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Defense Industry Hanging Out Help Wanted Sign

The United States Department of Defense currently employs more than 700,000 civilians, 145,000 in acquisitions alone. However, more than 70,000 of those workers are currently eligible for retirement, meaning there will be a shortage of qualified and educated workers who can fill the positions left by retirees.

Together with the Defense Acquisition University, Cleary University, Automation Alley, the Society of Automotive Engineers and other area colleges and universities, have formed the Southeastern Michigan Educational Partnership Program. The alliance is aimed at creating a pipeline which will supply qualified professionals to Michigan's defense sector.

A major initiative of the Southeastern Michigan Educational Partnership Program is to host and sponsor education/career information sessions free-of-charge to the public. Cleary University will host the next EduFest on Thursday, Aug. 19 from 7:30 a.m. to noon at the Johnson Center located at 3750 Cleary Drive in Howell.
Participants will learn about local defense industry positions and the special educational requirements for these jobs. EduFest will also feature speakers from the DAU; Tank Automotive Command; Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center; Michigan Works; and Automation Alley. Representatives from several colleges and universities offering specialized DAU programming will be on hand to answer questions regarding the educational requirements necessary for DoD positions as well as the programs available to interested job-seekers. Veterans, displaced workers and other eligible professionals are encouraged to attend.

Cleary University offers DAU courses which lead to a Certificate in Acquisition and Contract Management, enabling members of the federal acquisition community and its contracting partners to enhance their acquisition managerial practices. Additional emphasis is placed on the understanding of the acquisition processes, as well as statutory and regulatory requirements. Courses can be taken for-credit and can also be included as electives in an undergraduate degree program at Cleary.

"The DAU is in need of employees and Cleary University's online course offerings enable individuals near one of our campuses, or throughout the country, to take advantage of this employment opportunity," continued Sullivan. "Their expectation for business-specific course work gives our university the opportunity to deliver its expertise to these prospective DAU employees."

To register for the free EduFest, please visit http://michiganworks.edufest.com. For more information on Cleary's Certificate in Acquisition and Contract Management, call (888) CLEARY.5 (253-2795) or visit www.cleary.edu.  

(c) 2010, WWJ Newsradio 950. All rights reserved.

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