Pennsylvania College of Technology hosted a House of Representatives staff member and two Build Freedom US team employees for a campus tour on Oct. 14, Penn State University said in an announcement published Oct. 21. The visitors learned about the Williamsport college’s career and technical education programs and workforce development capabilities, according to the announcement.
The visitors were Gina Pizziconi Cupples, a professional staff member for the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense; Jesse Wilson, workforce program manager for Warfighting Investments, Resourcing and Execution (WIRE); and Kris Rick, WIRE workforce program senior advisor, the announcement said. WIRE is in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of War (Industrial Base Resilience), according to Penn State.
The tour included the Larry A. Ward Machining Technologies Center, Lycoming Engines Metal Trades Center, Gene Haas Center for Innovative Manufacturing and Electrical Technologies Center, Penn State reported. Visitors also toured building construction and heating, ventilation and air conditioning labs; emergency management and homeland security facilities; lab spaces at the Lumley Aviation Center; and diesel technology and on-site power generation facilities at the Schneebeli Earth Science Center, the announcement said.
Penn College President Michael J. Reed testified Sept. 4 before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense at a field hearing on the industrial base and skilled-trades workforce development, according to Penn State.
Faculty discussed demand for graduates, including about nine available positions for every Penn College manufacturing graduate at a recent Career Fair, the announcement said.
Penn State described Build Freedom US as a Department of War-funded initiative launched in July 2026 to raise awareness of skilled-trades, advanced-manufacturing and national-defense-support careers. The announcement lists Penn College’s admissions contact as admissions@pct.edu and 800-367-9222.
