Instructors

Aidan Duncan

Instructor, School of Mechanical Engineering

“ACE has a lot of really good content. It’s a digestible introduction program.”

Aidan is excited to bring the ACE program to Mississippi State University – particularly for the hands-on aspect of the program. He loves how students will experience CNC machining from start to finish – beginning with computer-aided design, all the way to the finished product. Aidan graduated from Mississippi State University and returned to give back through teaching.

Alejandro Martinez

Instructor, School of Mechnical Engineering

“Delivering the content depends a lot on how much you want to inspire.”

Alejandro thoroughly enjoys the ACE program and sees it as a great tool to inspire the next generation of machinists. He wants to equip students with the skills to become makers – as innovators, as entrepreneurs. He believes companies can take advantage of the program to increase their efficiency as well.

Larry Owens

Machine Tool Technology Instructor, CCC

“ACE is a good overview of machining and all the processes that are involved.”

Larry believes the America’s Cutting Edge program empowers students to feel confident in beginning to understand machining.

Mark Rubeo

Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Penn State Behrend

“In order to design things, you have to know how to make them. ACE gives strong hands-on experience.”

In Erie, PA, the need for skilled machinists is dire – particularly for tool makers in the plastic injection molding industry. Mark is confident the ACE program will help not just there, but with local companies who have apprenticeship programs looking for determined apprentices.

He also believes the exposure ACE brings to the sights, sounds and smells of a machine shop are paramount in connecting to machine shops.

“You pick up the lingo, so when you go into industry, you can talk the talk and speak the same language,” he says.

He’s excited to bring the hands-on experience to Penn State Behrend.

Michael Sundblad

Assistant Professor, St. Cloud State University, Minnesota

“The air motor project in ACE is a great way for our engineering students to experience creating high tolerance parts with a connection to industry and manufacturing.”

Michael was one of the first to be certified to teach the ACE curriculum in Minnesota, along with fellow Professor John Holmen, also of SCSU. The ACE program in outstate Minnesota will be delivered via the TEC Network which will provide high school instructors the training and then deliver portable Haas CNC mills to their shops. The teaming up of ACE and the TEC Network will provide a winning combination for students to experience the machining industry.