WORCESTER, MA – July 28, 2026 – Quinsigamond Community College alum Christian Thompson has taken his career to astronomical heights. QCC’s advanced manufacturing program helped him land a job at David Clark Company, a Worcester-based manufacturing company known for its aerospace and defense products. Just a few years later, Thompson is already working on high-level projects, including the spacesuits used in NASA’s recent Artemis II mission that traveled around the moon.
“There’s something new at my job every day,” Thompson said. “QCC helped me grow and there’s still so much for me to learn.”
Before he got to David Clark, Thompson was a freshman at QCC in the engineering program. He could have gone to Wentworth Institute of Technology, but chose QCC instead, prioritizing affordability and financial responsibility. But the intensity of math-heavy coursework, combined with personal health issues, left him overwhelmed and falling behind academically. At one point, he seriously considered leaving school altogether.
An encounter with Professor of Manufacturing Technology Lee Duerden changed everything. Recognizing Thompson’s strengths, Duerden encouraged him to switch into QCC’s advanced manufacturing program, where he could apply engineering concepts through hands-on learning.
Thompson immersed himself in QCC’s labs, often spending eight hours a day working on projects. His dedication stood out, and Duerden soon offered him a position in QCC’s Fab Lab, where he worked on a variety of applied projects, including manufacturing silicone molds of anatomical lung models used by the college’s respiratory care program.
“I learned so much from the professors and the staff in the Fab Lab and CNC lab,” Thompson said. “They’re teaching you real-world stuff.”
Hands-on learning and faculty-driven mentorship from the Advanced Manufacturing program helped Thompson grow his confidence and his abilities. Seeing his potential, Duerden recommended him for a position at David Clark.
Thompson began working part-time while completing his degree, gaining valuable industry experience before even graduating. In 2023, he transferred to Northeastern University while also becoming a full-time employee at David Clark.
At David Clark, Thompson’s daily responsibilities include skills he first developed at QCC, such as prototyping, industrial robotics, laser cutting and 3D printing. Because he was already familiar with many manufacturing processes and machines from QCC, he felt confident working with full-time engineers.
While he enjoys contributing to the company’s iconic aviation headsets, helping manufacture components for spacesuits used in NASA’s Artemis II mission has been especially gratifying. While testing the durability of a spacesuit intended for the Artemis II crew, Christian got a feel for astronaut life when he wore the gloves during a vacuum test designed to replicate conditions inside a spacecraft.
“It’s amazing that it comes from here in Worcester and I got to be part of it,” Thompson said. “I’m helping people do things that have never been done before.”
Thompson said his journey has been shaped not just by education and opportunity, but by personal motivation. He credits his religious faith for helping him persevere through difficult moments and stay focused on his goals. As a new father, he is even more driven to succeed.
“I want to be a provider for my family and support them,” he said. “And I like to make my mom proud.”
Thompson finished his bachelor’s degree in manufacturing engineering earlier this year at Northeastern and plans to pursue a master’s degree at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, focusing on robotics or mechanical engineering. His long-term goal is to create technologies that improve lives, whether through medical innovations or robotics designed for hazardous environments like mining.
“There are a lot of people who wish they could be in my position,” he said. “I owe it to others to keep going and see what I can achieve.”