Auburn Engineering launches educational partnership with Torch Technologies

The Samuel Ginn College of Engineering has established a new educational partnership with Torch Technologies, Inc., one of the nation’s largest defense contractors, creating expanded opportunities for employees to pursue graduate engineering education while continuing their careers.

The partnership was formalized through a memorandum of understanding signed by Alicia Harkless, director of Auburn Engineering Online and Continuing Education, and Kenneth Lones, Torch vice president of corporate administration.

Under the agreement, qualified Torch employees may enroll in any graduate degree program offered online through Auburn Engineering and receive a 10% tuition discount. The partnership is designed to support workforce development by providing flexible pathways for working professionals to advance their education and technical expertise.

Since launching its first corporate educational partnership in 2020, Auburn Engineering has expanded its cohort program to include numerous industry partners across Alabama and beyond. The program allows employers to invest in employee development while helping working professionals earn graduate credentials without interrupting their careers.

“We’re excited to launch a new partnership with Torch, a company recognized for delivering engineering and technology solutions supporting critical defense missions,” Harkless said. “This collaboration expands workforce development opportunities, strengthens industry-aligned learning pathways, and helps prepare a highly skilled talent pipeline equipped to meet evolving technical demands.”

Torch Technologies, headquartered in Huntsville, is a nationally recognized employee-owned company that provides research, development and engineering services to the U.S. Department of War and other government agencies.

“We are pleased to partner with Auburn University to offer this valuable benefit to our employee-owners,” Lones said. “By combining this discount with our existing tuition reimbursement program, we're making it even more affordable for our employee-owners to pursue a graduate engineering degree, enabling them to expand their expertise while strengthening the technical capabilities of our company.”

Through Auburn Engineering’s online programs, students can pursue graduate education in a variety of engineering disciplines through flexible online delivery. The partnership with Torch Technologies provides employees access to Auburn’s nationally recognized faculty and academic programs while allowing them to continue contributing to their organization’s mission.

The agreement reflects Auburn Engineering’s ongoing commitment to strengthening relationships with industry partners and supporting the professional growth of engineers and technical leaders throughout the region.