Assuring the U.S. Department of Defense a Strong Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Workforce (2012) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
Summary
Summary
Pages 1-14
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 1... ...
devoted to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are a small and diminishing part of the nation's overall science and engineering enterprise. One consequence is that DOD cannot significantly impact the nation's overall STEM workforce -- and therefore, with a few exceptions, DOD should focus its limited resources on fulfilling its own special requirements for STEM talent.
|
From page 2... ...
. CURRENT OUTLOOK The increasing importance of STEM in maintaining a strong economy and providing national security makes it imperative that America have available a substantial, high-quality STEM workforce.
|
From page 3... ...
. · Despite an increase in the percentage of the defense industrial base STEM workforce that is under the age of 35, the median age of such workers increased to 47 in 2010, from 45 in 2005.
|
From page 4... ...
. Percent of DoD civilian STEM workforce eligible to retire 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% Computer and mathematical scientist 31.6% Engineer 34.0% Life scientist 33.5% Physical scientist 37.6% Social scientist 22.6% FIGURE S3 Retirement eligibility of selected occupational groups in the DOD civilian STEM workforce.
|
From page 5... ...
Total DOD civilian STEM employment is approximately 150,000, with 47 percent in engineering and 35 percent in computer and mathematical science occupations; this workforce represents only a small fraction (approximately 2 percent) of the total U.S.
|
From page 6... ...
Finding 1: Quantity of STEM Workforce Because of the relatively small and declining size of the DOD STEM workforce there is no current or projected shortage of STEM workers for DOD and its industrial contractor base except in specialized, but important, areas-such as cybersecurity and selected intelligence fields. As a means of addressing any future shortages, experience has shown that students will respond to the demand signal of higher salaries in a STEM field 5 (Figure S4)
|
From page 7... ...
(See Finding 6-1.) Finding 4: Forecasting STEM Workforce Needs Reliable forecasting of the STEM skills needed by the DOD beyond the near term is simply not possible because of the increasing rates of advancement in science and technology and the unpredictability of military needs.
|
From page 8... ...
7 Because of the leadership role that DOD STEM personnel often play in overseeing major programs and directing the efforts of large groups within the private sector as well as impacting others in government, the STEM capability and quality of the DOD leadership in its workforce are highly leveraged. Through focused investments DOD should ensure that STEM competencies in all potentially critical, emerging topical areas are maintained at least at a basic level within the department and its industrial and university bases.
|
From page 9... ...
Further, the DOD STEM workforce management should have as a primary objective retaining its highestquality talent. Talented individuals include STEM professionals ranging from technicians to systems engineers to the most advanced scientists and engineers working in specialty fields.
|
From page 10... ...
Maintain Critical STEM Capabilities Through Unconventional Programs and Prototyping To preserve design, creation, and testing team skills (which have been called on less and less as new weapons systems appear with decreased frequency -- Figure S5) and to recruit, retain, and advance a quality STEM workforce with the special talents needed by DOD and its contractors, DOD should create "skunk works" 8 in the industrial base, universities, and DOD to undertake targeted, unconventional, potentially disruptive programs through prototyping for technical concept verification.
|
From page 11... ...
Recommendation 5. Upgrade Education and Training for the DOD Civilian STEM Workforce The DOD should ensure that the education and training, and the re-education and re-training, opportunities for its civilian STEM workforce are both commensurate with similar opportunities afforded career military personnel and tailored to the needs of the civilian workforce.
|
From page 12... ...
BOX S5 Rapid Retraining into Technical Fields at the Naval Postgraduate School The Naval Postgraduate School grants master's degrees in engineering to selected individuals who enter with liberal arts credentials. Between 2007 and 2011 over 4,000 resident students graduated from this program, of whom roughly 525 had non-technical backgrounds when they matriculated.
|
From page 13... ...
Defense Industrial Base, Roslyn, Va., August 1. National Research Council.
|
From page 14... ...
Defense Industrial Base. Washington, D.C.: The National Academies Press.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.