1,000 and growing: Celebrating a milestone hire

The Core Plus Aerospace program leads high school students into manufacturing careers at Boeing.

November 03, 2023 in Our-People

Kadem and Ethan Patze Pictured above: Kadem and Ethan Patze are Core Plus Aerospace graduates. After completing the Core Plus Aerospace summer internship, the siblings accepted job offers from Boeing. Both are currently Aircraft Structures Mechanics at Boeing’s Everett factory

Boeing celebrated a major milestone when it recently made its 1,000th hire from the Core Plus Aerospace program, a hands-on program vital in helping many talented Manufacturing employees join Boeing as they graduate from partner high schools and skills centers. 

Big Picture: Boeing has formed innovative career and technical education programs across the U.S. that align with manufacturing jobs at Boeing. 

  • In Washington state, Boeing was a founder of Core Plus Aerospace – a two-year high school advanced manufacturing curriculum that prepares students for high-demand jobs through hands-on learning.
  • More than 50 high schools and skills centers in Washington state offer the program. In the first year students learn common manufacturing skills across multiple industries. The second year features industry-specific training to meet local needs. 

Why it matters: “We are committed to developing Manufacturing talent in the region with jobs and benefits that make people want to stay local and develop their careers at Boeing," said Scott Stocker, vice president of Manufacturing and Safety for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "I am impressed with the drive and enthusiasm these students and graduates bring and I am grateful to the outstanding crew at Boeing, at Core Plus Aerospace and at our partner schools that help them on their journey. It is all about our people working together. Building airplanes is the biggest team sport there is!” 

Go deeper: Boeing celebrates Manufacturing Month every October and recognizes teams and individuals who demonstrate excellence in safety, quality and integrity. 

Learn more about Core Plus Aerospace here.


By Catherine Rudolph