Mesa Aerospace Training Center Opens Near Gateway Airport

MESA, AZ — The old Williams Air Force Base trained a quarter of the Air Force's pilots for half a century. Now the same ground in southeast Mesa is training the people who build and fix the aircraft. Chandler-Gilbert Community College opened its new aerospace and defense training center on October 6, a roughly 14,000-square-foot facility on its Williams campus next to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, built to put up to about 1,000 students a year on a path into aerospace manufacturing jobs.

A $6.4 million state-funded aerospace training hub is now open in Mesa. Here's what it teaches, who shaped it, and how to start looking for aerospace work in the East Valley today.

Ready to search? Skip straight to the aerospace job links →

Facility	Aerospace & Defense Future48 Workforce Accelerator, Chandler-Gilbert Community College
Opened	Tuesday, October 6, 2026 (ribbon cutting with Gov. Katie Hobbs)
Campus	CGCC Williams Campus, 7360 E. Tahoe Ave., Mesa, AZ 85212
Size	About 14,000 square feet of classrooms, labs and hands-on training space
Funding	$6.4 million from the Arizona Commerce Authority
Capacity	Up to about 1,000 students a year
Industry	Aerospace and defense manufacturing
Campus phone	480-732-7000

🏆 What Opened at the Williams Campus

The center is the state's aerospace and defense entry in the Future48 Workforce Accelerator program, a $30 million Arizona Commerce Authority push to build hands-on training sites for advanced manufacturing. This one belongs to aviation.

Governor Katie Hobbs cut the ribbon on October 6, according to the governor's office. The facility is a renovated building with classrooms, labs and shop-floor training areas, set on the campus that grew out of the former Williams AFB, a short drive from the Gateway airport runways and the aerospace companies clustered around them.

💼 The Skills It Teaches

Training centers on aerospace manufacturing: composites, structures and mechanical assembly, building on the composites and sheet metal work Chandler-Gilbert already teaches. When the project was announced in 2025, the state also listed electrical assembly and wiring among the focus areas. The college says it is developing more classes and certificates in precision measurement and avionics, along with expanded aviation offerings.

The labs use industry-standard equipment, so students handle the same tools employers use. The college has not published a start date or tuition details specific to the new center. The fastest way to find out what's enrolling now is to call the campus at 480-732-7000 or visit the Williams campus page.

🔥 Who Helped Design It

An advisory board of 16 industry partners helped shape the equipment, the lessons and the building itself. Companies named in college and state announcements include Boeing, Honeywell Aerospace, Gulfstream, Embraer, Virgin Galactic, Textron Aviation, Able Aerospace and Comtech. Mesa Gateway Airport co-chairs the board.

Be clear-eyed about what that means. No employer has announced a hiring commitment tied to the center, and no job count comes with the opening. What the board does promise is a say in what gets taught, plus help opening doors to mentorships, internships and jobs. If aerospace is the goal, get your resume ready and watch for postings from the companies on that list.

💪 Why It Matters for Mesa Workers

The timing lines up with a busy stretch for Mesa aerospace. Boeing builds the AH-64 Apache near Falcon Field and has plans to grow its campus there. Defense manufacturer Hadrian is building out a large factory in the city. Out by Gateway, the airport area is home to more than 60 aerospace and advanced technology companies, from maintenance shops to manufacturers.

🔎 Start Searching Aerospace Jobs in Mesa

You don't have to wait for a certificate to start looking. Assembly, machining and quality roles open up regularly across the East Valley, and some employers train on the job.

Start here:

FAQ

Where is the new aerospace training center in Mesa?

On Chandler-Gilbert Community College's Williams campus, 7360 E. Tahoe Ave., next to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. It opened October 6, 2026.

What will students learn?

Aerospace manufacturing skills including composites, structures and mechanical assembly, with more certificates in precision measurement and avionics in development.

Does finishing the program guarantee a job?

No. Industry partners helped design the training, but no employer has announced hiring commitments or job counts tied to the center.

How do I enroll?

Class start dates and costs for the new center have not been published. Call the campus at 480-732-7000 for current offerings.

Build Your Aerospace Career From Mesa

Create a free profile on LocalJobPage so East Valley employers can find you, and browse the Career Center for local career guides.

Employers: Hiring assemblers, technicians or inspectors? Post your openings on Mesa LocalJobPage and reach local candidates.