Augusta Technical College President Dr. Jermaine Whirl and Associate Laboratory Director Dr. Tammy Taylor officially entered into a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a ceremonial agreement signing September 5 in the Joseph and Jean Rogers Executive Boardroom on the Augusta Campus.

This is the second Memorandum of Understanding Savannah River National Laboratory’s (SRNL) Global Security Directorate (GSD) has signed with a CSRA university or college in the last four months. In May, SRNL signed a workforce and research development agreement with Augusta University. This MOU with Augusta Tech will give GSD the opportunity to provide practical learning opportunities for students in certain technical programs, lay out a career pathway at SRNL in GSD for those same students, and expand SRNL’s academic research network. 

“This partnership is special because the students who go through this training program and earn the specified degrees, Information Technology, Electrical Training, Additive Manufacturing, and 3D Printing, could be quickly onboarded at SRNL and fill a need we have,” stated Tammy Taylor, Associate Laboratory Director, Global Security. “SRNL is excited to give Augusta Tech students an opportunity to take what they learn in the classroom and apply it in mission work at a DOE National Laboratory.” 

Augusta Tech, a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, is a public postsecondary academic institution that builds a skilled workforce and economically stronger communities through high-quality, innovative, and affordable career-advancing credentials. SRNL is the applied research and development laboratory for the DOE’s Office of Environmental Management. Both parties are known for their innovative and practical applications of strategies and technology designed to address major national and international environmental, national security, and energy issues. In view of these common interest and objectives, the Parties desire to foster technical collaboration in areas of mutual interest by:

• Education and Workforce Development
• Apprenticeship and Internship Programs
• Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative

"Augusta Technical College is excited to expand our partnership with SRNL. We’re ready to launch a new apprenticeship technician pathway program in January 2024 that builds on our current program offerings in hopes of growing the labor force at the site. Augusta Tech is thankful for the leadership at SRNL for their continued commitment of providing well paying, sustainable jobs for members of our community. This is a win for Augusta Tech, SRNL and the region collectively," stated Dr. Whirl.

Click here to view photos from the signing event.