Mercer Times

The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), a part of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), recently celebrated its second annual apprenticeship graduation on November 19. The event marked significant achievements for both the graduates and the laboratory, which has broadened its program to other national labs with $3 million in funding from the DOE's Office of Science.

Russell Gutter III and Sean Hough were among those who graduated from PPPL’s four-year apprenticeship program. Gutter is now employed as a power systems technician, while Hough works as an instrumentation and control technician. Both positions are crucial to supporting PPPL's main fusion experiment, the National Spherical Torus Experiment-Upgrade (NSTX-U). This project aims to advance fusion energy as a clean and limitless source of power.

Hough expressed gratitude for his journey, saying, “It was a wonderful opportunity,” and highlighted his experiences in designing circuit boards and running code for diagnostics. Steve Cowley, Laboratory Director since 2018, emphasized the importance of the program: “Our apprenticeship program is an opportunity for people who like to do things with their hands — to think with their brains but act with their hands.”

The expanded program includes apprenticeships in various technical fields such as IT, cybersecurity, cryogenic/superconducting magnets, and safety inspection. Apprentices work full-time under experienced mentors while completing 576 hours of technical instruction at educational institutions.

PPPL is recognized as the first registered U.S. apprenticeship program focused on fusion energy engineering. It received a $48,000 grant from the Growing Apprenticeship in Nontraditional Sectors (GAINS) initiative by DOL and New Jersey's Department of Labor.

Andy Carpe, a veteran technician at PPPL for over three decades, plays a key role in training new technicians. He noted the rewarding experience of seeing apprentices grow into capable professionals.

Russell Gutter III began his career working on automotive systems before joining PPPL’s program in 2020. Now contributing significantly to NSTX-U’s power systems, he hopes to further his education in engineering.

Sean Hough transitioned from being a legal assistant to mastering computer control systems at PPPL without incurring additional student debt. His mentor Westley Reese praised him: “I know Sean is going to take us to the next level.”

Both graduates have found fulfilling roles within PPPL that allow them to continue learning while making substantial contributions to advancing fusion technology.