Valencia College is celebrating the success of 10 graduates from Cohort Seven of its Precision Optics and Photonics Program, offered in partnership with the AmeriCOM Defense Precision Optics Consortium. All 10 graduates earned the industry-recognized Technician in Precision Optics (TPO) certification issued by the Electronics Technicians Association International, and nine have already secured employment in the optics and photonics industry.
Throughout the program, students gained hands-on technical experience and connected with industry professionals through career nights, employer visits, and field trips to advanced manufacturing facilities. Companies such as Lockheed Martin, ER Precision, Critical Frequency, LightPath Technologies, CACI, Ocean Optics all opened their doors to enhance the educational experience for these and other cohort graduates. Boss Laser, Lockheed Martin, and the University of Central Florida’s College of Optics and Photonics supported the summer youth outreach initiative which introduced high school students to careers in optics and photonics. These accomplishments highlight Valencia College’s continued commitment to preparing skilled technicians for high-demand careers and strengthening the region’s optics and photonics workforce.
Valencia College Precision Optics and Photonics Program graduates.