Nearly a year ago, CNATTU Whidbey began an in-depth self-study to become accredited by the Council on Occupational Education, a national accrediting agency that is committed to assuring quality and integrity in career and workforce development.

Teams were assigned with a goal to research, analyze, and report on our mission, educational programs, learning outcomes, organizational structure, human resources and numerous other areas that resulted in our recent accreditation.

Accreditation is a status granted to an educational institution that has been found to meet or exceed criteria of educational quality. One goal of accreditation is to promote high ethical and educational standards for career and workforce growth.

Accreditation emerged in the late 1800s as a voluntary peer review process to assure quality in colleges, high schools and other types of institutions. It has two fundamental purposes: to assure the quality of the institution and to assist in the improvement of the institution.

The accreditation process is the vehicle whereby the Navy ensures its formal technical schools are on par with recognized technical institutions in the civilian and military sectors.

Successful completion of the accreditation process signifies our training and educational services are sound and that they meet the broader responsibility to Navy and Marine Corps personnel.

Monumental efforts went into the self-study process.  The entire self-study was coordinated and produced by AVCM(AW/SW) Jim Tyler with the help of AOCM(AW/SW) Keith Fontano, ATCS(AW) George Morrison, AEC(AW) Sean Pearcy, AMC(AW) Lloyd Billups and AT1(AW) Josh Mumford serving as chairmen for their particular area.