Inside IALR
Inside IALR explores the ways that the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) catalyzes economic transformation. Listen for a behind-the-scenes view of how our programs, people and partnerships are impacting Southern Virginia and beyond. Host Caleb Ayers and Producer Daniel Dalton interview someone new every episode, introducing listeners to IALR leaders and partners, promoting programs and highlighting opportunities to connect with us.
New episodes are published every other Monday.
Inside IALR
Four Months That Changed a Life
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How Carrie Williams Used ATDM to Build a New Career and a New Future
What do you do when life forces you to start over?
For Carrie Williams, the answer was taking a chance on herself. After a divorce left her searching for a more stable future, Carrie relocated from Ohio to Virginia to attend the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program. Four months later, she graduated from the non-destructive testing track and began a new career inspecting critical infrastructure and supporting industries that help keep people safe.
In this episode, Carrie discusses overcoming uncertainty, stepping outside her comfort zone at age 46, and how ATDM helped her develop the skills, confidence, and connections needed to succeed. Carrie also highlights her own career growth in the six months since graduation.
The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research serves as a regional catalyst for economic transformation in Southern Virginia. Our services, programs and offerings are diverse, impactful and far reaching.
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What ATDM Is And Why
Caleb AyersAll right, welcome to another episode of Inside IALR. Thanks for joining us today. Thanks for tuning in. We really appreciate you taking the time to listen. We've had a lot of content about the ATDM program, whether it be this podcast or with stuff on our website, social media. If you follow us in any way, you've probably heard something about ATDM. ATDM stands for Accelerated Training and Defense Manufacturing. We love our acronyms here at IALR. We've had a lot of content around employers who take on these graduates, and we've had a lot of content with students either who are in the program or literally on their graduation day as they're leaving the program. So we've wanted to expand that a little bit and talk to alumni, students who graduated not just a few weeks ago, but months or even years ago. And that's what we have coming up next is an interview with Carrie Williams, who graduated from the non-destructive testing track of ATDM earlier in 2026. So I'll let her tell, you know, the full version of her story, but the short version is uh she is a single mom and that this ATDM program gave her a viable way to make more money to provide for her family and also to contribute to our national defense. For those who don't know, I will explain ATDM briefly before we get into the interview. So ATDM, like I said, accelerated training and defense manufacturing is a really, really important program. And it does two things that are very important. On one side, it's it's contributing to our country's national defense, where we are helping to increase the production of ships and submarines. That's very important. And on the other hand, we're providing life-changing opportunities for the individuals who go through this program and graduate, where they're gaining the skills for a meaningful career that can actually provide for their family all in four months, all at no cost to them. So with that, we will jump right into the interview with Carrie Williams, who is one of those graduates.
Divorce To Decision To Move
Caleb AyersSo uh to start, Carrie, if you could uh tell me a little bit about kind of how your life and career experience before you found ATDM. Just kind of open-ended, broad question, let you go from there.
Carrie WilliamsWell, I had just gotten a divorce. So it was kind of like I was just starting at the bottom again, starting all over. I knew I needed a change with my career. I needed to become more independent, make more money. Yeah, so uh I had a friend and I was talking to him about my situation. And uh my friend Gil, he told me about a program called ATDM and how the government we need ships and airplanes, and we our trade is uh dying trade, kinda. Um, I think there was like a big college boom era where everybody was going to college and the trades kind of got forgotten about. Um, and so I looked into this program. It was in Virginia, and it was for four months, which that in itself was a little bit nerve-wracking having to move from Ohio to Virginia, but I ended up just taking the leap and you know, and doing it, and I'm so glad that I did.
Caleb AyersAnd so you mentioned uh from Ohio. So what was kind of your previous career experience before you ended up taking the jump and coming to ATDM?
Carrie WilliamsWell, in my early years, I was a paramedic for a while. Um, and that just kind of emotionally got a little bit tiresome for me, and then I had my children. So it just made me more anxious and emotional baggage type of thing. So I just needed to change away from that. So it I was a stay-at-home mom for a while. Like I said, I became more dependent upon my husband. I just had different jobs. I did a little bit of customer service, I did a little bit of quality assurance work. So it just it varied, you know. I'm getting older now, so I've had plenty of jobs. Um, but I just really needed a stable job that I really cared about, I really liked, that paid well. And in four months, I just I can't believe how well I get paid.
Caleb AyersSo, yeah, tell me about that how you've transitioned from your friend telling you about this program exists to okay, yes, I'm gonna go for it and actually do this. Kind of what was the thought process and how did you come to that decision?
Carrie WilliamsWell, I trusted him. First of all, it was he's a friend that I look up to and admire, and I know that he is smart, he knows what he's talking about. So it wasn't just a you know, a reach in the dark for something. I knew it was gonna be a good thing if I could, if I would just do it, you know. Um, I know he was leading me in the right way. I just I just had to do it myself and take the step and do it. And it was a little intimidating, you know, to go out of my comfort zone. Here I am, 46 years old, you know, leaving my state, going somewhere all alone for the first time, you know, because I'm used to being with people around me that I know, you know. Um, but I just I needed to change and I needed to, I just needed to be independent and self-sufficient, you know. I didn't want to do rely on anybody. So my kids are a big motivation for me. I just I'm really really ambitious at the moment, and I just really wanted to thrive. It was like my time in my life where I could do something for myself, and I just I did it.
