LA PLATA, Md. – As quantum technology begins to reshape the future workforce, the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) is working with industry and economic leaders to prepare students to enter this emerging field.
On May 20, CSM hosted the Southern Maryland Regional Quantum Forum: Unlocking the Future, to develop training pathways for emerging quantum careers. The forum brought together representatives from education, government, workforce development, and the private sector to explore how Southern Maryland can participate in the growing quantum economy.
CSM President Dr. Yolanda Wilson opened the forum by sharing that “Community colleges play a critical role as workforce incubators, fostering innovation, expanding access to high-impact learning opportunities, and building strong partnerships… The future of quantum will not be shaped by any one sector alone, but will require collaboration across education, industry, and government to build talent pipelines and ensure opportunity reaches every corner of our communities.”
Maryland has become a leading hub for quantum technology with significant public and private investments in research labs, technology development, and industry initiatives. According to the University of Maryland, College Park is home to the largest concentration of quantum scientists in the U.S. A key driver of this growth is Capital of Quantum, a public-private partnership focused on advancing research and workforce development.
Capital of Quantum Director Dr. Corey Stambaugh delivered a keynote speech focused on ‘demystifying’ quantum, defining and explaining key terms and answering a fundamental question: what is quantum. Stambaugh highlighted the wide range of industries expected to benefit from quantum technology, including cybersecurity, pharmaceuticals, software, hardware, and manufacturing, each requiring different levels of training and expertise.
“The workforce opportunities are broad across the spectrum,” Dr. Stambaugh said. “As awareness of quantum goes up and the more specialized jobs become, the number of opportunities goes down to fill the highest-level positions. Somewhere in the spectrum is an opportunity for community colleges. The only way we can succeed is by working together.”
Out west, one community college is already working to address this need. Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) is the first community college in the country to develop a quantum learning lab and quantum technician program. Dr. Brian Rashap, CNM quantum director, presented details about the program and the path they took to launch it. The college worked with quantum business leaders, physicists, as well as adjacent industry leaders like engineers and technicians to shape curriculum. The college offers several academic certificate programs in quantum, as well as a quantum technician bootcamp, which is 400 hours of training, with no prior math or science education required. Rashap said the program removes barriers for students of all backgrounds to have opportunities to work in this emerging field.
“There’s a need to expand beyond Ph.D. physicists and engineers working on the technology to include technicians and other supporting professions,” Rashap said. “You don’t need to be scientists to work in this field. Our strategy is to train students to get hired today.”
Quantum innovation is making an impact across a variety of industries. New technology has the potential to affect what Governor Wes Moore calls Maryland’s Lighthouse Sectors: biotechnology, AI, cybersecurity, aerospace, and defense.
Panelists discussed how quantum technologies could transform industries across all Lighthouse Sectors. Dr. Matthew Cimino, senior manager of business development and life sciences with the Maryland Department of Commerce, spoke about the potential for quantum data analysis to improve healthcare outcomes.
“Quantum computing offers a new frontier to accelerate new inventions and new breakthroughs in precision medicine, personalized medicine, drug discovery, and other applications,” Cimino said. “There’s a lot of enthusiasm to bridge the divide between current infrastructure and the potential for what quantum computing can offer.”
Kimberly Mentzell, director of cybersecurity and emerging technologies with the Maryland Department of Commerce, spoke about the important role of community colleges and the potential impact quantum technician programs would have on the local workforce. She cited that, for every Ph.D. position, there are three quantum technician positions that need to be filled.
“Community colleges play such an important part in the development of the workforce ecosystem,” Mentzell said. “If we want to increase employment and give opportunities to individuals who want to work in quantum, let’s engage the students that are here, ensure that quantum is not scary and does not require advanced mathematical achievement.”
Community colleges are uniquely positioned to meet the demands for skilled technicians, creating accessible academic opportunities that directly align with workforce needs. Not only do community colleges provide individuals with access to new workforce opportunities, they offer continuing education and certification programs for workers to advance alongside evolving industry needs.
Ellen Flowers-Fields, vice president of Continuing Education and Workforce Development, said CSM is staying ahead of workforce trends by creating academic and training pathways that prepare students for both today’s workforce and careers of tomorrow.
“CSM serves learners at all stages of their professional journey, and we recognize that as industries evolve, so do the skills needed to succeed,” Flowers-Fields said. “By working with industry leaders, we can keep our programs responsive to workforce needs while strengthening the region’s talent pipeline and economy.”
The forum marked the first step in shaping a regional strategy for quantum workforce development. CSM will continue to work with educational, industry, and government partners to develop quantum technician training pathways and expand opportunities for the next generation of advanced technology workers.