National Defense Education Program (NDEP)

Abstract

The purpose of the National Defense Education Program (NDEP) is to inspire, develop, and attract the current and next generations of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) talent essential to deliver innovative solutions for DoD and the Nation’s current and future challenges. NDEP is aligned with the DoD-wide STEM Education and Outreach Strategic Plan. A major goal of NDEP is to develop a continuum of high quality STEM experiential, service-wide, engagements for K-12 students through early career world-class researchers that directly involve DoD SMEs. NDEP is designed to address current and projected national and DoD STEM talent needs, strengthen scientific and technological capabilities including current warfighting systems and military personnel needs, and enhance the quality of DoD's workforce. NDEP consists of three components: a) K-12, b) Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART), and c) the National Security Science and Engineering Faculty Fellowship (NSSEFF). The K–12 component links DoD scientists and engineers with students and teachers and supports national competitions to create locally-based, content-rich environments and robust learning opportunities for students and teachers with an understanding of the real-world application of STEM skills. In 2010, 1,750 DoD scientists and engineers from more than 48 DoD laboratories in 26 states engaged more than 180,000 students and 8,000 teachers in outreach and informal education initiatives. SMART awards highly competitive scholarships to STEM undergraduate and graduate students and moves them directly into DoD's workforce upon their graduation. Since 2006, SMART has supported more than 850 students from bachelor to Ph.D. levels, and nearly 300 have transitioned into the DoD workforce. NSSEFF creates and develops the current and next generation of scientists and engineers for national security by supporting innovative basic science and engineering research within academia. Undergraduate through post-doctoral students at academic institutions work with world-class scientists and engineers referred to as NSSEFF Fellows. Since 2008, 29 distinguished university researchers have been awarded NSSEFF grants that have resulted in teams of more than 150 students, postdoctoral scholars and faculty.

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Document Details

Document Type
R2 Budgetary Justification
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2012
Source ID
0601120D8Z_1_0400_PB_2012
Change Summary Explanation
FY 2012 Defense Efficiency. Defense Efficiency – Report, Studies, Boards and Commissions. The Department of Defense reform agenda, reflects a reduction of in the number and cost of reports, studies, DoD Boards and DoD Commissions below the aggregate level reported in the previous budget submission. Defense Efficiency – Contractor Staff Support. As part of the Department of Defense reform agenda, reduces funds below the aggregate level reported in the previous budget submission for contracts that augment staff functions. The program also reflects a $ 0.152 M reduction for economic assumptions and a $14.789 M reduction for a realignment for other departmental priorities.
Service Agency Name
Office of Secretary Of Defense

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Competition
  • Contractors
  • Department Of Defense
  • Education
  • Efficiency
  • Engineers
  • Instructors
  • Learning
  • Military Personnel
  • National Security
  • Schools
  • Scientists
  • Security
  • Students
  • Test And Evaluation

Fields of Study

  • Education

Readers

  • Defense Technology Research and Development.
  • STEM Education

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