Our Program

Following a year of strategic planning, Middletown Public Schools officially launched its Aerospace Manufacturing Program on October 14, 2020, with a mission to provide students with hands-on, industry-aligned skills that prepare them for immediate entry into advanced manufacturing careers upon graduation. At the program’s inception, then-Superintendent Dr. Michael Conner emphasized its forward-thinking vision: “We are preparing students for 2030—the explosion of automation, industry, job skills, skills that are aligned with the technology… This is a new approach to prepare students for the new trends in technology, and innovation around modernizing the K–12 experience.”

The program was established through strategic grant funding in collaboration with the Connecticut State Department of Education, Asnuntuck and Middlesex Community Colleges, and key industry partners including Hartford Jet, Aquiline Drones, the Federal Aviation Administration, the New England Air Museum, and Aerospace Components Manufacturers (ACM).

Founder Paul Pelletier, along with former instructors Stephen Socolosky and Matt Hall—who collectively brought decades of aerospace and manufacturing expertise—laid the foundation for a program rooted in excellence and innovation. Today, the program continues to thrive under the tutelage of Dr. Timothy T. Boyd, whose 35+ years of aviation industry experience guide its evolution and impact.

The curriculum is supported by two advanced education labs. Lab One houses a state-of-the-art HAAS mill and 14 training control panels, where students prepare for NIMS certifications in Metrology and Workplace Safety. Lab Two focuses on Solidworks training and FAA Part 107 commercial drone pilot preparation, utilizing desktop flight simulators and virtual reality platforms also employed by the U.S. Air Force. Students may also earn loggable flight hours through the program’s certified REDBIRD Flight Simulator, further enhancing their readiness for careers in aerospace and unmanned systems.

In 2021, the program was honored with the Outstanding Contribution to Aviation and Space Education Award by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The program continues to expand in conjunction with industry needs and student interest. In 2024, we will launch a student-led, start-up Drone Powerwashing business in conjunction with the opportunity to earn a Drone Business Certificate through the Connecticut State College and University system.

Connecticut’s aerospace and manufacturing sectors are vital to the state’s economy, supporting over 113,000 jobs in aerospace and defense and employing approximately 153,600 workers in manufacturing statewide. Industry giants such as Raytheon (Pratt & Whitney and Collins Aerospace), Lockheed Martin (Sikorsky), General Dynamics (Electric Boat), and Bombardier continue to drive demand for a highly skilled workforce. Middletown High School’s Aerospace Manufacturing Program plays a critical role in meeting this demand by preparing students for high-growth, high-wage careers. According to the Connecticut Department of Labor, the average annual salary for manufacturing workers reached $101,200 in 2025, up from $96,279 in 2017. For many students, careers in aerospace and advanced manufacturing offer a profitable, debt-free alternative to traditional college pathways—especially as Connecticut’s industrial sectors continue to expand.