CENTRAL COAST — Monterey Bay Drone Aviation and Robotics Technology (DART) and Vets to Drones have partnered to connect military veterans with career opportunities in advanced air mobility and emerging technology sectors.
The partnership will provide veterans access to drone pilot certification, advanced technology training and employment connections through the organizations’ industry networks. Participants also will have access to scholarships, mentorship and job placement support.
“This partnership with Vets to Drones exemplifies DART’s mission to build equitable access to quality jobs in emerging sectors,” said Josh Metz, executive director at DART. “Veterans bring discipline, leadership and technical aptitude to the workforce. By combining our infrastructure and training expertise, we’re creating real pathways for veterans to thrive in advanced air mobility — an industry positioned for explosive growth in California and across the nation.”
Chris Lewis, founder of Vets to Drones, said the partnership will help expand training and employment opportunities for veterans.
“Veterans deserve opportunities that match their skills and work ethic,” Lewis said. “Partnering with DART gives us the resources to scale our training programs and connect more veterans with employers actively hiring in the drone and autonomous technology space. This is about building a community of veteran professionals.”
The initiative comes as demand grows for skilled workers in the advanced air mobility industry, which is projected to create thousands of jobs over the next five years. DART and Vets to Drones will collaborate on workforce training, employer engagement, shared educational resources and program evaluation to strengthen employment outcomes for veterans.
