The JATC employs highly qualified instructors who have years of field experience and maintain their training in the latest technologies.
Marty McRae, Instructor
Marty became a full time instructor at the JATC in November 2012. Prior to that, he spent the past 7 years as a part-time instructor at the JATC. Marty is a certified Bicsi Technician, he also holds certifications for installing Belden, Commscope, Corning, Amp, Ortronics and Zenitel products. Marty is also OSHA 30 certified.
Billy Triplett, School Coordinator
Billy Triplett is a graduate of the apprenticeship program and a licensed journeyman in Virginia. He teaches journeyman level classes, R to A Upgrade and in August 2015 joined the staff full time at the Manassas training facility. Billy graduated from Northern Virginia Community College with an Associates in Fine Arts and earned his B.A. in English from The University of Mary Washington. He began in the electrical trade in 1998.
Mike Kopec, Instructor
Michael Kopec is a recent graduate of the JATC 26 apprenticeship program. Becoming an electrician was a career change for Michael. His previous professional experience is in education making him a valued addition to instructor team. He holds his DC journeyman license and a B.A. in Physics from St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
Azamat assatov, Instructor
Azamat Assatov has been a member of the IBEW since 2014. He graduated from the JATC apprenticeship with an “Outstanding apprentice” award in 2020. Azamat worked as a journeyman and foreman in various building automation projects. He served as a residential night instructor and joined the full-time staff at the Manassas training facility in November 2023. He holds a Master’s degree in Occupational Health and Safety and has previously worked in electrical industry as a lineman, inside wireman, and Safety engineer.
James Reid, instructor
James Reid is a 2018 graduate of the apprenticeship program. He is a master electrician in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. He is also NICET III certified in Fire Alarm Systems. He is a great friend and a solid union brother. He has been a night instructor since 2019. He joined as a full-time in August 2022.
James “jimmy” Rogan, instructor
Jimmy joined local 26 in 1989 and graduated from the JATC apprenticeship in 1995. He became a part time instructor in 1996 teaching apprentices and residential trainees and currently serves as an instructor for NEC 1. He has attended NTI in Knoxville TN and holds master licenses in MD, VA, and Washington DC. He has an extensive background working with Access Control, Video Surveillance, and Intrusion systems. He became a full time JATC instructor in 2022.
Jason dudding, school coordinator
Jason Dudding has been a member of the IBEW Local 26 since 2007 when he started his apprenticeship, graduating in 2012, and holds a journeyman’s license in the state of Virginia. He started teaching journeyman level classes at night in 2019. Jason worked as a journeyman wireman, foreman and general foreman in industrial settings and in substations before coming to work at the JATC in Roanoke, Virginia full time in March of 2022. Jason holds a certification in medium voltage splicing from 3M and an installers certification from Corning Optical Communications.
Aaron Reid, instructor
Aaron began his electrical career in 2012 through the vocational program at North Point High School in Charles County, where he was introduced to IBEW Local 26. He completed the apprenticeship in 2017 and began teaching night classes for the JATC in 2019. In August 2024, he completed the NTI program in Ann Arbor.
Over the past several years, Aaron has worked as a foreman on tenant fit-out and commercial projects, leading crews while training apprentices on the Hilti Trimble system. His experience blends hands-on field leadership with classroom instruction, which has enabled him to develop electricians using a practical, real-world approach.
In 2023, Aaron earned his master electrician’s license in Maryland, Washington DC, and Virginia, further strengthening his ability to lead and mentor at a high professional standard.
Daniel Griffith Jr., instructor
Dan became a member of the IBEW in 2017. He graduated from the Technology Services apprenticeship program in 2023 where he earned his BICSI Technician certification. He has worked with many types of category cabling, optical fiber, coaxial cable, and even air-blow fiber projects. Before joining the JATC full-time in 2026, he was a night instructor teaching telecommunications.”
Justin Baer, instructor
Justin is a graduate of the Manassas apprenticeship program and is licensed journeyman in both DC and Virginia. Justin started as a Night School Instructor in Fall of 2025 and became full-time instructor in summer of 2026. His previous experience includes 15 years in training with Satellite communications. He also has NICET II certification in Fire Alarm Systems. Justin has his B.S in Psychology from Va Tech with a minor in Math and Computer Science.
Robert Kozosky, instructor
Robert “Bob” Kozosky has been a member of the IBEW since 2019. He attended Job Corps, where he studied computer technology, and later pursued Information Technology studies at Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC). After joining the Union in 2019, Bob gained experience working in controls, gear rooms, data centers, and hospitals. He successfully completed the apprenticeship program in 2024. In addition to his field experience, Bob has been teaching upgrade night classes at the JATC. In August 2026, he joined the full-time instructional staff at the Manassas Training Facility, where he continues to help develop and train the next generation of electricians.
