Examination of the U.S. Air Force's Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Workforce Needs in the Future and Its Strategy to Meet Those Needs (2010) / Chapter Skim
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1 Introduction
1 Introduction
Pages 12-19
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From page 12... ...
The ability to define operational needs logically and quantitatively, to analyze alternative solutions and force structures that optimize systems and investment strategies, and to document the operational requirements and concepts that best meet these needs demands strong technical and operational skills and experience. The Air Force's acquisition workforce requires personnel who possess high levels of engineering skills and experience in technology R&D and the tasks and functions required to design, develop, produce, integrate, and test new systems, as well as to modify existing ones.
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From page 13... ...
Over the past 20 years, the Air Force has elevated its capabilities and competencies in the development and employment of air and space power to an unrivaled level. The Air Force now possesses significant levels of STEM competence for conducting a full spectrum of missions and operational weapon systems for air superiority; precision strike; air mobility and refueling; special air operations; airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; and operational command and control.
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From page 14... ...
as an underlying problem. A 2003 joint study by the Defense Science Board and Air Force Scientific Advisory Board stated that the "government's capability to lead and to manage the space acquisition process has been seriously eroded, in part due to actions taken in the acquisition reform environment of the 1990s" (DSB-AFSAB, 2003)
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From page 15... ...
Assessments of options for meeting these future needs were provided for all the accession methods available to the Air Force, as presented in briefings and data from the U.S. Air Force Academy,6 Holm Officer Accession and Citizen Development Center,7 and the Air Force Institute of Technology.8 The committee limited the study to Air Force line officers and equivalent civilian positions.9 While the Air Force's enlisted workforce must also be technically competent, the committee did not investigate its future recruiting challenges because of the limited time to conduct information gathering and the limited response received from recruiting personnel.
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From page 16... ...
Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test scores indicate that the technical aptitude of recruits continues to be adequate for them to enter Air Force technical training programs. Definitions for Key Concepts To address its tasks and report its findings and recommendations with reasonable clarity and rigor, the committee found it necessary to define a number of key terms, including "STEM workforce" for the Air Force context.
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From page 17... ...
From time to time, this core set of STEM courses is revisited to ensure that it continues to meet evolving Air Force demands. Thus, the entire pool of USAFA graduates, irrespective of their majors, has a level of STEM competence that should not be ignored in a strategic vision to meet the future STEM needs of the Air Force.
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From page 18... ...
ORGANIZATION OF THIS REPORT Chapter 2 addresses task 1 of the committee's statement of task by accessing the STEM capabilities the Air Force will need to meet its goals, objectives, and priorities, as presented in the Air Force Strategic Plan 2006–2008, across its missions and domains. Chapter 3 responds to tasks 2 and 3 by characterizing the current STEM workforce -- that is, the military and civilian personnel assigned to positions that require a STEM degree.
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From page 19... ...
SAIC (Science Applications International Corporation)
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Key Terms
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