National Defense Education Program (NDEP)
Abstract
The National Defense Education Program (NDEP) engages the full science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) continuum to ensure the Department of Defense (DoD) will have access to high-quality STEM personnel vital to national defense now and in the future. STEM degree production compared to U.S. employment projections show that there is likely to be a significant shortage of STEM professionals, especially in computing, information technology, and electronics engineering, DoD mission critical occupations for which NDEP’s continuum of initiatives provides a pool of exceptional talent. NDEP’s portfolio provides short, medium, and long-term solutions to the perfect storm of workforce challenges, which include: (1) impending retirement of 33 percent of DoD’s STEM workforce; (2) low college readiness rate and interest in STEM majors; and (3) challenges that DoD, like other Federal employers, face in recruiting and retaining high-quality STEM talent in a competitive environment. NDEP aligns to the DoD Science and Technology (S&T) priorities and the integrated STEM/Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Institutions (HBCU/MIs) program, synchronized with the Federal 5-Year STEM Strategic Plan, the DoD STEM Strategic and Implementation Plans and the DoD Strategic Workforce Plan (in progress). NDEP components engage in assessment and evaluation as required by the Office of Management and Budget and the Government Accountability Office. Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) awards highly competitive scholarships-for-service to undergraduate and graduate students in 19 academic STEM disciplines and moves graduates directly into DoD's workforce following graduation. Internships engage SMART scholars in hands-on, authentic research and work experiences in DoD facilities, thereby enhancing their educational experience and building a public service commitment to the Department’s mission. Since its inception as a pilot program in FY 2005, SMART has supported ~1,455 students from bachelor to doctoral levels and to date ~900 have completed program studies and transitioned into the DoD workforce. SMART ensures that DoD has a steady infusion of high-quality U.S. technical talent, prepared in areas of critical importance to DoD, ready to apply their technical knowledge, skills, and abilities to fulfill DoD’s mission. National Security Science and Engineering Faculty Fellowship (NSSEFF) currently supports 29 world-class researchers (NSSEFF Fellows) in scientific areas of critical importance to DoD and ensures the cultivation of exceptional future talent. The NSSEFF Fellows work with ~100 undergraduate students, ~270 graduate students, and ~150 post-doctoral scholars at their respective academic institutions. Three cohorts of NSSEFF Fellows, with the first selected in FY 2008, provides a critical resource for connections between academia and the DoD science and engineering enterprise. Fellows’ work spans all seven DoD S&T priorities and defines a broad set of emerging scientific research areas, critical to the development of future DoD technologies. NSSEFF Fellows serve as speakers at DoD events, reviewers on panels for DoD science, and as collaborators with scientists and engineers at DoD’s laboratories and other research facilities. The NSSEFF program is realigned to PE 0601110D8Z Basic Research Initiatives in FY 2015. NDEP Pre-Kindergarten (PK)-12 engages, develops, and attracts STEM talent for future DoD military and civilian workforce needs via 68 local sites and nine national organizations. NDEP PK-12 leverages the DoD’s STEM expertise to connect students, teachers, schools, and public sector and industry partners with DoD subject matter experts (SMEs) primarily in those communities adjacent to DoD laboratories and bases where the talent pool resides. Authentic STEM experiences for teachers and students include hands-on activities that are aligned with DoD’s technical workforce requirements. Since FY 2007, NDEP PK-12 has increased the number of DoD facilities that directly engage local education authorities (LEAs) to: (1) build student interest in STEM fields and disciplines and in careers specific to DoD; (2) develop DoD-relevant science, engineering and mathematics skills; and (3) provide future talent to fulfill DoD’s demand for highly skilled STEM professionals. NDEP PK-12 has utilized 4,100 exceptional DoD STEM professionals to reach 500,000 students and 8,300 teachers in 30 states. As one specific example, DoD SMEs contributed over 8,000 hours to lead FIRST Robotics Competition teams, with over 90 percent of team members reporting that the hands-on experience taught them about how science and technology can be used to solve real-world science and engineering problems. The PK-12 program is terminated in FY 2014, though portions may transfer to the Department of Education.
Document Details
- Document Type
- R2 Budgetary Justification
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2015
- Source ID
- 0601120D8Z_1_0400_PB_2015
- Change Summary Explanation
- The National Security Science and Engineering Faculty Fellowship (NSSEFF) program is realigned to PE 0601110D8Z, Basic Research Initiatives, in FY 2015. The reduction is a strategic efficiency approach to reduce funding and staffing. As a result, we provide a better alignment of funding and provide support to a smaller military force.
- Service Agency Name
- Office of Secretary Of Defense
Related Documents
- Child Project: National Defense Education Program (NDEP)
- Child Accomplishment: Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Defense Education Program
- Child Accomplishment: National Security Science and Engineering Faculty Fellowship (NSSEFF)
- Child Accomplishment: PK-12