Caleb AyersAnd you started in around October of 2025, is that right?
Carrie WilliamsThat's correct.
Caleb AyersSo tell me a little bit about kind of okay, you decide to come, you show up, you know, for those first few days that you have, you know, getting checked into your apartment, going through orientation. What's going through your mind as you're doing all that?
Carrie WilliamsI was excited. Um, everything was great. The apartment they put us in was beautiful. Like I had this amazing view. I feel like just so blessed, really. Um, what a great opportunity for people. And really, I just the way that it's helped me in my life and bless me, I am very happy to be telling my experience because it's a really good thing. Like, there's how else can you go to school for free and learn a trade in four months and get placed out and work anywhere in the United States basically? There's so many options out there for these trades. And so I was just like I am now. I'm I'm really excited about it. Um, I was excited then. Um, it wasn't scary once I got there. Everybody was so nice. They made the process very, very
Rigorous Training And What NDT Means
Carrie Williamseasy.
Caleb AyersAnd so I know those four months, I a lot of work goes into making, as you said, everything easy except for the actual coursework itself. I know that is meant to be a very rigorous challenge with it being uh, you know, a a year plus of of experience shoved into four months. Tell me about kind of the academic side of that. What was that like learning? You did non-destructive testing. So a completely new trade for you at that point.
Carrie WilliamsIt was new. It was new. Um I had common knowledge about some things, but getting into detail about situations that you know that we deal with that I know about now, I didn't have a clue about. Um but they basically start you, you know, at the beginning and and then just kind of give you a uh well, I don't know about all the programs are different, so I can only speak about the NDT program. They lay it out really nice, really easy. Um you go all day, like eight hours a day with a lunch break. Um it just like you're going to school back in high school, eight hours a day, Monday through Friday. It's you know, it's it's really not that hard if you're committed and you're and you really want it, you know. If you want to go there and just you don't really care, you know, I don't care if I pass, whatever, then you're not going to because you have to want to do it. But if you do want to do it, you can do it. They will help you. They have tutors, they will help you. You will succeed if you want to, you know. So it's all about the person, if they want to or not. You know, you do have to try, you do have to do your homework, you do have to study, but that's what you're there for, you know. So it's doable, but it is, it is, you know, you're you're talking about serious things, you know. People's lives are on the line, you know, so it's sometimes with with the uh the trade that I'm in. So I take it seriously, and so do the instructors.
Caleb AyersAnd as someone who now works in NDT, how do you explain NDT in 20 seconds to someone who doesn't know what it is?
Carrie WilliamsNon-destructive testing. I look for cracks in welds. You know, that's like the simplest way to uh describe it to somebody that doesn't understand what what it is, uh, because a lot of people don't. Um it's just we find any kind of defects, discontinuities in welds or you know, in critical infrastructures, bridges, you know, all that stuff, roller coasters. I find myself looking at welds now, you know, even on off time, I'm like, oh, let me check that one out, you know? It's kind of funny.
Caleb AyersThat's awesome. And so you went through this program, started in October of 2025, finished around February of 2026.
Job Search Help And First Role
Caleb AyersSo tell me a little bit about, you know, while you're there, what was it like looking for a job, figuring out what you were going to be doing next? What was that process like?
Carrie WilliamsVery easy because I mean, I found it easy. They're just very helpful. They kind of like hold your hand, like doing it. Like you like they give you there's certain there's a class set up that where you they help you make a resume, they help you, they show you how to do all this stuff. They really, really do lay it out all out for you and they don't make it hard. You just have to, they teach you how to do it, you know. So they help you make a resume. You they tell you what websites to go on to to try to find a job. They tell you what who's hiring, they tell you who's hiring. They kind of even almost fit your personality to a a job. Once they get to know you a little bit, they have recommendations for you, you know, in your situation. Do you want to travel a lot or do you want to stay, you know, in a shop every day? It really is a great program. They really help you the whole way through.
Caleb AyersAnd tell me a little bit about kind of where you're working and what you're doing now.
Carrie WilliamsUm, I'm working for Team Incorporated. It's a great place for me to start out at because I'm able to stay at the shop sometimes and I'm also able to get experience out in the field. So currently what I'm focusing on is radiography x-ray. So when I'm at the shop, I x-ray parts that under our cabinet x-ray machine. And when I'm in the field, we use the gamma camera. So I'm able to get both of those different experiences because even though they are similar, they're they're essentially the same things happening, they are quite different techniques and everything is is way different. Um, you have a portable, you know, camera here that you go out in the field in the trenches, you know, up high, uh, all different kinds of adventures out in the field. Um, but then you have the shop where it's more like stable, normal hours, you know. So it just depends on what you want. So I got a taste of both of those, which I really did like and I needed. Um, also my boss, Julia, she's awesome. She's very helpful in like um with my career, like what I want to do. Like I want to focus on X-ray, and that's what she needed me for. But then I also want to get my certifications in MT and PT, and you know, as many as of the other certifications that I can get, she's willing to let me do that as well, which tomorrow actually I'm gonna be doing some MT and PT. I'm almost ready to be certified in those two.
