The Cerritos College Plastics Department has been chosen from colleges all around the nation to receive a multi-year contract from the Department of Defense to train quality auditors of composites.

The two-week class is a combination lecture and lab that teaches students how to recognize defects in plastic.

Students involved in the program have come from all over the country to participate. Companies, such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin, have sent their employees to Cerritos College to take the course.

Ron Dedalis, an engineer in the program, said, “What you learn is how to recognize and avoid defects.”

Once trained the students will be inspecting B2 bombers, F18 and F22 jets, and hummers.

Pat McCulloch, one of the support instructors teaching the class, said that students are working on simulated air craft parts.

After students complete the class they are qualified to go to prime and sub contractors to inspect and validate plastics.

Terry Price, professor in the plastics department, said that the program benefits tax payers. The inspectors make sure that anything tax payers buy from the government is correct and defect-free.