National Defense Education Program (NDEP)

Abstract

The purpose of the National Defense Education Program (NDEP) is to inspire, develop, and attract the current and future generations of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) talent. This program ensures that the Department of Defense (DoD) delivers innovative solutions to meet DoD and national security challenges. NDEP addresses the DoD’s need for STEM talent and develops the current and future workforce to strengthen the Department’s scientific and technological capabilities. NDEP’s focus is to develop a continuum of high quality, experiential STEM engagements for DoD from K-12 students through world-class researchers. NDEP consists of three components: a) Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART); b) the National Security Science and Engineering Faculty Fellowship (NSSEFF); and c) K-12. SMART awards highly competitive scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students in 19 STEM disciplines and moves them directly into DoD's workforce following graduation. Since its inception as a pilot program in 2005, SMART has supported ~1150 students from bachelor to doctoral levels and ~380 have transitioned into the workforce. SMART ensures that DoD has a steady infusion of newly educated and high caliber U.S. technical talent ready to fulfill its mission. NSSEFF supports 29 world-class researchers (NSSEFF Fellows) in areas of critical importance to DoD and ensures the proliferation of future and exceptional talent. Approximately 100 undergraduate students, ~200 graduate students and ~100 post-doctoral scholars at academic institutions work with the NSSEFF Fellows. Three cohorts of NSSEFF Fellows, with the first selected in 2008, have provided critical connections between academia and the DoD science and engineering enterprise. Fellows’ work spans all seven DoD Science and Technology (S&T) priorities and the six high interest basic science areas, often in cutting-edge areas at the intersection of these areas. NDEP K-12 leverages the DoD’s STEM expertise as one of its most valuable assets, creating engagement opportunities for schools, students, teachers, and public sector and industry partners with DoD subject matter experts (SMEs) especially in communities adjacent to DoD laboratories and bases. Since 2007, NDEP K-12 has increased the number of DoD facilities that directly engage their local education communities to: 1) build student interest in STEM fields and disciplines and in careers specific to the Department, 2) develop science, engineering and mathematics skills important to the DoD, and 3) fulfill DoD’s future demand for highly skilled STEM professionals. Through after-school learning opportunities, DoD STEM professionals teach key audiences about DoD’s current and future real-world S&T applications. DoD STEM professionals also serve as role models, mentors, content experts and competition judges.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2013
• Source ID: 0601120D8Z_1_0400_PB_2013
• Service Agency Name: Office of Secretary Of Defense

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Behavioral Sciences
• Chemical Engineering
• Computer Science
• Data Analysis
• Department Of Defense
• Education
• Employment
• Engineering
• Engineers
• Information Science
• Materials
• Materials Science
• Mathematics
• Minority Groups
• National Security
• Students
• Universities

Fields of Study

• Education

Readers

• Defense Technology Research and Development.
• STEM Education