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Instructors

Benefit from the guidance of experienced machine tool professionals.

ACE Instructor, TCAT – Harriman

Andrew Aydelott

Andrew Aydelott

Associate Instructor – Machine Tool Technology, TCAT – Harriman

“Students are looking for something stable – a career they can spend the rest of their life doing.”

Andrew has a number of years of experience in industry. He says there’s a ton of opportunities for machinists around TCAT – Harriman. He’s excited to bring ACE training to students who seek a secure career path.
ACE Instructor, Mississippi State University

Aidan Duncan

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.
ACE Instructor, Polk State

James Gibbons “Mr. Gib”

James Gibbons “Mr. Gib”

Polk State College Machinist

“Skilled labor isn’t cheap. Cheap labor isn’t skilled.”

In his 40+ year career as a machinist and fabricator, “Mr. Gib” has worked on multi-story buildings and very large steel structures, miles of handrails, thousands of CNC and manual machined parts, race cars, hot-rods, bikes, and guitars.
ACE Instructor, ATCC

Tony Hanson

Tony Hanson

ATCC Instructor of Machine Tool Technology

“The information and hands-on of ACE reinforce the knowledge you learn.”

Tony has been an instructor at Alexandria Technical & Community College since 2013. His background in industry encompasses everything from programming to inspection to supervision. His hope is that ACE will inspire younger people to join a critical American industry.
ACE Instructor, Mississippi State University

Alejandro Martinez

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.
Lead ACE Instructor

Jose Nazario

Jose Nazario

ACE Instructor for Train-the-Trainers and Guidance for all ACE training centers

“I’m trying to give them real-world experience in a college setting. I don’t want to just give them a block and say, cut this. I want them to know the programming behind it.”

Jose has taught the ACE curriculum to a wide range of participants, including students in high school, two-year programs, and universities as well as current machinists. He aims to give a broad introduction to machining and machine tool dynamics so that participants can find where they best fit in U.S. manufacturing.
ACE Instructor, UF

Sean Niemi

Sean Niemi

University of Florida Professor

“I want to completely revitalize the design and manufacturing curriculum we have for mechanical engineering at UF. I want to bridge to other departments so that anyone can do this.”

Formerly a student of ACE curriculum’s developer Dr. Tony Schmitz, Sean is thrilled to expand ACE into Florida. He feels ACE sets a new standard for how we educate mechanical engineering students and machinists, and he likes how it highlights multiple career paths.
ACE Instructor, Calhoun Community College

Larry Owens

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.
ACE Instructor, IRSC

Walt Posten

Walt Posten

Indian River State College, Welder and Machinist

“When they can see something they built from nothing, that can be dramatic for them. Seeing a tangible part in use and knowing its function draws people in. ”

Walt is a welding instructor who’s ramping up the CNC program IRSC. An hour south of Cape Canaveral, their area of Florida has a lot of contractors for the aeronautics industry. Walt hopes ACE will draw more people to manufacturing because people who like machining are makers at heart.
ACE Instructor Trainer

David Roberson

David Roberson

America’s Cutting Edge

“I’m drawn to machining because I love creating. Between subtractive and additive manufacturing, I truly feel there’s nothing I can’t create.”

David was in the U.S. Marine Corps and has been drawn to machining since high school. He now works as a workforce trainer for America’s Cutting Edge, providing training for new instructors as well as partner assistance where needed. With over 10 years of machining experience, David sees ACE as a tool to bring American manufacturing back to the top.
ACE Instructor, Penn State Behrend

Mark Rubeo

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.
ACE Instructor, Cape Fear Community College

Eddie Sholar

Eddie Sholar

CFCC Program Director, Computer Integrated Machining

“I believe America’s Cutting Edge will help get people interested in machining.”

Eddie has been teaching machining at Cape Fear Community College for over 15 years. He took over as the program director of computer integrated machining in 2012. He believes America’s Cutting Edge can help fill the talent pipeline for area employment.
ACE Instructor, UNT

Hector Siller Carillo

Hector Siller Carillo

Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering, University of North Texas

“The most important thing is to cultivate curiosity in students. They’ll be more interested in learning practical stuff. ACE makes this fun.”

Since the fall of 2022, Hector has been instrumental in spreading the ACE curriculum in North Texas. By both embedding it into his engineering classes at UNT and leading weekend bootcamps for machinists who want to gain new skills, Hector is connected with local industry and focused on meeting their workforce needs.
ACE Instructor, St. Cloud State University

Michael Sundblad

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.
ACE Instructor, University of St. Thomas

Richard Wold

Richard Wold

Mechanical Engineering Professor

“At a time where our country is in need of skilled workers in the manufacturing/machining industry, the ACE program is an excellent program designed to introduce individuals of any age to the outstanding career opportunities within the machining industry. The program curriculum is centered around the latest CAD/CAM technology used in the industry and provides immediate job opportunities for lucrative employment, as well as continued education that is often paid for by employers.”

As a trained tool and die maker/machinist journey person, Richard Wold has 44 years of experience teaching machining/toolmaking/manufacturing full time at both the technical college level as well as at the four-year university level in mechanical engineering. He’s passionate about the machining industry and looks forward to sharing his knowledge with individuals through the ACE curriculum. He says there’s no doubt in his mind that graduates of the ACE program will gain a giant step forward as they enter a challenging, high-tech, high-paying career.

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