National Defense Education Program (NDEP)

Abstract

This program supports the Department's initiatives to Build Sustainable and Long-Term Advantage and Taking Care of People. The National Defense Education Program (NDEP): (1) Fosters and enhances the Department of Defense’s (DoD) ability to develop and access high-quality science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) talent vital to national defense, now and in the future; (2) Is executed by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)); (3) Aligned to the Federal STEM Strategy, the NDEP addresses critical STEM education and talent development challenges using a continuous learning structure and evidence-based approaches; (4) Activities align with the Department’s vision of a diverse STEM talent pool readily accessible to serve our Nation and evolve the Department’s competitive edge; (5) DoD STEM and NDEP activities engage in assessment and evaluation practices as outlined by the Office of Management and Budget and the Government Accountability Office; and (6) Aligns to the DoD science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) Strategy in support of the National Defense Strategy and the DoD science and technology (S&T) modernization priorities. Specifically, the NDEP is part of the broader Department-wide effort under DoD STEM, which works collectively with partners from academia, industry non-profit organizations, defense laboratories, and other government entities to: (1) build strong foundations for STEM literacy; (2) increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM; and (3) prepare the STEM workforce of the future. NDEP activities further support the DoD STEM effort in providing authentic learning experiences through a variety of education and outreach initiatives in the form of scholarships, internships, enrichment activities, competitions, and mentorships by leveraging partners from industry, academia, and other government organizations with a shared STEM mission. The DoD STEM programs span across all age groups, including kindergarten through twelfth grade (K-12) students and teachers and postsecondary, undergraduate, and graduate students. The NDEP’s portfolio includes: the Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) program; STEM Education and Outreach efforts including the Defense STEM Education Consortium (DSEC); and specific Congressionally directed programs, to include the Manufacturing Engineering Education Program (MEEP) and broader NDEP funding opportunities in STEM education and workforce development. The SMART program awards highly competitive scholarships-for-service to undergraduate and graduate students in 21 STEM academic disciplines and hires the students, upon graduation, into DoD's workforce. As part of the SMART experience, scholars engage in internships that allow for relevant hands-on research and work experiences in DoD facilities, thereby enhancing their educational experience. Since its inception as a pilot program in FY 2005, SMART has awarded approximately 4,200 scholarships to students pursuing undergraduate to doctoral studies. To date, nearly 2,800 students have completed their academic pursuit and transitioned into DoD employment with over 1,000 more currently pursuing their SMART-funded degree. Over 2,000 participants have successfully completed the program through their DoD Service commitment. SMART ensures the Department has a steady infusion of high-quality technical talent, prepared in areas of critical importance to DoD, and ready to apply their technical knowledge, skills, and abilities to fulfill DoD’s mission. The NDEP will continue to support the preparation of dependents of members of the armed forces for careers in STEM as enacted under 10 USC 2192(b) in FY 2020. STEM education and outreach activities and awardees through NDEP Congressional Adds will continue to engage military connected students in collaboration with the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). Additionally, where feasible, NDEP activities will also support the Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act, enacted in FY 2020. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) Education and Outreach is a multitude of cohesive and coordinated activities for PreK-16 students, teachers, and schools, especially those for underrepresented and underserved communities, to include military connected students. In March 2019, the Defense STEM Education Consortium (DSEC) was established to facilitate these efforts. The DSEC is a consortium model approach that leverages a collaborative ecosystem/partnership between academia, industry, not-for-profit organizations, and government that aims to broaden STEM literacy and develop a diverse and agile workforce to power the United States’ innovative defense infrastructure. The DSEC is a five-year, $89.000 million investment, which comprises a diverse consortium of program partners and is designed to leverage evidence-based approaches to inspire and develop the U.S. science and technology future workforce. Finally, the DSEC is designed to evolve over time and has built-in Innovation Bloc (IB) funding which allows the consortium to address emerging issues in STEM education and potential gaps within the portfolio. The DoD consistently seeks innovative scientific and technological solutions to address current and future military requirements. The MEEP will enhance existing, or establish new education programs (or collection of programs), to better position the current and next generation manufacturing workforce to produce military systems and components that assure technological superiority for the Department. The Biotechnology Education Program (BIOTECH) will establish new educational programs that align with BIOTECH Modernization priorities.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2024
• Source ID: 120_0601120D8Z_1_0400_PB_2024

Tags

Fields of Study

• Education

Readers

• Defense Technology Research and Development.
• STEM Education

Technology Areas

• Biotechnology