GE Aerospace marks one year of Wilmington apprenticeship program
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — GE Aerospace is marking the one-year anniversary of its apprenticeship program in Wilmington, with more than 80 apprentices completing the program since it launched in August 2025.
The roughly eight-week program trains apprentices for careers as computer numerical control (CNC) machinists, who set up and operate large equipment used to manufacture precise parts for jet engines. Training begins at GE Aerospace’s Wilmington site, continues with five weeks at Cape Fear Community College, and concludes with several weeks of on-the-job training with mentors back at the company. Apprentices with prior machining experience train full-time at the Wilmington site instead.
Participants are paid as full-time GE Aerospace employees throughout the program, and the cost of instruction is covered by North Carolina’s NCEdge program.
“I joined the apprenticeship program to pursue a new career path and create a better future for myself and my family,” said Joseph Knox, a recent graduate of the program. “It’s a great way to step into this field where you can thrive and make a career out of it.”
Mark Moon, GE Aerospace’s site leader in Wilmington, said the program is intended to open career pathways for people from a range of backgrounds, including those new to manufacturing.
“It helps us grow the skilled workforce we need in Wilmington to deliver the critical engine parts our customers depend on,” Moon said.
As part of the partnership, GE Aerospace purchased new CNC machines for Cape Fear Community College’s shop to support 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 Cape Fear Community College. He said the customized training program is helping individuals launch careers while ensuring the company has access to a skilled workforce for advanced manufacturing.
The apprenticeship program builds on other workforce initiatives GE Aerospace has supported in North Carolina. Last year, the GE Aerospace Foundation donated $500,000 to the Manufacturing Institute’s Heroes MAKE America initiative, which helps former service members earn FAA mechanic licenses near Fort Bragg. In 2024, the foundation awarded Cape Fear Community College a $100,000 grant to support scholarships and machining bootcamps aimed at strengthening the local manufacturing talent pipeline.
Earlier this year, GE Aerospace announced plans to invest $60 million in its Wilmington site, part of a broader $160 million investment across North Carolina and $1 billion in U.S. manufacturing planned for 2026.
