Describe key events in the history of geospatial workforce development in the United States.
Professional workforce development, the education of an individual for a particular task or trade, traces its origins from the programs that linked apprentices with the master craftsmen of pre-industrial societies. With the emergence of digital technologies, the emphasis has shifted to making an individual more technically proficient across ever-changing technological platforms. In the Geographic Information Science & Technologies (GIS&T) sector, individuals generally acquire knowledge and skills through degrees and certificates offered by colleges and universities, as well as the various professional and technical certifications that provide evidence of training and development for the workforce. Establishment of the GeoTech Center, the Geospatial Technology Competency Model, and the GIS Certification Institute have all been significant in GIS&T workforce development. Challenges include the lack of standardized duties and responsibilities for occupational titles as well as gaps between industry needs and skill sets provided through formal degrees and certificates.