Atlanta - The July 1 merger that makes Georgia Aviation Technical College (GAVTC) in Eastman a part of the state university system’s Middle Georgia College (MGC) is two days away, and the commissioner of the Department of Technical and Adult Education says Georgians should take notice of some exciting opportunities for men and women who want to enter the in-demand fields aviation and aerospace.

Now, more Georgia students than ever will have the opportunity to pursue new bachelor aviation degrees in addition to the certificate and associate degree programs that were the specialty of GAVTC.

“The importance of this merger to Georgia’s students and to the growth of the state’s aviation and aerospace industries can’t be understated,” said DTAE Commissioner Ron Jackson.  “The creation of the state’s first comprehensive college program dedicated to aviation will open the doors for long and profitable careers in that field.  The industry also stands to reap the benefits, with highly knowledgeable and well-trained students graduating directly into an aviation workforce that’s vital for the state’s economic development.”

More aviation graduates will help attract new industry to Georgia and support the workforce needs of Georgia’s centers of aviation and aerospace operations, including the Robins Air Logistics Command Center in Warner Robins, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, and Gulfstream in Savannah.  

Jackson noted that the detailed process to combine the colleges could have created hurdles to overcome and issues to resolve at both the state and local level, but not in this case.

“The collaboration between the technical college system and the Board of Regents and University System of Georgia could not have been more perfect,” said Jackson.  “And the great work between the staff and faculty at GAVTC and President Federinko and his staff and faculty at MGC has enabled Georgia to create a tremendous college aviation program that will no doubt continue to grow and expand.”

Jackson added that much credit goes to the faculty and staff at GAVTC for building a world-class aviation program that first opened in 1996 and now becomes part of a much larger vision for aviation education in Georgia.  “Their devotion to their students and to aviation education is unsurpassed,” said Jackson.  “The entire Technical College System of Georgia wishes our friends and colleagues at GAVTC only the very best in this exceptional new chapter for the college,” said Jackson.

The combined colleges will have an enrollment of more than 3,000 students.