Margaret Abrams, (X42) a machinist in Newport News Shipbuilding’s Pipe Department credits her success to a partnership between NNS and the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program in Danville, Virginia.
A Hampton Roads native, Abrams graduated high school in 2021 and at first enrolled in college for mechanical engineering. After realizing that wasn’t for her, she sought a different career path and was accepted for the 16-week program at ATDM.
The fast-paced program turned out to be right choice.
“This is just a wonderful partnership,” she said. “It’s very encouraging to know at the end of it you have a job set up for you.”
NNS checked with her during the process, and she was grateful for the support. Now she’s a proud shipbuilder. Her story is proof that a college degree isn’t a requirement to make important contributions to national security.
“It’s been nice walking up to my work station, knowing, that’s my machine,” she said. “I wanted to be a part of something that is bigger than myself. This is pretty much as big as it gets.”
Watch this video below as Abrams describes her career track in her own words.
