STEM: DEPS educational initiative program for undergraduate summer internships and graduate research grants in the fields of HPM, USPL, and CDEW.
Abstract
The Directed Energy Professional Society (DEPS) offers this proposal to the Office of Naval Research (ONR) with the purpose of enhancing and expanding their existing Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) efforts. DEPS is a non-profit professional society composed of scientists and engineers, the vast majority of whose technical interests lay in directed energy (DE) areas, to include high energy laser (HEL) and high power microwave (HPM) technologies. DEPS has successfully supported the Office of Naval Research for the past nine years, through a basic research grant titled #Educational Initiative Program.# In those nine years, DEPS has provided 46 awards (totaling $380,000) from ONR funding to 34 students. Of those 34 students, 17 are still in school and 15 are working in DE for government or industry. Meaning 88% of scholars who have graduated after receiving funding from ONR have transitioned into the DE workforce.DEPS brings a diversified and transparent approach to building and expanding awareness of and interest in the DE technical, scientific, and engineering field. This is required in order to continue and grow current and future DE fields of interest, which include but are not limited to technology, science, prototype systems, programs, and test and evaluation capabilities for military and commercial DE systems. There is an increasing need for a specialized workforce as DE technologies begin to transitionfrom the laboratory to the field. With the continued support of ONR, DEPS will facilitate additional DE focused graduate research grants and undergraduate summer internships to qualified candidates, as well as provide a forum for said scholars to present their innovative research to the community at large. DEPS will then serve as a resource for these students as they continue their education and will assist in helping them find gainful employment within our DE community upon graduation. Although high energy lasers mightbe the most recognized of DE technologies, there are others whose applications are proving to be just as important and effective. With the Joint Directed Energy Transition Office (JDETO) funding HEL and HPM focused research grants, there is an opportunity to expand our targeted technical base to include additional funding for research being done in HPM technologies, ultra short pulse lasers (USPLs) and the Counter Directed Energy Weapon (CDEW) technology area. With the threat constantly evolving, it is critical that we continue to encourage and support the next generation of scientists and engineers who are eager to work in these other prominent DE technical areas.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Nov 08, 2024
- Source ID
- N000142412417
Entities
People
- Cristina Crowson
Organizations
- Directed Energy Professional Society
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy