The JATC employs highly qualified instructors who have years of field experience and maintain their training in the latest technologies.
Mark Thompson, Instructor
Mark Thompson, A certified journeyman electrician with 12 years of combined electrical professional experience in commercial and, residential electrical construction. This includes 3 years as an instructor and 2 years in a field-foreman’s capacity. Mark, a product of the local 26 JATC, graduated outstanding apprentice of his class and holds a B.A in Political Science from Morgan State University. Mark was brought on as a full time instructor in June of 2012.
Marty McRae, Instructor
Marty became a full time instructor at the JATC in November 2012. Prior to that, he spent the past 7 years as a part-time instructor at the JATC. Marty is a certified Bicsi Technician, he also holds certifications for installing Belden, Commscope, Corning, Amp, Ortronics and Zenitel products. Marty is also OSHA 30 certified.
Billy Triplett, School Coordinator
Billy Triplett is a graduate of the apprenticeship program and a licensed journeyman in Virginia. He teaches journeyman level classes, R to A Upgrade and in August 2015 joined the staff full time at the Manassas training facility. Billy graduated from Northern Virginia Community College with an Associates in Fine Arts and earned his B.A. in English from The University of Mary Washington. He began in the electrical trade in 1998.
Joe Jackson, Instructor
Joe Jackson is a graduate of the apprenticeship program. Prior to becoming a full time instructor in July of 2016, he worked almost 12 years with the same contractor where his work received 2 Craftsmanship Awards. Joe has been a part time instructor with the JATC for 6 years focusing on Programmable Logic Controllers. Joe is a 2014 graduate of NTI at the University of Michigan and also received a certificate in NFPA 70E.
Mike Kopec, Instructor
Michael Kopec is a recent graduate of the JATC 26 apprenticeship program. Becoming an electrician was a career change for Michael. His previous professional experience is in education making him a valued addition to instructor team. He holds his DC journeyman license and a B.A. in Physics from St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
Azamat assatov, Instructor
Azamat Assatov has been a member of the IBEW since 2014. He graduated from the JATC apprenticeship with an “Outstanding apprentice” award in 2020. Azamat worked as a journeyman and foreman in various building automation projects. He served as a residential night instructor and joined the full-time staff at the Manassas training facility in November 2023. He holds a Master’s degree in Occupational Health and Safety and has previously worked in electrical industry as a lineman, inside wireman, and Safety engineer.
Juan C. Hernandez, instructor
Juan C. Hernandez joined the IBEW in 2003 and graduated the apprenticeship in 2008. He worked in the field as a journeyman electrician and fire alarm service foreman. He has been instructing Residential Trainee classes for the JATC since August of 2015. Juan holds a journeyman license in the District of Columbia and is also NICET certified. He joined the full-time instructor staff at the Manassas training facility in January of 2022.
James Reid, instructor
James Reid is a 2018 graduate of the apprenticeship program. He is a master electrician in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. He is also NICET III certified in Fire Alarm Systems. He is a great friend and a solid union brother. He has been a night instructor since 2019. He joined as a full-time in August 2022.
James “jimmy” Rogan, instructor
Jimmy joined local 26 in 1989 and graduated from the JATC apprenticeship in 1995. He became a part time instructor in 1996 teaching apprentices and residential trainees and currently serves as an instructor for NEC 1. He has attended NTI in Knoxville TN and holds master licenses in MD, VA, and Washington DC. He has an extensive background working with Access Control, Video Surveillance, and Intrusion systems. He became a full time JATC instructor in 2022.
Jason dudding, school coordinator
Jason Dudding has been a member of the IBEW Local 26 since 2007 when he started his apprenticeship, graduating in 2012, and holds a journeyman’s license in the state of Virginia. He started teaching journeyman level classes at night in 2019. Jason worked as a journeyman wireman, foreman and general foreman in industrial settings and in substations before coming to work at the JATC in Roanoke, Virginia full time in March of 2022. Jason holds a certification in medium voltage splicing from 3M and an installers certification from Corning Optical Communications.
jamell thrower, instructor
Jamell graduated his apprenticeship 2000 as valedictorian. Since he has worked a both an electrical and fire alarm foreman in the trade that he loves. He was a part-time instructor for several years prior to taking an appointed position in District of Columbia Government. He holds NICET certification and journey worker licenses in Maryland and the District of Columbia. He is a strong union activist and devoted union member. He rejoined the night instructor staff in 2023 and is now one of our newest full-time instructors at our Manassas training facility.