Defending America's Future Through Education
Revitalizing America's Defense Workforce Through Excellence
Colonel (USAF Ret.) Spencer Thomas founded Freedom Technical Institute after 30 distinguished years as an Air Force officer, where he consistently championed America's national security and technological innovation. Leveraging extensive relationships with senior government officials and deep insight into defense strategy, Spencer recognized a critical gap in vocational preparedness essential to America’s defense industrial resurgence. Deeply rooted in his Garfield County, Colorado community, he believes passionately in revitalizing local economies through targeted educational initiatives. Spencer’s leadership and strategic vision now drive FTI’s mission to equip young Americans with cutting-edge vocational skills, directly supporting national security, economic strength, and technological leadership. His relentless advocacy and authentic commitment continue to shape FTI as a national model of vocational excellence.
Col (Ret.) Spencer Thomas (President & CEO)
Ken Smith serves as Chief Operating Officer of Freedom Technical Institute, bringing decades of experience working, training, and leading within America’s skilled trades. A committed advocate of vocational excellence, Ken has dedicated his professional life to mentoring technical professionals and strengthening the educational infrastructure necessary for America’s industrial growth and national security. His extensive management background in professional education equips him uniquely to align FTI’s operational excellence with strategic vision. Deeply patriotic, Ken passionately believes in the critical role skilled trades play in safeguarding America’s future. Under his leadership, FTI operationalizes a mission-driven approach that ensures every graduate is prepared to advance the nation’s defense, economic prosperity, and technological innovation.
Ken Haptonstall (Chief Education Advisor)
Alexander David McMath leads FTI’s strategy, business model, and operational execution, building on extensive experience aligning technology, people, and information for impactful results. A U.S. Army veteran and MIT graduate, Alexander specializes in operational communications, systems integration, and strategic transformation. His career demonstrates consistent success in connecting visionary leadership with precise execution in complex public-private initiatives. Alexander is committed to developing vocational pathways that enhance America’s maritime and manufacturing resilience, directly addressing urgent Congressional priorities to rebuild national capabilities. His leadership at FTI ensures the institute’s strategic growth, stakeholder alignment, and measurable impact on America’s economic and defense future.
Alexander David McMath (Chief Strategy Officer)
Road to C1D1: FTI’s Path to Launch
Cohort 1, Day 1 (C1D1) marks the first day Freedom Technical Institute opens its doors to train America’s next generation of skilled defense tradespeople. Scheduled for September 5, 2026, this ambitious milestone represents our strategic response to the urgent national need for vocational talent to strengthen America’s defense industrial base.
Our roadmap to C1D1 involves three integrated tracks:
Funding and Strategic Partnerships
Securing robust financial backing and essential industry partnerships to support immediate operational readiness and long-term sustainability.
Curriculum and Facility Development
Designing cutting-edge curricula and constructing state-of-the-art training facilities that integrate advanced manufacturing technologies directly tied to defense industry standards.
Accreditation and Compliance
Achieving timely accreditation and ensuring rigorous compliance with industry and regulatory standards, confirming the credibility and excellence of our programs.
FTI Code of Conduct
The FTI community demonstrates professional citizenship and patriotic service. We reflect pride, respect, and dignity in every interaction, knowing our conduct represents our institute and impacts national resilience. We foster collaboration, mutual respect, and collective dedication to America's strength and prosperity.
The FTI community commits to continuous improvement, agility, and adaptability. We actively anticipate future challenges, preparing diligently through informed learning and responsive practice. Our commitment to growth ensures lasting excellence, directly serving our nation today and in the future.
The Freedom Technical Institute (FTI) demands unwavering integrity, professionalism, and excellence. Each student, instructor, staff member, and partner has a solemn responsibility to uphold the standards that honorably strengthen the FTI community, America's defense industrial base, and our country as a whole.
​The FTI community embodies aptitude, skill, and ethics as inseparable foundations of our professional duty to enhance national security. We cultivate aptitude through relentless pursuit of knowledge, rigorous inquiry, and continuous self-improvement. We perfect skill through disciplined mastery, precision, and reliability in every task, big or small. We uphold ethics through integrity, accountability, and unwavering honor in every decision.
The FTI community prioritizes security, safety, and compliance as non-negotiable duties. We protect sensitive information, adhere rigorously to safety standards, and faithfully comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and institutional policies. Our discipline safeguards our institute, stakeholders, and nation.