Andrew Dale (standing), a 2008 Central Carolina Community College graduate, was back at his alma mater Sept. 18 to talk to current laser and photonics technology students about opportunities in the field. Dale, formerly of Dunn and now living in Florida, earned his Associate in Applied Science in Laser and Photonics Technology and received a number of job offers. He accepted a position as a laser technician with Northrop-Grumman Laser Systems, a major supplier of military lasers to the Department of Defense. Technicians are responsible for the assembly, alignment, and testing of laser systems. Central Carolina is one of less than a dozen community college laser-photonics technician-training programs in the United States that train students on high-powered lasers. Companies located in Research Triangle Park, as well as other areas, actively recruit students taking the program. Dale and Northrop-Grumman recruiters visited the laser and photonics, electronics engineering, and computer engineering students at the college’s Harnett and Lee campuses. They told the students that being a laser technician is an interesting, well-paying career in high demand. The LPT program will host two open houses for those interested in learning more about this career field. The open houses take place at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 30, in the Etheridge Building on the Harnett County Campus, 1075 E. Cornelius Harnett Blvd. Lillington. For more information, contact Gary Beasley, laser-photonics lead instructor, at (910) 814-8828, or by email at gbeasley@cccc.edu.