Caleb AyersAnd so how did you feel, you know, walking into that job with basically just a four-month, I mean, I don't want to say a crash course. It's much more than a crash course, but basically a very fast-paced four-month program as your you that was your experience in NDT. How did you feel walking into this job?
Carrie WilliamsI felt well, they don't just don't throw you to the wolves, you know what I mean? You're you're coming in as a like assistant type thing. Um, so I'm getting the experience. Uh I have the a general knowledge of all of them. And when I say general, I don't want to like dim that down any , because you know, I have a pretty good knowledge about all the all the techniques that I was taught. Um, well, I have all the classroom hours I need to certify. You know, I came out of there with all the classroom hours I need. I don't need to take any more classroom hours for all those techniques that I learned. I just need to get the experience hours. So, and that was very my boss liked that. That's one of the reasons why she wanted to hire me. Is because I had all that, you know, I had that in my back pocket to give her. You know, look, ATDM taught me this. Here you go. Oh, so they don't have to put me through classroom if they don't want to. Some places choose to, but my uh employment, they do not require me to go take some more classes. What I have is is is good enough for what um they're trying to do here at team. So I feel like I had a good a good general knowledge of uh of the techniques, and everybody else I'm still there, you know what I mean? And she's willing to teach me other techniques, so it must be good enough, you know. I got a substantial raises already.
Caleb AyersAnd you've only been there, what, six months?
Carrie WilliamsYeah, all I did was went from a a helper maybe to an assistant radiographer.
Caleb AyersAnd you mentioned earlier, you know, the idea of being making a lot more money than you used to. You don't need to give any specifics, but like is this yeah, I guess as much of about that as you would want to share based on how ATDM took you from point A to point B.
Carrie WilliamsWell, when it comes to income, it varies a lot with NDT, but it's all about what you want to do, where you want to go, who you want to work for, and what you want to sacrifice and what you what works for you. You know, do you want to travel? Do you want to do this?
Caleb AyersI mean, we I love these stories of how ATDM can take you in four months from a career that either you don't find fulfilling or don't want to be in anymore, or can't really make a living on, to a career that hopefully is all three of those things that it is fulfilling, that you do see career progression and can make a living on. So that's really cool to hear that story that you just shared of how how ATDM provided that for you. What other things about ATDM in your experience now that you're you know six plus months removed from it, do you think about whether that be you know takeaways that you had in the classroom from your instructors or just other things that you learned while you were there that really impacted you as you're as you're going through this experience?
Removing Barriers And Final Advice
Carrie WilliamsWell, you know, one thing I want to note is well, the instructors are great. And I really d am grateful for my one instructor got a call about me for a job and he recommended me. And so, you know, those those things are also there to be helpful for you too. They will recommend you if if they think that you can do it. So there's that. You can't just they're gonna recommend me if no, it's if you can do the job, improve yourself. They will. They will absolutely have your back. Um, they will help you in any way that they can, you know. They're just very helpful, very helpful there. They even like if you don't have food, like in one of the I hadn't I prepared myself, I knew I was going down there, so this really wasn't too much of a problem for me. But they also they help you to get to be entertained during the time off because you have weekends off, and everybody they live in different part parts of the country, right? So on the weekends, it's like, what do you do? You know, so they make these programs where you can volunteer to go do things, you know, like they had a parade one time and we volunteered to go help with the parade. Um, it's just a way to meet new people, meet other people, and network a little bit too, and give back to the community because the community does help ATDM students. If you need food, if you don't have money for food, they do help you with that. They give you transportation to classes every day. And then your the other students that do have a car there, sometimes they'll give you a ride to the store if you need to go. So just don't think if I don't have a vehicle, I can't do this. This won't work for me. It absolutely can work for you. The only thing that you need to really be responsible for is food, and that is even like they will help you with that too, you know. I mean, where else can you go to school where you don't and make this kind of money where you don't have to pay it back? And it's a short period of time, too.
Caleb AyersSo yeah, I think that idea of removing barriers has definitely been central to the creation and implementation of ATDM. And what how can we remove any barrier that would prevent someone from being able to get to this point?
Carrie WilliamsOh, absolutely. One of the students, she brought her whole family, she brought her family down, you know what I mean? So she brought her husband and uh kids too. So they will work with you, you know, if if you're really serious about it.
Caleb AyersWell, that's all the questions that I have. I mean, is there anything else about your experience that you would want to add, or anything else you think it's important that people know?
Carrie WilliamsI think it's important for people to know just to put yourself first for you know, put yourself first, take that step and commit to it and do it. And you're you're it's a life changer. This is a life changer for you. It changed my life drastically, and I'm really still excited about it.
Caleb AyersThat's awesome. Well, thanks.
Carrie WilliamsNo problem, thank you.