CHANDLER-GILBERT, Arizona.– Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs today led the inauguration of the Future48 Aerospace and Defense Workforce Accelerator at the Williams Campus of Chandler-Gilbert Community College.
During her remarks, Hobbs highlighted that since the beginning of her administration, she has promoted education and training programs designed to connect Arizona residents with well-paying jobs and opportunities for professional growth.
“I am proud that Arizona is a key hub for our nation’s aerospace and defense manufacturing,” the governor said.
Hobbs noted that Arizona has played a vital role in U.S. aviation and defense for more than eight decades, from Davis-Monthan and Luke Air Force Bases to Fort Huachuca and Boeing’s facilities in Mesa.
Today, the state is home to more than 1,200 aerospace and defense-related companies, an industry that supports tens of thousands of specialized jobs and continues to increase its demand for skilled workers.
A More Than $6 Million Investment
The Future48 program represents an investment of more than $6 million from the Arizona Commerce Authority and will provide hands-on training for aviation mechanics and technicians.
Students will work with tools and equipment similar to those they will use in their future careers, helping them transition directly into one of Arizona’s most in-demand industries.
The governor said the program reflects one of the state’s greatest strengths: collaboration among educational institutions, businesses, and government to create real employment opportunities.
Valerie Jones, vice chancellor of Economic and Workforce Development at Maricopa Community Colleges, said the Williams Campus is located at the center of a major industrial corridor that includes more than 60 companies, as well as Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.
“Students will have the opportunity to step outside the classroom and into the heart of the industry,” Jones said.
The project includes the participation of major companies and organizations in the sector, including Boeing, Honeywell Aerospace, Gulfstream, and Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.
The initiative aims to strengthen Arizona’s workforce and provide students with direct pathways to stable careers, family-supporting jobs, and greater opportunities for economic mobility
