PNAA Aerospace Industry Excellence Showcase: Advanced Manufacturing Leadership Academy

About this event

PNAA is proud to continue celebrating the recipients of the 2025 Aerospace Excellence Awards through our Showcase Event Series.

Join us at Skills Inc. for an inside look at the Advanced Manufacturing Leadership Academy (AMLA) . You'll hear from the people behind the project and take a tour of the facility and see the program in action.

What is AMLA?

The Advanced Manufacturing Leadership Academy is a unique, nine-month dual credit career launch program offered through a partnership between Kent School District , Skills Inc. , and Clover Park Technical College . Designed for Kent School District seniors, the academy combines high school and college coursework with paid, work-based hands-on training in advanced manufacturing.

Students earn up to 45 college credits toward an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Manufacturing Engineering Technologies in this Running Start program while completing high school graduation requirements. Hosted at Skills Inc., a certified aerospace manufacturer in Auburn, WA, participants work as paid interns alongside experienced machinists and mentors.

The curriculum includes training in CNC machine operation, dimensional inspection, lean principles, and emerging technologies like robotics, 3D printing, and digital inspection methods. Students also gain exposure to industry practices in cybersecurity, supply chain management, and quality assurance, preparing them for future roles in manufacturing or continued education through AAS/BAS degrees or apprenticeships.

What to Expect:

9:00am Refreshments & Networking 9:15am Welcome 9:20am AMLA Program Overview 9:40am Facility Tours 10:30am Networking