AFL’s Patrick Dobbins, vice president and general manager of The Light Brigade training division, was recognized by the Fiber Optic Association Inc. (FOA) with the designation “FOA Master Instructor.” The title honors his dedication and contributions to the fiber optics industry over the past 30 years. Jim Hayes, president of the FOA, said instructors have been an extremely important influence on the industry in helping create a capable work force that has helped make fiber optic communications so successful. The Light Brigade partners with the FOA as a third-party certification for its Premise LAN Installation and Maintenance (PLIM) class. Dobbins has been an FOA-certified instructor for six years and has worked in the fiber optics space for more than 30 years. AFL provides products and services to the electric utility, broadband, communications, OEM, enterprise, wireless and transit rail markets as well as to the emerging markets of oil and gas, mining, nuclear, avionics, medical, renewable integration and intelligent grid. Its products include fiber optic cable, transmission and substation accessories, outside plant equipment, connectors, fusion splicers, test equipment and training. Its service portfolio includes positions with telecommunications companies that support both the central office and outside plant areas. AFL also has operations in Mexico, Europe and Asia. The company is based in Spartanburg and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fujikura Ltd. of Japan. For more information, visit: www.aflglobal.com