Partnership brings program manager seminar to Hanscom

  • Published
  • By Jessica Casserly
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Representatives from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, the University of Massachusetts Lowell, MassDevelopment and Hanscom leadership gathered at the Hanscom Education and Training Center July 26 to recognize 30 military and civilian students who recently completed a program manager seminar.

Lt. Gen. John Thompson, AFLCMC commander, presented certificates of completion to the students who participated in the six-part seminar.

The seminar was part of an Education Partnership Agreement between Hanscom and UMass Lowell. The EPA was originally signed in 2014 and was expanded to include the program manager seminar earlier this year. Students completed six individual seminars, including risk management, critical thinking and a team case study capstone.

“We had an existing partnership with Hanscom to deliver an online program in network security,” said Joanne Talty, associate director of corporate education at UMass Lowell. “When the topic of program management came up, it was determined that we would customize a program to meet the needs of Hanscom. We’re a public university and, working with the state, it was just a perfect blend.”

During his remarks to students and ceremony attendees, Thompson agreed that the EPA provided an ideal avenue for program manager training and growth.

“None of this would have happened without the support of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” Thompson said, noting that the state provided most of the funding. “We need smart program managers with new tools, techniques and training. We are looking forward to taking advantage of the specials skills and talents [these students] have garnered.”

Students were nominated by Hanscom division chiefs to participate in the seminars, which were held on Hanscom and led by UMass Lowell instructors.

“The instructors were all very passionate about their knowledge areas,” said Capt. Jeffrey Rodriguez, E-3G Block 40/45 program manager and one of the 30 students to complete the seminars. “Most of the instructors had worked for the government and industry, so they were aware of the program management challenges and differences between both organizations.”

Jacquelynn Coles, one of the program manager seminar students and an integrated product team lead under Battle Management, also benefited from the experience.

“More than anything, this course validated that we are on the right track with what we are doing on a day-to-day basis at Hanscom,” Coles said. “The seminars helped me to take a different perspective on critical thinking, realizing and validating that taking the time to perform a thorough plan will only lead to success.”