Armed with Science | Tag Archive

The Strategically Critical Cyber Airman

Filed under Cyber Security by jtozer on April 21, 2013 at 7:33 am {no comments}

Chief Master Sgt. Linus Jordan, Air Force Space Command, command chief, discusses the role of airmen as a strategically critical professional Cyber force for the nation during a panel discussion at Cyber 3.1 in Colorado Springs. (Air Force photo by Duncan Wood )

Cyber airman development became the focus of discussion at Cyber 1.3 in Colorado Springs as Chief Master Sgt. Linus Jordan, command chief, Air Force Space Command, addressed space and cyber industry leaders at the conference prior to official opening of the 29th National Space Symposium.

Jordan, and a civilian aerospace leader, were participants in a moderated panel discussion that encouraged audience participation via e-mail.

The interactive forum quickly moved through topics including youth interest in an evolving cyber culture, common talent pool recruitment considerations, challenges of long-term development of a professional cyber force, and the critical roles of cyber-trained airmen.

Jordan invested in developing cyber airmen, both as command chief for the Air Force major command, and as a father of an airman in the cyber operations career field.

He challenged common assumptions that people fall into only the popular categories of digital native or digital immigrant. Jordan offered a third category: the digitally disadvantaged.

“There are demographics in our country where young people, or people of any age, may not have had the opportunity – educationally or economically – to be exposed to technology…to have the opportunity to use and leverage technology.”

“Just because someone was born into an era, doesn’t mean they experienced what that era was all about, “said Jordan.

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DARPA’s Vertical Flight 2.0

Filed under Technology by jtozer on April 3, 2013 at 7:09 am {no comments}

Higher speeds, increased efficiency, elegant designs are the focus of new VTOL X-Plane. (graphic provided by DARPA)

One of the greatest challenges of the past half century for aerodynamics engineers has been how to increase the top speeds of aircraft that take off and land vertically without compromising the aircraft’s lift to power in hover or its efficiency during long-range flight.

The versatility of helicopters and other vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft make them ideal for a host of military operations. Currently, only helicopters can maneuver in tight areas, land in unprepared areas, move in all directions, and hover in midair while holding a position.

This versatility often makes rotary-wing and other VTOL aircraft the right aerial platform for transporting troops, surveillance operations, special operations and search-and-rescue missions.

Compared to fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters are slower-leaving them more vulnerable to damage from enemy weapons.

Special operations that rely on lightning-quick strikes and medical units that transport patients to care facilities need enhanced speed to shorten mission times, increase mission range, reduce the number of refueling events and, most important, reduce exposure to the adversary.

By their very design, rotary-wing aircraft that take off and land vertically have a disadvantage achieving speeds comparable to fixed-wing aircraft. Since its invention, engineers have attempted to overcome this design barrier but have encountered lower fuel efficiency and less lift capacity, ability to be controlled, simplicity, and reliability of design.

While engineers have improved the speed of fixed-wing aircraft-achieving two and three times the speeds of jets designed since the 1960s-attempts to increase efficient VTOL aircraft speed have stalled.

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STEM Leaders Encourage An Early Start In Science

Filed under STEM, Teacher Feature, Videos by jtozer on March 26, 2013 at 7:10 am {no comments}

What have you done for STEM lately?

Mary Doak is the program manager for community and education outreach at the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command‘s Edgewood Chemical Biological Center. She discusses her role in supporting science, technology, engineering and mathematics education in the APG area.

Video provided by the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command YouTube Channel

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STEM Technovation For Women

Filed under STEM by jtozer on March 21, 2013 at 7:27 am {no comments}

Women’s History Month is in full swing, and the Office of Naval Research (ONR) is helping to meet the challenge of encouraging young women to become scientists.

The Technovation Challenge — funded by ONR to introduce girls to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers — provides an opportunity for girls from around the country to design and pitch mobile phone apps to leaders in computer science and business.

The challenge spans 12 weeks and ends May 1 at the World Pitch event in San Francisco. During the challenge, teams of high school girls are mentored in design, computer coding and business; nearly every mentor is female.

