Dr. Melancon brings over 25 years of progressive workforce development experience to serve as Director of Strategic Partnerships at Louisiana FUEL, an NSF Engins-funded grant at Louisiana State University. Dr. Melancon is also the President/Founder of Durango Works Corp, an independent workforce development consultancy firm focused on advanced manufacturing and energy workforce development. Dr. Melancon has been appointed to the 21st Century Energy Workforce Advisory Board (EWAB) and advises the Department of Energy (DOE) on developing strategies to support and develop a skilled energy workforce that meets the changing needs of the U.S. energy system. In addition, he recently completed his 10-year tenure at Baton Rouge Community College (BRCC) as the Vice-Chancellor for Workforce Solutions. Dr. Melancon has worked with a small team and many employers in the Greater Baton Rouge area to achieve national recognition for his programs.
In May 2018, Dr. Melancon’s North Baton Rouge Industrial Training (NBRITI) program was nationally recognized after only two years of program redesign, thanks to great support from businesses and industry. This updated NBRITI program has become one of the top three workforce development programs in the United States. In 2019, Dr. Melancon received the National Skills Coalition Skill Champion Award. His teams have also provided more than 100,000 people with the necessary skills to embark on careers in multiple industry sectors, including transportation, healthcare, construction, energy, petrochemical, and manufacturing.
