West Georgia Technical College Celebrates First Graduates of Credit-Bearing Electrical Lineworker Program
West Georgia Technical College’s latest Electrical Lineworker Program cohort showcased their skills for family and friends during a demonstration on the lineworker yard at the Murphy Campus. Pictured (l–r): Jay Pee Dumaliang, William Bryant, Logan Bailey, Bryden Boswell, Jonathan Baker, Brian Stewart, Austin Quinn, and instructor Robert McDonald.
WACO, GA – West Georgia Technical College (WGTC) is excited to recognize the first group of students to complete the Electrical Lineworker program since it officially transitioned from the Economic Development division into a credit-bearing academic program. These students have completed their training and will graduate in December. The inaugural academic cohort includes Jay Pee Dumaliang, William Bryant, Logan Bailey, Bryden Boswell, Jonathan Baker, Brian Stewart, and Austin Quinn.
Instructor Robert McDonald said the move into the academic division has strengthened the program in several important ways. “It gives us more structure, more oversight, and helps ensure everything we teach lines up with the college’s learning goals,” he said. “It also brings more visibility to the program, which makes it clear how rigorous and valuable this training really is.”
Students in the program spend each day focused on a single topic, starting with discussion and safety briefings in the classroom or on the training yard before heading outside to practice hands-on skills. This routine gives students a strong foundation in both safety and technique.
Over the course of the semester, students learn how to climb, build, and repair components of the electrical grid—the essential systems that keep homes, businesses, and entire communities running. They also earn their Class A CDL with a pintle hook restriction, a requirement that expands their career readiness and prepares them to operate the types of vehicles used in the field. While the program does not currently award formal certifications, the skills gained are highly specialized and tailored to real industry expectations. Graduates of the program are prepared for a wide range of careers, including overhead and underground distribution, substations, transmission, fiber optics, and engineering-related paths.
McDonald emphasized that the program plays a crucial role in meeting workforce needs. “Demand is increasing faster than new workers are entering the field,” he said. “With many current workers retiring and ongoing grid modernization, our region really needs trained lineworkers.”
Throughout the semester, students also had opportunities to meet with and learn from industry professionals. Carroll EMC hosted a field trip where students explored dispatch operations, warehouse systems, and shop repair. Representatives from JAH Power Services, Mastec, Gresco Utility Supply, and Buckingham Manufacturing spent time with the cohort sharing insights and answering questions. Georgia Power has arranged a field trip for the Spring 2026 class.
Looking ahead, McDonald hopes to introduce new tools and technology from companies like Klein and Milwaukee and plans to bring night-work training back into future cohorts to better mirror real working conditions.
For anyone considering enrolling, McDonald is honest about both the challenge and the reward. “You have to be ready for extreme weather. You need a strong mental drive. And you become part of a brotherhood,” he said. “It’s challenging, but it’s a rewarding career.”
For more information about WGTC’s Electrical Lineworker program, visit westgatech.edu/electrical-lineworker.
West Georgia Technical College, with campuses in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Haralson, and Troup counties and class sites in Heard and Meriwether counties, offers more than 120 associate degree, diploma, and technical certificate programs of study. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, West Georgia Tech is one of the largest of the state’s 22 technical colleges. For more information, please visit www.westgatech.edu.
