For the primary time since earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic, the Division of the Navy’s (DoN) Traditionally Black Schools and Universities/Minority Establishments (HBCU/MI) Program sponsored its annual Naval Alternative Consciousness Workshop (OAW) in particular person.
This yr’s occasion not too long ago was held at Florida Worldwide College in Miami.
“HBCU/MIs symbolize a essential ingredient within the creating of future leaders within the naval science and expertise workforce,” mentioned Chief of Naval Analysis Rear Adm. Kurt Rothenhaus, who gave the workshop’s opening remarks. “To take care of our technological edge for the Sailors and Marines we now have the privilege of serving, we’d like the perfect from across the nation to forge the longer term and be the subsequent technology of scientists, engineers, technicians and different professions.”
HBCU/MIs collectively enroll over 5 million college students and supply essential faculty entry to those that usually come from historically underserved communities and are the primary of their household to attend an establishment of upper studying. Not surprisingly, HBCU/MIs have turn out to be high producers of various expertise, notably in STEM (science, expertise, engineering, arithmetic) fields.
That’s a expertise supply the DoN HBCU/MI Program, which is situated on the Workplace of Naval Analysis (ONR), needs to succeed in. A method it does so is thru the Naval OAW.
The Naval OAW is aimed toward college and faculty presidents, vice presidents, provosts, college, employees and college students from HBCU/MIs. It highlights analysis alternatives throughout the Navy and Marine Corps, summer season college/sabbatical analysis alternatives and pupil internships.
It additionally gives a essential platform for direct engagement between the DoN and key stakeholders, potential grantees and future companions. The Naval OAW serves as a recruitment software to get extra HBCU/MI college concerned in naval-relevant scientific analysis — and appeal to college students to internships.
This yr’s occasion featured quite a lot of dialogue panels, together with one consisting of ONR program officers, program managers and senior leaders who spoke about analysis areas of curiosity to the command, mentioned the most effective methods to succeed in program officers, and offered suggestions for submitting profitable funding proposals to the DoN and different Division of Protection companies.
The ONR panel included:
- Alexandra Landsberg, Naval STEM Coordination Workplace govt and division director, Command, Management, Computing, Communications, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Concentrating on Division
- Robert Sparrock, program officer, Ocean Battlespace Sensing Division
- Dr. Thomas Fu, head, Sea Warfare and Weapons Division
- Dr. Patrick Mason, head, Warfighter Efficiency Division
- Cmdr. Osazonamen Igbinosun, navy deputy, Naval Air Warfare and Weapons Division
Dr. Jennifer Wolk, a program officer in ONR’s Sea Warfare and Weapons Division, moderated the panel.
“This yr’s Naval OAW was a powerful success,” mentioned Anthony C. Smith Sr., director of the DoN HBCU/MI Program. “Given this was our first in-person occasion post-COVID, I used to be extraordinarily happy with the attendance and watching the engagements was inspiring.
“The ONR panel, specifically, was very properly obtained,” he continued. “The questions and inquiries by the attendees made for an thrilling, informative change with the panelists.”
The DoN HBCU/MI Program has three foremost objectives:
1. Increase alternatives for colleges to efficiently compete for grants and contracts in fundamental and utilized analysis.
2. Provide fellowships to college and internships to college students pursuing levels in STEM research.
3. Promote higher pupil curiosity in STEM levels at HBCU/MIs.
Be taught extra concerning the DoN HBCU/MI Program at https://www.nre.navy.mil/education-outreach/hbcu-mi-historically-black-colleges.
Warren Duffie Jr. is a contractor for ONR Company Strategic Communications.
