM graduates. Part of 200+ employer network.
• General Dynamics (Bath Iron Works, Electric Boat)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor defense contractor participating in ATDM employer network. Bath Iron Works hired LaRosa McCoy as tinsmith. Recruits graduates for submarine work.
• BWX TechnologiesmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSends employees to ATDM for training. Jarrod Hankins was sponsored by BWX for metrology training and later became ATDM instructor. Active recruitment partner.
• Ellwood National ForgemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSteel component supplier sending employees for training. Seven employees trained. Training Manager: 'Folks coming out are highly skilled in four months.'
• Trident Refit FacilitymajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGovernment submarine maintenance facility. Has recruited six ATDM graduates. Sends cohort for training. Recruiter traveled from Washington state for career fair.
• Austal USAmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShipbuilder participating in ATDM employer network for submarine industrial base workforce.
• Collins Aerospace/RaytheonmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAerospace and defense company hiring ATDM graduates including additive manufacturing graduate for San Marcos, Texas facility.
• Norfolk Naval ShipyardmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGovernment shipyard with apprenticeship program. Liz Beasley completing apprenticeship after ATDM training. Ongoing relationship for workforce pipeline.
• Pennsylvania Talent Pipeline ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative of Mid-Atlantic Submarine Talent (MAST) Program connecting ATDM students to defense industry employers in Pennsylvania including Philly Shipyard.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tooling U-SME: Industry-funded manufacturing skills training platform, including CNC, additive manufacturing, quality and metalworking programs via online and blended delivery. Direct comparator for the curriculum and technology stack ATDM uses to upskill defense manufacturing workers.
• Advanced Technology Institute: Career-focused trade school with welding, machining and industrial technician programs and employer partnerships including defense-aligned employers. Similar accelerated hands-on model with concentration on shipbuilding and heavy industry.
• Universal Technical Institute: Public, for-profit provider of accelerated skilled trades education including welding, CNC/manufacturing technology and adjacent programs. Closely comparable to ATDM on curriculum depth, employer placement focus and accelerated-format model, though serving broader industrial demand rather than defense specifically.
• TWS Industrial Services: NDT and inspection training and services provider supporting shipbuilding, power and heavy industrial clients. Direct comparator to ATDM's NDT and metrology offerings, with similar employer-driven demand and compliance-driven curriculum.
• Hobart Institute of Welding Technology: Independent welding school delivering AWS-aligned accelerated training with strong employer placement. Most direct peer to ATDM's welding track and certification pathway and similar in duration and hands-on, cohort-based format.

Others

• BuildSubmarines.com: DoD-aligned national recruitment platform co-branded with ATDM under the Maritime Industrial Base effort. Adjacent rather than competitive — drives applicant flow into ATDM cohorts and provides visibility into broader submarine industrial base demand.

Broad incumbents

• Lincoln Tech: Established multi-campus private career college offering welding, HVAC, machining and industrial trades programs with employer placement pipelines. Comparable on accelerated skilled-trades delivery and employer relations, but broader and largely commercial rather than defense-aligned.
• NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research): Industry-driven credentialing body that sets craft standards and accredits training for skilled trades including welding, inspection and pipefitting. Comparable as a national credentialing and curriculum infrastructure provider that ATDM's certifications sit alongside.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC-dHi79DnJVthV1SlBZ7VyQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/ATDMTeam
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/accelerated-training-in-defense-manufacturing
• Instagraminstagram.com/atdmteam

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing