​WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 15, 2021) – Pepco and the District of Columbia's Department of Employment Services (DOES) celebrated the second graduating cohort from the 2021 Pepco Utility Training Program with the D.C. Infrastructure Academy (DCIA). Pepco and DOES held an in-person celebration for the graduates, families and friends to recognize this major achievement – including being the first class to return to in-person learning and continuous training services to District residents since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In total, 20 participants completed the fourteen-week program beginning in June 2021. The 2021 cohorts welcomed one female graduate and 93 percent of the participants are from Wards 7 and 8. Of the graduates that successfully completed the program, 100 percent are on track to receive offers from Pepco, Pepco contractors or other companies committed to employment programs. Including this graduating class, the Pepco Utility Training program has graduated 105 participants.

"This in-person graduation ceremony marks another significant milestone for the Pepco Utility Training School – especially during these unprecedented times," said Tyler Anthony, senior vice president and Chief Operating Officer of Pepco Holdings. "We thank Mayor Bowser and the D.C. Infrastructure Academy for continuing this partnership to expand workforce training opportunities and career services for local residents. This graduation is a celebration of a significant amount of hard work, and we view the achievements of each participant as an integral part of the next generation of the District's critical infrastructure workforce."

Pepco's program aims to prepare District of Columbia residents for careers in the energy industry, highlighting various jobs including line mechanics, cable splicer mechanics, helper transformer testers, meter technicians and more.

"Today's graduates took a chance to pursue training and education in the midst of the pandemic," said DOES Director Dr. Unique Morris-Hughes. "We are proud of their accomplishments and the work they will do. Thanks to Mayor Bowser's budget investments to reimagine our workforce, even more District residents will have the opportunity to pursue their path to the middle class. We are also exceptionally grateful for our partner, Pepco, who helped provide this world-class training."

Participants were still well-prepared for their future energy careers despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The training received as part of the DCIA program is directly focused on providing students with the skills and experience necessary to begin working safely on the local energy grid. 

Graduates were presented with certificates of completion along with words of encouragement from graduation ceremony speakers. Providing remarks at the event were Pepco Holdings Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Tyler Anthony, Pepco Holdings Director of Talent Management Kelly DeCurtis, D.C. Department of Employment Services Deputy Chief of Innovation and Partnerships Arlen Herrell, D.C. Infrastructure Academy Senior Program Manager Aaron Sisko, 2021cohort program graduate Isaac Allen, and Pepco Holdings Senior Workforce Development Specialist Ilana Bowen.

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