Students in Komatsu-supported technician program graduate from North Dakota State College of Science

May 19, 2026 -- North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) in Wahpeton, North Dakota, graduated its 2026 class on May 15, including 17 students who completed the Komatsu-supported diesel technician training program. The two-year program is also supported by participating Komatsu dealer partners to develop the next generation of diesel technicians for the heavy equipment industry.

Designed around a blended work-based learning model, the program alternates classroom instruction with dealer-sponsored internship experiences. By graduation, students complete several internships and accumulate thousands of hours of on-the-job training while earning an associate degree.

Komatsu supports the NDSCS program through scholarships, technical content, tools, machines and training equipment. Primary dealer partners include General Equipment & Supplies, Roland Machinery Co., Road Machinery & Supplies Co. and Columbus Equipment.

Following graduation, all 17 students will transition into full-time diesel technician roles with sponsoring Komatsu dealerships. Members of the 2026 NDSCS graduating class include:

• Jessie Gray, Wildrose, North Dakota - General Equipment & Supplies
• Cooper Dreibelbis, Mansfield, Ohio - Columbus Equipment Company
• Logan Dessel, Sioux Falls, South Dakota - Diesel Machinery Inc.
• Peyton Caulkins, Hastings, Minnesota - Road Machinery & Supplies Co.
• Jason Lauritsen, West Fargo, North Dakota - General Equipment & Supplies
• Alan Norstad, Shakopee, Minnesota - General Equipment & Supplies
• Harrison Feldbrugge, Shakopee, Minnesota - General Equipment & Supplies
• Samuel Collings, Farmington, Minnesota - Road Machinery & Supplies Co.
• Raymond Carbone, Duluth, Minnesota - General Equipment & Supplies
• Joee Jones, Moorhead, Minnesota - General Equipment & Supplies
• Brandon Anderson, Fergus Falls, Minnesota - General Equipment & Supplies
• Max Horn, West Fargo, North Dakota - General Equipment & Supplies
• Ryan Townsend, McHenry, Illinois - Roland Machinery Co.
• Logan Gedde, Dilworth, Minnesota - General Equipment & Supplies
• Adam Johnson, Hugo, Minnesota - General Equipment & Supplies
• Logan Atwater, Moorhead, Minnesota - General Equipment & Supplies
• August Teuber, Mahtomedi, Minnesota - General Equipment & Supplies

The initiative reflects Komatsu values including teamwork, collaboration, authenticity, perseverance and accountability, while helping address the ongoing need for skilled technicians in local communities and across the construction and equipment industries.

Komatsu has supported diesel technician training programs like this for nearly two decades, working alongside its dealer network to help develop the next generation of skilled technicians. The program’s consistent, hands-on model has been implemented across multiple partner schools, providing a proven pathway into the industry.

“Komatsu is committed to meeting students and dealers where they are and bringing them together — emphasizing teamwork and shared responsibility for workforce development,” said Griffin Reome, Director of Technical Workforce Development. “Our educational partnerships are designed to provide access to sustainable, family-supporting careers, and are a direct reflection of our commitment to ongoing education, the industry and the communities we serve.”

This effort demonstrates Komatsu’s continued investment in workforce development, alongside broader initiatives and partnerships including active engagement with programs like SkillsUSA. Komatsu will be launching its next major workforce development platform — “The future you build starts here” — at the 2026 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference June 1-5 in Atlanta. 

About Komatsu

Komatsu develops and supplies technologies, equipment and services for the construction, mining, forklift, industrial and forestry markets. For a century, the company has been creating value for its customers through manufacturing and technology innovation, partnering with others to empower a sustainable future where people, business and the planet thrive together. Front-line industries worldwide use Komatsu solutions to develop modern infrastructure, extract fundamental minerals, maintain forests and create consumer products. The company's global service and distributor networks support customer operations, enhancing safety and productivity while optimizing performance. To learn more, visit www.komatsu.com

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