Wake_mission_criticalMost businesses close up shop at the end of the day – but not entirely. After the doors close, electrical systems, manufacturing processes, data management systems, HVAC, and a host of other vital functions must continue – 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. These “mission critical operations” require expert, round-the-clock supervision. Hospitals, banks, data storage facilities, and so many other businesses at the center of modern life must have skilled technicians on board to make sure they continue to function – professionals who are well trained in mission critical operations. Now, for the first time, the training these professionals need is available in a new curriculum program at Wake Tech.

Beginning this fall, the college will offer an associate’s degree and four certificates in Mission Critical Operations (MCO), aimed at preparing students for this challenging and rewarding field. The curriculum covers the basics, helping students cultivate skills in infrastructure development and maintenance, information security, mission critical communications, and emergency operations. Experience in particular areas – advanced manufacturing, IT, electrical, or HVAC, for example – is helpful but not required. What is required is the ability to communicate clearly and attention to detail. As MCO professionals, these students will have to be able to address mission critical breaches as they occur, mitigate damage, and ultimately prevent such breaches from occurring.

Pg 4 Mission Critical photo 3“The mission critical operations curriculum gives students a set of cross-disciplinary skills and aptitudes that are needed in all kinds of industries,” says Patricia Godin, Dean of Wake Tech’s Applied Engineering and Technologies Division. “This program is pioneering an instructional method that engages students through serious games and simulations. And based on our needs assessment and employer enthusiasm, the program itself is mission critical – arriving just as the technician population is graying and a skills gap is emerging in the field.”

“Simply put, there are not enough qualified professionals to support marketplace demand for these skills,” says Brian Baker, Vice President of Sentinel Data Centers in Durham, who says his company looks forward to supporting the new Wake Tech program. “The MCO team has done an excellent job of developing a curriculum that meets the facilities and technology requirements necessary to excel in today’s data center industry. Wake Tech’s MCO program will not only educate mission critical professionals; it will also be a source of well-developed talent for the critical infrastructure industry.”

The program was developed as part of a $23 million grant initiative from the U.S. Department of Labor, to meet industry demand. It was created by a consortium led by Cleveland Community College that includes Wake Tech, Nash Community College, Southern Regional Community College in Georgia, and UNC-Charlotte. Wake Tech received $2.9 million in funding to develop a robust program including simulations and hands-on labs with MCO equipment and infrastructure that will help train students for these critical careers.

Examples of Classes in MCO Curriculum:

  • Electrical
  • HVAC Systems
  • Critical Site Operations
  • Critical Facility Management
  • SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) Systems

For more information on the new curriculum program, visit mco.waketech.edu or call 919-866-6882.