9414669 Soileau An innovative, geographically diverse Alliance has been formed of educational institutions, industrial companies and a photonics professional society. This Alliance will establish and deliver a new training program on the use of photonics technologies, tools, and systems in the manufacturing workplace. Photonics is the program focus because it is a broad enabling technology for modern manufacturing, the basis for an emerging global industry, and a pervasive technology in modem warfare. This program will help assimilate earlier government investment in photonics into the manufacturing economy by providing skilled workers for a multitude of dual-use applications. The program targets displaced defense industry engineers, former members of the armed forces, and manufacturing engineers in the commercial and defense sectors. Curricula will be developed and delivered jointly by representatives from industry and academia, and will consist of intensive two-week classroom/laboratory courses. Courses will be held at established academic and industrial sites, and long- distance training opportunities such as videotaped courses and live, interactive video will be pursued. ***
