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Pacific Commands Team to Build Future Engineering Force

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090827-23
Release Date: 8/27/2009 4:34:00 PM

By Troy Clarke, Naval Surface Warfare Center Corona Public Affairs

LIHUE, Hawaii (NNS) -- Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Corona partnered with other U.S. Navy Pacific commands to exhibit at the Science and Technology Education Partnership (STEP) conference Aug. 26-28 in Kauai, Hawaii.

The STEP conference seeks to encourage and inspire 4th, 6th and 8th grade students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). NSWC Corona, a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF), and Space and Naval Warfare (SPAWAR) Systems Pacific supported the conference as part of comprehensive strategy to feed the pipeline of new scientists and engineers into the Navy's workforce.

"This Kauai STEP conference is a great way to showcase the Navy's technologies to these budding Kauai students, so they can see the exciting science and engineering careers that await them in the Navy," said NSWC Corona Commanding Officer Capt. Jay A. Kadowaki, the first Asian/Pacific Islander to lead his command. "Their only limitation in life is how boldly they dare to dream, and we're here to inspire that dream and ask they reach for the stars."

The three-day conference featured the "Totally Electric" science show by industry partners and exhibits by NSWC Corona, PMRF, SPAWAR Systems Pacific, Waimea High School Underwater Robotics program and the Kauai Community College School of Electronics.

"I saw a lot of really cool science exhibits at the conference, like the exploding pickle they used to show electrical conductivity," said Courtney Ochoco, an 8th grader at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School. "Being an engineer making $100,000 per year sounds pretty cool, too. And being able to work here on the island is great!"

NSWC Corona has participated in the Kauai STEP sister conference since it began in 2004. The naval command has reached an estimated 40,000 students between the two mainland and island conferences.

"NSWC Corona started a high-tech workforce development pipeline with the STEP program in California, and the island leaders used it as a model for a high-tech workforce pipeline here," said Capt. Aaron L. Cudnohufsky, PMRF commanding officer.

"Through our mutual support, we both have already benefitted by hiring engineers with Kauai ties through this innovative partnership."

The Kauai STEP conference is one of the largest STEM outreach events supported by NAVSEA and reaches an estimated 5,000 students annually. Kadowaki believes the way to build a strong, future technical workforce is through STEM education outreach to students at all grade levels, especially from the diverse backgrounds of inland Southern California and Pacific Islander students of Hawaii.

"Without question, diversity makes our Navy stronger," said Kadowaki. "And the different experiences, backgrounds and talents of potential civilian employees we can inspire and capture in programs like this helps the Navy's Total Force merge into an unbeatable team that's essential to executing the nation's Maritime Strategy."

NSWC Corona is the Navy's independent performance assessment agent and has worked on guided and ballistic missile defense with PMRF for more than 30 years. Both commands are one of the largest employers of scientists and engineers in their respective regions.

For more news from Naval Sea Systems Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/navsea/.