Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and Rolls-Royce Marine North America signed an apprenticeship agreement on February 15 at the Rolls-Royce Naval Marine facility in Pascagoula. The first programs began this spring.

“We look forward to working with Rolls-Royce Marine North America,” said Dr. Mary S. Graham, MGCCC president. “These apprenticeships will keep the company’s workforce strong and allow the employees participating in the program to further their careers.”

The agreement includes three registered apprenticeship programs: finisher/welder, CNC machinist, and foundry worker.

The CNC machinist apprentices began classes this spring on the Jackson County Campus.  The other apprentices will start this summer.  Apprentices attend classes in the morning several days of the week and have on-the-job training (OJT) at Rolls-Royce the remaining hours of the week.  Apprentices will have a mentor at Rolls-Royce to guide them through the OJT and apprenticeship programs.  The apprenticeship programs are registered with the Department of Labor and have the highest standards of training built into them.  Registered Apprenticeship programs are from one to three years, depending on the craft, with apprentices receiving college credit for their classes.

“We’re excited to partner with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College on this new apprenticeship program,” said Louis Vihtelic, Manufacturing Manager for Rolls-Royce in Pascagoula. “We’re bringing critical, high-tech skills to our workforce that will help us continue to provide world-class products and services to the U.S. Department of Defense and naval customers around the world.”

For more information, contact Don Campbell, director of Communications, Rolls-Royce North America at (703) 689-1525.