Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) is developing a new approach to quantum workforce development, recently hosting a Quantum Educators Workshop for 45 faculty members and academic leaders representing institutions from Maryland to Arizona, Florida to South Dakota. September marked the launch of CNM’s Quantum Technician Bootcamp, the first workforce development program of its kind in the United States and a model for national replication. The workshop, held just before this press release, focused on hands-on quantum education, led by CNM instructors and other educators, to equip participants with strategies for expanding access to quantum learning. This collaborative effort aims to broaden the nation’s quantum talent pipeline as the technology transitions toward commercial applications.
CNM’s Quantum Technician Bootcamp: A National Workforce Development Model
The event held just before wasn’t merely a theoretical discussion; it provided a hands-on introduction to quantum education, with sessions led by CNM instructors from the Quantum Technician Bootcamp alongside other leading quantum educators. This collaborative approach underscores CNM’s commitment to broadening access to quantum training beyond traditional research institutions and into community colleges. Demand is increasing for technicians capable of constructing, operating, and maintaining the complex systems that underpin the quantum industry, and CNM’s bootcamp is designed to meet this need with an immersive, 10-week program requiring no prior experience.
The program’s accessibility is a key feature; graduates are immediately eligible for high-quality positions, with recent cohorts securing starting salaries around $80,000. Brian Rashap, CNM’s Lead Quantum Educator, explained, “You don’t need an advanced degree—or even prior experience in math or science—to train as a quantum technician and launch a career in one of the fast-emerging fields of the future.” The impact extends beyond CNM’s Albuquerque campus. Participants at the Quantum Educators Workshop are now equipped to integrate quantum concepts and hands-on learning into their own curricula, expanding the national quantum talent pipeline.
Bernice Brezina, Vice President for the Division of Learning at the College of Southern Maryland, noted that the workshop was successful. The program’s success is also attracting industry partnerships; Qunnect, a quantum networking company, has already hired several CNM bootcamp graduates, recognizing the program’s ability to produce job-ready technicians. Shane Andrewski, a Field Engineer with Qunnect, said, “The partnership with CNM has been awesome because normally when you think quantum, you think Ph.D.’s locked in a lab.” CNM’s model, developed in partnership with Sandia National Laboratories and as a lead institution within the Elevate Quantum consortium, is shaping the future of quantum education nationwide.
The Quantum Educator Workshop delivered by CNM provided a valuable opportunity for our Physics and Engineering faculty at College of Southern Maryland to develop their knowledge of quantum computing in a hands-on environment.
Bernice Brezina, Vice President for the Division of Learning at the College of Southern Maryland
