Lasers and Fiber Optics Regional Center

激光和光纤(LFO)支撑着21世纪的大多数先进技术。它们正在推动医疗仪器、光电子集成电路、电信技术、激光添加剂制造、遥感、分析仪器等行业的创新。2010年，光技术对美国国内生产总值(GDP)的经济影响为7.5万亿美元。劳工部预计，从2014年到2024年，每年将需要1710名LFO技术人员。有LFO和光子学专业的美国大学每年只培养300名技术人员。需求量几乎是供应量的6倍。该项目将支持对劳动力的教育，以保持美国在激光和光纤启用技术方面的世界领先地位。ATE区域中心，LASeR-TEC，建议继续为美国东南部发展LFO劳动力，并将扩大目前由21所合作大学组成的网络。工业企业网络将扩大，包括来自不同经济部门的公司。目标是：1)增加和加强LFO学术计划，以满足行业需求；2)为中学教师、大学教师和现有工人创建和提供LFO专业发展计划；3)为中学、大学和行业开发LFO课程材料；4)开发、促进并向中等STEM教师、顾问、顾问和管理人员提供外展和提高认识计划；5)制定战略和材料，招募和保留代表不足的群体，以促进LFO计划的多样性；6)确定并传播美国东南部LFO技术人员的技能和就业需求。LASER-TEC正与AIM Photonics、Power America、Advanced Functional Fabric of America和其他美国制造学院合作，随着新技术的开发为劳动力提供教育和培训。

Lasers and fiber optics (LFO) undergird most twenty-first century advanced technologies. They are fueling innovations in medical instrumentation, photonics integrated circuits, telecommunications technologies, laser additive manufacturing, remote sensing, analytical instrumentation, and other industries. The economic impact of light-based technologies on the U.S. gross domestic product was $7.5 trillion in 2010. The Department of Labor projects that 1,710 LFO technicians will be needed annually between 2014 and 2024. U.S. colleges with LFO and photonics programs produce only 300 technicians annually. The demand is almost six times the supply. This project will support the education of the workforce needed to keep the U.S. as the world leader in laser and fiber optics enabled technologies.The ATE Regional Center, LASER-TEC, proposes to continue developing the LFO workforce for the southeastern U.S., and will expand the current network of 21 partner colleges. The industrial corporate network will increase to include companies from different sectors of the economy. The goals are to: 1) Increase and strengthen LFO academic programs to meet industry demand; 2) Create and offer LFO professional development programs for secondary school teachers, college faculty, and incumbent workers; 3) Develop LFO curriculum materials for secondary schools, colleges, and industry; 4) Develop, promote, and deliver outreach and awareness programs to secondary STEM teachers, advisors, counselors, and administrators; 5) Develop strategies and materials to recruit and retain underrepresented groups to promote diversity in LFO programs; and 6) Identify and disseminate LFO technicians' skillsets and employment needs in the southeastern U.S. LASER-TEC is working with AIM Photonics, Power America, Advanced Functional Fabrics of America, and other Manufacturing USA Institutes to provide the workforce education and training as new technologies are developed.