Prince George County, VA – The Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CCAM) has been named a 2026 “Top Employer for Interns” by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), marking the fifth consecutive year CCAM has received this honor since the program’s inception in 2022.
The award recognizes employers across Virginia that provide exceptional work-integrated learning experiences, helping students build the skills and connections needed to succeed in today’s workforce. CCAM’s continued recognition reflects a sustained commitment not only to student experience—but to measurable workforce outcomes across the Commonwealth.
“At CCAM, internships are a core part of how we build the advanced manufacturing workforce,” said John Milton-Benoit, President and CEO of CCAM. “We focus on creating experiences that lead to real opportunities—whether that’s full-time roles with our members, positions within Virginia’s manufacturing ecosystem, or continued growth within CCAM itself.”
As a non-profit applied research center, CCAM brings together industry, academia, and government to accelerate the maturation and deployment of advanced manufacturing technologies. Interns are embedded directly into this collaborative model, contributing to real-world research and development efforts in areas such as additive manufacturing, advanced coatings, and digital engineering.
That hands-on experience is translating into career outcomes. Recent interns such as Jack Cousins and Kaitlyn McMillan have gone on to secure full-time roles with companies in the Commonwealth, demonstrating the strength of CCAM’s model in connecting talent to industry need.
CCAM has also directly converted internship experiences into full-time roles within the organization – four within the last year.
These transitions reflect CCAM’s commitment to investing in talent long-term and ensuring that students have clear pathways from education to meaningful careers.
CCAM’s internship program emphasizes:
- Hands-on technical experience with advanced manufacturing systems
- Direct collaboration with engineers, researchers, and industry partners
- Exposure to real-world challenges aligned with member-driven priorities
- Career pathway development that connects students to Virginia’s manufacturing workforce
This recognition builds on CCAM’s broader workforce strategy, which spans K–12 engagement through GO TEC (Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers), university partnerships, and industry-driven research programs.
SCHEV will formally recognize award recipients during Virginia Intern Day on July 30, 2026, in Richmond.
About the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CCAM)
The Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing is a public-private applied research center that accelerates the development and deployment of advanced manufacturing technologies. Through a collaborative model that brings together industry, academia, and government, CCAM helps transform emerging innovations into real-world solutions while building the talent pipeline that supports the future of manufacturing.
