80+ have completed company's newest apprenticeship program
WILMINGTON, N.C. – August 25, 2026 – GE Aerospace celebrated the first year of its newest apprenticeship program in Wilmington, N.C., where more than 80 apprentices have graduated since it launched in August 2025.
Over about eight weeks, apprentices prepare for careers as Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machinists. Training begins at GE Aerospace’s Wilmington site, continues with five intense weeks at Cape Fear Community College (CFCC), and concludes with several weeks of on-the-job training with mentors back at GE Aerospace. For those with previous machining experience, their training is full-time at the Wilmington site.
Apprentices are paid as full-time GE Aerospace employees throughout the program, and the cost of instruction is covered by North Carolina’s NCEdge program. CNC machinists set up and operate large equipment that creates precise parts that are critical to jet engines.
Recent graduate Joseph Knox said, “I joined the apprenticeship program to pursue a new career path and create a better future for myself and my family. It’s a great way to step into this field where you can thrive and make a career out of it.”
“This apprenticeship opens the door to a career at GE Aerospace for people from many backgrounds, including those new to the industry,” said Mark Moon, the site leader for GE Aerospace in Wilmington. “It helps us grow the skilled workforce we need in Wilmington to deliver the critical engine parts our customers depend on.”
As part of its partnership, GE Aerospace purchased new CNC machines for CFCC’s shop for hands-on instruction.
“Our partnership with GE Aerospace demonstrates the vital role community colleges play in developing the skilled workforce that drives economic growth,” said Jim Morton, President of CFCC. “As GE Aerospace continues to expand its operations and invest in the Wilmington region, CFCC is proud to provide the training and talent pipeline needed to support that growth. Through this customized machining training program, we are helping individuals launch rewarding careers while ensuring one of our region’s leading employers has access to a highly skilled workforce prepared to meet the demands of advanced manufacturing.”
The apprenticeship program builds on GE Aerospace’s broader workforce efforts in North Carolina. Last year, the GE Aerospace Foundation donated $500,000 to the Manufacturing Institute’s Heroes MAKE America initiative to help former service members earn their FAA mechanic license near Fort Bragg. In 2024, the Foundation also awarded Cape Fear Community College a $100,000 grant to support scholarships and machining bootcamps that strengthen the local manufacturing industry talent pipeline.
Earlier this year, GE Aerospace announced plans to invest $60 million in its Wilmington site as part of more than $160 million investment across North Carolina and $1 billion in U.S. manufacturing during 2026.
The Wilmington facility supports GE Aerospace’s commercial and military engine programs. The site manufactures precision parts used in the core of jet engines — including blisks, spools, and high-pressure turbine disks — components designed to operate under extreme conditions and pressure.
About GE Aerospace
GE Aerospace is a global aerospace propulsion, services, and systems leader with an installed base of approximately 50,000 commercial and 30,000 military aircraft engines. With a global team of approximately 57,000 employees building on more than a century of innovation and learning, GE Aerospace is committed to inventing the future of flight, lifting people up, and bringing them home safely. Learn more about how GE Aerospace and its partners are defining flight for today, tomorrow, and the future at www.geaerospace.com.