“ONR is helping girls develop into future technology leaders,” said Cmdr. Joseph Cohn, deputy director of research for Navy STEM. “We understand the importance of recognizing the historic technological contributions women have made. We also need to celebrate the efforts girls and young women—tomorrow’s leaders—are making today.”

ONR’s support has helped the Technovation Challenge transition from a pilot program for 45 girls in a single location to a nationwide program. It has since expanded to 18 countries.

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Army Supports Science, Technology Youth Activities

Filed under Education & Culture, STEM by jtozer on February 6, 2013 at 7:13 am {no comments}

This Boston Green Academy student (right) is at SolidWorks facility in Waltham, Mass., just outside of Boston. It was the Army-sponsored kickoff to that region. With him is Tony Schumacher, the Army-sponsored NHRA Top Fuel Dragster driver.(courtesy photo)

Today’s soldiers are strong and technologically savvy, and the Army aims to continue to attract these young people to its ranks, said Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Marketing Mark S. Davis.

The Army also wants to educate the public about the many opportunities it offers young people who want careers in science and technology, said Davis, who also is the director of Army Marketing and Research Group, or AM&RG, which was created in April 2011.

“The more we expose the public to our soldiers, civilians and family members, the stronger our brand becomes, the more our story is understood and believed, and the more comfortable influencers and potential prospects are in recommending or serving in our ranks.”

One AM&RG initiative, started a year ago, involves science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, activities and competitions in high schools across the country.

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DOD, Duke University Partner in Research Projects

Filed under Education & Culture, STEM by jtozer on January 18, 2013 at 7:43 am {no comments}

The Defense Department sponsors Duke University researchers to conduct projects in mathematics, engineering and biology that advance military capabilities and strengthen national security, a university official said in a recent phone interview.

Duke University researchers actively participate in DOD programs and awards, and projects are designed to help the warfighter enhance intelligence gathering, avoid battlefield hazards and maintain medical readiness, said Dr. Jim Siedow, the university’s vice provost for research.

“There’s always been an interest in Duke scientists for projects that might be defense related,” Siedow said. “It’s an important element of research for us, given that a lot of what the military does today involves gathering intelligence — so the better you’re able to do that, the safer the world is likely to be.”

Although the research projects typically do not bear fruit for decades, Siedow described relatively short-term success stories from past and current projects.

“[An electrical engineer professor] developed algorithms applied to the function of cochlear implants that allow people to hear, so there’s a computer technology associated with [it],” he said.

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Free Search Engine Connects Classrooms with Science and Technology

Filed under Education & Culture, STEM by jtozer on January 3, 2013 at 7:19 am {no comments}

An educational search engine funded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) has gone mobile with the release of an iPad app.

Gooru, a free search engine for learning that brings together science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) educational materials on the web-developed the Gooru Collections iPad app to bring thousands of assorted multimedia resources to teachers and students on the go.

Launched with initial investment from ONR, Gooru provides a one-stop shop for fifth- to 12th-graders and their teachers to discover and share high-quality videos, games, digital textbooks, quizzes and other interactive products related to STEM and eventually other subjects.

“ONR’s STEM efforts are looking for ways to inspire, engage and educate current and future STEM leaders,” said Cmdr. Joseph Cohn, ONR’s deputy director of research for STEM. “This technology promises to have a broad reach and would facilitate millions of students and teachers in developing a deeper understanding of a range of STEM disciplines.”

Last year, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced plans to strengthen the service’s future workforce by doubling the investment in STEM education over the next five years. The secretary shared this vision at a conference sponsored by ONR, which coordinates the Navy’s STEM efforts and offers a collaborative website at STEM2Stern.org.

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STEM In Real Life

Filed under Education & Culture, STEM, Videos by jtozer on November 28, 2012 at 7:02 am {no comments}

The STEM program, which stands for science, technology, engineering and math, is geared toward fostering an interest in these fields in young people. United States Navy and the Office of Naval Research Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) efforts and specific programs give students an interesting look at how those skills are used in innovative, real world situations.

Check this out: