GE Aerospace apprenticeship program marks first year in Wilmington

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — More than 80 people have completed a GE Aerospace apprenticeship program in Wilmington since it launched last year, according to the company.

The program, which began in August 2025, trains participants for careers as computer numerical control, or CNC, machinists.

Training lasts about eight weeks and includes instruction at GE Aerospace’s Wilmington facility, five weeks at Cape Fear Community College and additional on-the-job training with mentors at GE Aerospace. Participants with previous machining experience train full time at the Wilmington site.

Apprentices are paid as full-time GE Aerospace employees during the program. The cost of instruction is covered through North Carolina’s NCEdge program.

CNC machinists operate equipment used to manufacture precision parts for jet engines.

Recent graduate Joseph Knox said the program gave him an opportunity to pursue a new career.

“I joined the apprenticeship program to pursue a new career path and create a better future for myself and my family,” Knox said. “It’s a great way to step into this field where you can thrive and make a career out of it.”

GE Aerospace said it purchased new CNC machines for CFCC to use in hands-on training.

The program is part of a broader workforce development effort tied to GE Aerospace’s operations in North Carolina.

Earlier this year, the company announced plans to invest $60 million at its Wilmington facility as part of more than $160 million in investments across North Carolina in 2026.

The Wilmington site manufactures precision components used in commercial and military jet engines, including blisks, spools and high-pressure turbine disks.