Margaret Abrams (X42), a machinist in Newport News Shipbuilding’s Pipe Department she credits her success to a partnership between NNS and the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program in Danville, Virginia.

A Hampton Roads native, Abrams graduated high school in 2021 and at first enrolled in college for mechanical engineering. After realizing that wasn’t for her, she sought a different career path and was accepted for the 16-week program at ATDM.

The fast-paced program turned out to be right choice.

“This is just a wonderful partnership,” she said. “It’s very encouraging to know at the end of it you have a job set up for you.”

NNS checked with her during the process, and she was grateful for the support. Now she’s a proud shipbuilder. Her story is proof that a college degree isn’t a requirement to make important contributions to national security.

“It’s been nice walking up to my work station, knowing, that’s my machine,” she said. “I wanted to be a part of something that is bigger than myself. This is pretty much as big as it gets.”

Watch this video as Abrams describes her career track in her own words.