The optics industry, essential for innovations such as smartphones and defense technologies, is transforming daily life. Optics technicians, key in manufacturing and quality control, contribute significantly to these advancements, so development of the current and next-generation optics manufacturing workforce is vital. To meet this growing demand for skilled optics technicians, Monroe Community College’s Optical Systems Technology Program created the Defense Engineering Education Program in Optics initiative to increase the national precision optics technician workforce. The program has consistently grown enrollment and graduation rates over the last several years through the following strategies: (1) offering innovative training; (2) recruiting and retaining underrepresented populations; and (3) fostering partnerships with industry and educators. We describe how Monroe Community College has become a national model for building a successful precision optics technician training program, thus reinforcing the United States’ capabilities in both technology and national security.