Singapore – 29 April 2025 – EPI, the world’s leading data center certification body, is proud to announce a landmark partnership with Overwatch Mission Critical, marking a transformative milestone in the U.S. data center industry. Through this strategic alliance, Overwatch is on track to become the first company in the United States to mandate full data center certification for 100% of its workforce—a bold move made possible by EPI’s globally recognized certification programs.

The initiative, powered by Overwatch University and developed in collaboration with EPI, will deliver EPI’s internationally accredited training and certifications to all Overwatch personnel, including transitioning veterans and career changers seeking roles in the mission-critical sector. This marks the first scalable model in the U.S. aimed at systematically addressing the growing data center talent shortage.

“Overwatch isn’t just building data center infrastructure—they are building the foundation of workforce excellence,” said Edward van Leent, Chairman & CEO of EPI Group. “Their decision to certify every member of their team reflects a deep commitment to trust, accountability, and customer protection—values we share at EPI. Certifications are not just credentials; they represent a verified standard of competence and reliability in an industry that leaves no room for error.”

Kirk Offel, CEO of Overwatch Mission Critical said, “We’re not just responding to the labor crisis but leading a workforce movement. The industry has discussed the talent gap for years, but no one has delivered a scalable solution until now. By becoming the first data center staffing company in the world to ensure that every member of its workforce is fully trained, tested, and certified with globally recognized, impartial certifications, Overwatch is setting a new benchmark for trust, dedication, and reliability.”

With data centers underpinning every facet of modern life—from AI and cloud services to national security—demand for qualified professionals is reaching unprecedented levels. The challenge is no longer just technical—it’s human. The partnership between Overwatch and EPI brings a concrete solution to this national issue: a fully trained, tested, and certified workforce, ready to meet the demands of a fast-evolving digital economy.

“We are proud to stand with Overwatch as they lead a workforce revolution in the U.S.,” van Leent added. “This initiative is not only timely—it is essential.”

EPI has certified thousands of professionals across more than 60 countries, with a 38-year track record of setting standards in training, audit, and certification. Through its partnership with Overwatch, EPI continues its mission to protect customer interests by raising the bar for data center competence—now in one of the world’s most critical markets.

About Overwatch Mission Critical

Overwatch Mission Critical is a technology incubator for labor offering solutions to support all five phases of the data center lifecycle.  Teams at OVERWATCH are responsible for building and managing high-performance data centers that support Cloud, AI, automation, and national security infrastructure. The company is also dedicated to solving the data center industry’s workforce crisis by helping veterans transition into mission-critical roles.

For more information, visit - www.WeAreOverwatch.com

About EPI

EPI is the trusted global certification body for data center facilities, operations, and professionals. With a track record of over 37 years, EPI operates in more than 60 countries through direct presence and a robust partner network. EPI’s training, audit, and certification solutions—spanning the full lifecycle of data center development and management—are recognized as industry benchmarks for excellence and reliability.

For more information, visit - www.epi-ap.com

For media inquiries:
Email - paige@epi-ap.com