Nathan Edwards of Rapid Innovation & Security, Inc.

With the emergence of new technology advances and recent investments in the U.S. electronics sector, the needs for a talented workforce are rapidly growing.  In the Pikes Peak region alone, we have a projected growth of more than 1,000 electronics related jobs over the next few years.  When you consider the related fields of advanced manufacturing, healthcare technology, and cybersecurity the regional workforce needs are even more significant.  The challenge is where do we find that talent or how do we build a regional talent pipeline to support this growth?

We invite the IEEE community to listen to one of our senior members share details on his involvement with the “Innovate 38” initiative which is launching the Lewis-Palmer School District 38 Career & Innovation Center in August 2025.  This forward-thinking initiative is designed to provide middle school, high school, and adult students with immersive, hands-on learning experiences that connect directly to high-demand careers, ensuring they are prepared for success in Colorado’s evolving workforce.  The center focuses on five core industries:

• Advanced Manufacturing
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Healthcare
• Skilled Trades

Through these programs, students will earn valuable certifications and college credits, laying the groundwork for post-secondary education or equipping them to enter the workforce immediately after graduation. Built with insights from industry leaders and community members, the center will continually adapt to meet emerging workforce needs.  Of special interest to IEEE, the program will include innovative high school courses on electronics & semiconductor engineering, as well as smart automation & manufacturing, AI and data science, and healthcare informatics.

Biography:

Mr. Nathan Edwards has over 18 years in science and technology, largely focused on the security and failure analysis of electronics, operational technology, and embedded computing.  Much of his research and published work has been in the defense, intelligence, energy, and homeland security communities.   He has participated on national panels with National Academies of Sciences / Engineering / Medicine, U.S. Dept of Homeland Security, among others.  Mr. Edwards has also been actively engaged in national level workforce development initiatives in STEM fields and was the recent co-chair of a workforce development panel for the IEEE conference on Physical Assurance and Inspection of Electronics (PAINE).  He is deeply involved helping a regional school launch a new career & technical education center including a talent pipeline roadmap for workforce training in microelectronics, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare technology.   Nathan is the founder and CEO of Rapid Innovation & Security Experts, Inc.  His prior roles include Executive Director of U.S. Partnership for Assured Electronics (USPAE) as the executive overseeing a $52M public-private partnership, The MITRE Corporation, Sandia National Laboratories (U.S. Dept of Energy), Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, Medtronic, and spent a prior 9-year career in emergency response with city and state governments.  He has a MS in Electrical & Computer Engineering from University of Illinois and BS in Computer Systems Engineering from Arizona State University.