America’s Cutting Edge (ACE) eclipses 20,000 online students and 5,000 in-person participants, underscoring the resurgence of interest in American manufacturing jobs
IACMI–The Composites Institute® (IACMI), today announced its manufacturing and machining workforce training program, America’s Cutting Edge (ACE), has surpassed 20,000 online students and 5,000 in-person bootcamp participants. Since its launch in 2020, ACE has grown steadily each year, reaching a record number of enrollments in 2025. The milestone achievements serve as a testament to the program’s success in helping to address the nation’s industrial labor and skills shortages.
“When we launched ACE, we saw a surge of people, including students, career changers, and incumbent workers, ready to build skills, alongside an industry that urgently needs talent and is eager to engage,” said Justin Brooks, IACMI Deputy Director of Workforce Development. “ACE’s growth reflects a real appetite to advance modern manufacturing. That’s the foundation for rebuilding America’s industrial strength, and we’re proud to help drive it.”
The ACE program began as a free online course in computer numerical control (CNC) machining undertaken in partnership with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Since then, the program has expanded to 11 online courses and has been adopted by 43 sites nationwide. Graduates of the program come from a variety of backgrounds, with 49% from a college or university, 17% from high school, and current industry professionals accounting for 23%.
The milestones come on the heels of IACMI launching its ‘Make it in America’ national outreach campaign, designed to raise awareness of careers in manufacturing and the job opportunities available today. The campaign, which debuted in late 2025, leverages ACE and Metallurgical Engineering Trades Apprenticeships & Learning (METAL), a workforce development program focused on casting and forging, to educate emerging and existing workers on new technologies and modern manufacturing practices. Students or industry professionals looking to learn about either program or its skills can enroll for free, supporting the primary goal of the programs: making careers in manufacturing accessible.
In December 2025, ACE also celebrated its five-year anniversary. Beyond its students, the ACE program’s network of trainers and industry partners involves more than 200 academic and industry professionals. To learn more about ACE or get involved, visit AmericasCuttingEdge.org.
