Doble Engineering Co. has announced its partnership with the Electric Utility Substation and Relay Technology program at Richmond Community College (RCC) in Hamlet, North Carolina. Through its Education Partner Program, Doble will provide test equipment, training and support to students enrolled in RCC’s degree program.
“The power industry is facing a technical workforce shortage and Doble is determined to help close that knowledge gap by partnering with colleges and universities who are training the best and brightest technicians and engineers,” said David B. Zabetakis, President, Doble Engineering Company. “Our founder Dr. Frank Doble believed in the power of education and we are proud to honor him through our Educational Partner Program.”
“Doble is one of the most recognized engineering firms in the world for electric utility support and testing equipment,” said Steve Lampley, the lead instructor of RCC’s substation and relay program. “They are considered the gold standard in the industry for many of their test systems. This means our students will learn how to test substation transformers, breakers, relays and other apparatus using the exact same technology they will find in use worldwide.”
As part of its commitment to RCC’s program, Doble Engineering Company is providing over $100,000 annually in test equipment and software including HV insulation analyzers, SFRA and circuit breaker test sets, protection testing equipment and partial discharge surveyors. In addition to Doble’s contribution of test equipment; Doble experts will present guest lectures, host visits to Doble’s North Carolina Materials Laboratory and provide educational resources and opportunities to help students learn about the complexities of the power industry.
“To have an international corporate partner this interested in a program tells us we are meeting a need of the utility industry,” said Dale McInnis, President, RCC. “We look forward to a long and productive relationship that will benefit our students and our communities.”
Since its founding in 1920, Doble has established partnerships with educational institutions, supported continuing education through its client conferences and educational seminar series, and facilitated the open exchange of best practices for the benefit the global power industry.
