Selected Previous Studies

Leif E Peterson

Outline

• Air Force S&E Future Study – 2002• National Defense University – 2008• NRC STEM Study for Air Force – 2010• Bright Horizons – STEM Roadmap 2011• NDAA Report for FY2012

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Future Study Overview• Established first ever future S&E workforce

projections for 2010, 2015 and 2025– Defined tools to establish projections– Derived workforce trends – Identified current and emerging technical degree

profiles • Concluded that we must man to authorized

level with the right skills – Allows us to manage workforce to acceptable risk

based on threat

Fill Authorizations With Right Skills Fill Authorizations With Right Skills

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Most Relevant Future Degrees

Future technology area emphasis will drive a shift toward the following academic degrees:

Directed Energy:Directed Energy:Electrical EngineeringPhysicsSystems Engineering

Information:Information:Computer ScienceElectrical EngineeringMathematics

Space Vehicles:Space Vehicles:Aerospace (Astronautical Engineering)Operations ResearchPhysicsSystems Engineering

Human Factors: Human Factors: Behavioral SciencePsychology

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Way Ahead• Fill S&E military and civilian workforce to

authorizations– Develop time-phased plan and metrics – S&E Roadmap– Considers loss projections, and workforce-mix (i.e. military, civilian,

support contractor)– Requires Critical Skills Accession Bonus

• Provide profiles for recruitment and retention– Accession Targets – Recruiting Sources

• Develop policy on accessions and retention

Manage S&E Workforce to Acceptable Risk Manage S&E Workforce to Acceptable Risk

National Defense UniversityJuly 2008

• “Building the S&E Workforce for 2040, Challenges Facing the Department of Defense”

Timothy Coffee, Edison Chair for Technology & Senior Research Scientist at University of Maryland

• Conclusions:– Shadow workforce and its implications– Competition of Federal outlays (Medicare, debt, etc.)– Ability of S&T workforce to renew itself/maintain advocacy for new

S&T initiatives

Air Force NRC Study• National Research Council published report on Examination

of the USAF’s STEM Workforce Needs in the Future and Its Strategy to Meet Those Needs, August 2010, included 25 recommendations

• Assess the STEM capabilities the U.S. Air Force• Determine whether those capabilities will meet AF needs• Identify and evaluate strategy options• Address STEM capability in terms of functional mgt areas• Identify and evaluate options re organization and

management of Air Force STEM workforce• Recommend strategies to meet STEM needs in the future

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Bright Horizons

• Air Force STEM Workforce Strategic Roadmap• AF STEM NRC Report, Aug 2010• STEM Advisory Council – governance process• Six Goal Areas – 31 initiatives, covers military & civilians• Linked to AF Strategic Plan, S&T Strategy, & Technology Horizons

• Signed by SECAF and CSAF

Mar 2011

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NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATIONACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2012

Examination of Department of Defense science, technology,engineering, and mathematics workforce needs.

The committee recognizes the challenges the Department of Defenseis facing in meeting the needs for its future science, technology,engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce and applaudsthe number of efforts across the services and the Departmentof Defense to better understand these challenges and developstrategies to address them. Of note, is a STEM Workforce StrategicRoadmap developed by the Air Force, called ‘‘Bright Horizons’’, thatin part was motivated by a recent study conducted by the NationalAcademies for the Air Force entitled, ‘‘Examination of the U.S. AirForce’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics(STEM) Workforce Needs in the Future and Its Strategy to MeetThose Needs’’. The committee encourages the Air Force to pursueand adequately resource the implementation of this Roadmap. Furthermore, the committee strongly urges the Departments of theArmy and Navy to conduct similar studies by an independent thirdparty organization and develop similar strategic roadmaps.

In the beginning……

• Importance of defining terms• Necessity of knowing requirements

It is as fundamental to STEM as reading is to education

Back Up Slides

STEM DEFINITIONS

STEM Workforce – Air Force professionals having degrees in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. STEM Degreed - The total assigned military/civilian personnel with a qualifying STEM degree at the undergraduate/graduate level to include those who are not presently serving in a technical degree required position, such as a program manager or a pilot. STEM Assigned – The Air Force professionals having degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics and are presently serving in a technical degree required position.

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Need Common Terminology Across DOD

• STEM Workforce• Outreach• Education• Training• Professional development• Investment