Programs
Fast Track Training for High-Demand Careers in Defense
DITAC delivers accelerated, hands-on training programs that prepare students and incumbent workers for real jobs in the national defense workforce. These programs are built in collaboration with leading military, manufacturing, and innovation partners to ensure each graduate is fast, focused, and workforce-ready.
Program benefits include:
- Industry-aligned curriculum built with input from industry partners
- Hands-on training in cutting-edge labs and simulated work environments
- Accelerated course timelines to get students job-ready faster
- Industry-recognized certifications upon completion
- Strong support from partner employers and job placement services
- Open to students, veterans, and current workforce professionals
AiM UP Lab
Advanced Manufacturing Upskilling Program
Located at MGCCC’s Advanced Manufacturing and Technology Center, the AiM UP Lab equips students with advanced skills for today’s high-tech manufacturing environments. This hands-on program focuses on:
Collaborative robots (cobots)
3D printing using metal, resin, and polymer materials
Smart, connected manufacturing systems
Autonomous mobile robotics
The program is designed to fast-track learners into high-demand careers supporting the national defense and industrial innovation sectors.
Cybersecurity Program and the Mississippi Cyber Initiative (MCI)
Hands-On Cybersecurity Training for the Modern Threat Landscape
This program delivers practical, industry-driven cybersecurity training designed to meet the needs of defense and public safety sectors. Students train at MGCCC and the Mississippi Cyber Center, a state-of-the-art facility that includes:
A fully equipped cyber range
A simulated “virtual city” for real-world scenarios
A digital forensics lab where hundreds of real crimes have been solved
Graduates leave with hands-on experience in cyber defense, making them valuable assets to government agencies, contractors, and private-sector employers.
Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network (MAIN)
Preparing Mississippi’s Workforce for AI-Powered Careers
The Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network (MAIN) is the nation’s first statewide initiative dedicated to AI workforce development. Created in partnership with Intel Corporation and Dell Technologies, MAIN equips students with the foundational knowledge and practical skills needed for careers in the rapidly growing AI sector.
Training includes:
AI-focused curriculum designed for real-world application
Hands-on experience with machine learning tools and datasets
Career pathways in automation, data analysis, and intelligent systems
MAIN positions Mississippi as a national leader in artificial intelligence education and workforce readiness.
Maritime Industrial Base and Blue Economy
Skilled Trades Training with Deep Maritime Roots
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) delivers robust credit and noncredit workforce training programs that support the state’s growing blue economy. Through its Defense Industry Training and Accelerated Courses (DITAC), students gain hands-on experience across numerous high-demand trades.
Key Highlights:
198 welding training booths available through DITAC for immersive, hands-on skill development.
Broad array of crafts and skilled trades covered through credit and noncredit programs.
Active apprenticeship programs in the maritime and industrial sectors.
Historic partnership with Ingalls Shipbuilding, in place since 1953.
Over 600 active apprentices gaining real-world experience today.
Mechanical Systems
Engineering the Backbone of Defense Technology
Mechanical Systems programs focus on maintaining and optimizing machinery critical to defense operations. Students are equipped with both theoretical knowledge and practical experience to succeed in a range of technical fields.
Students are prepared for careers in:
Mechanical engineering — design and development of mechanical systems and tools.
Electrical engineering — troubleshooting and maintaining electrical components in defense systems.
System maintenance — ensuring optimal performance of machines and integrated systems.
Equipment repair — diagnosing and fixing complex defense-related machinery.
Unmanned Maritime Systems Technology
Advance the Future of Autonomous Naval Defense
This program equips students with the critical skills needed to operate and support unmanned systems used in modern maritime defense.
Students gain hands-on expertise in:
Operating unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) used for naval surveillance and patrol.
Deploying and maintaining unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) for defense and research missions.
System troubleshooting and diagnostics for autonomous maritime technology.
Data analysis and interpretation to support remote maritime operations.