Follow us on NMTC at LinkedIn NTMC at FaceBook NMTC at Twitter NMTC at Twitter

Northeastern Maryland Technology Council
News and Updates

News from NMTC

Latest News from Northeastern Maryland Technology Council.

DSC04118 s 3 768x512There is a different way

MG Crawford, CECOM leader, takes message of opportunity to Frederick Douglass H.S. in Baltimore, MD

Story by Mary B. Grimes, CECOM Public Affairs

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. – “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future,” is a sentiment that while expressed by Franklin D. Roosevelt, was shared by Maj. Gen. Bruce T. Crawford, commanding general of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM) and APG senior installation commander, during a recent visit to Frederick Douglass High School in Baltimore.

Accompanied by Maria Layton, chief, Resource Development, CECOM-G1, and CECOM Command Sgt. Maj. Matthew McCoy, the visit by Crawford and his team provided an opportunity for a lucrative exchange between school officials, members of the Junior ROTC program, and other students regarding the availability of APG resources through outreach partnerships and programs.

FDHS Principal Kelvin Bridgers, and Teri Ray, community school coordinator, welcomed the APG contingent to the historic campus.  They briefed them on the current programs available to FDHS students, provided insights into some of the school’s challenges past and present, and shared their vision for the future.

“The discussion held here today gives us some scope, and range that seems to be unlimited,” said Bridgers.

Using science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, as a springboard for discussion, Crawford delivered a message of opportunity to JROTC and other members of the student body. “Aberdeen is the ‘center of gravity’ for the whole Army — for testing, for research and development and for equipping in Information Technology and intelligence equipment.  It’s the ‘center of gravity’ for the Army and much of the Department of Defense,” said Crawford. “There are a lot of opportunities there, but the people who are able to leverage those opportunities, are the people who know about them. What I’m trying to do is increase knowledge of what happens on Aberdeen Proving Ground so that our youth have an opportunity to access those available resources.”

Paths to success

The Pathways Programs, which is administered by the U.S. State Department, provides a clear path to federal internships for students from high school through post-graduate school and to careers for recent graduates, as well as meaningful training and career development opportunities for individuals who are at the beginning of their federal service. In the Pathways Program, students or recent graduates can begin careers in the federal government by choosing the path that best outlines and describes where they stand academically.

“When I entered the building this morning, I spoke with a young man who says he wants to work with his hands. Well that’s good, but you have to get a foundational education. In order to work with your hands, you want to be the guy who designs the building, and builds the building,” said Crawford. “Much of the ‘cool stuff’ seen on posters depicting Soldiers performing or operating equipment that’s in helicopters, equipment that’s in tanks, robotics, unmanned aerial vehicles, driverless vehicles –the development of that kind of technology for the military — that’s what we do on Aberdeen Proving Ground.”

A career Soldier of more than 30 years, Crawford shared a personal side of his life with the Baltimore students, while encouraging them to seek out good mentors and to keep their options open.

“I was a decent student, but I wasn’t a really good student because at that time, I didn’t work at it. But what I did is I almost shortcut myself, and I almost caused myself not to have an opportunity. So there I was, a senior in high school with no plan. A senior in high school with no idea of what I was going to do with myself. That is, until one day an instructor came along and inspired me…showed me that there is a different way.”

Opening the floor to discussion, students discharged a salvo of questions at the CECOM Commanding General that ranged from ‘when did you make up your mind to go into the military?’ ‘Was it fun jumping out of airplanes?’ and ‘How do you keep a positive attitude as a mentor?’

Moved by the levity and sincerity of their questions, Crawford said, “There’s somebody who’s coming up behind you. It may be a family member, fellow student, someone who looks up to you because of what you’re doing right now. You might not think that because you can’t see it. I encourage you to share what you learn here in JROTC and at Frederick Douglass High School, and be willing to reach back. Go back to your middle school, and talk to kids about what it’s like to be in high school because they’re going to listen to you. Tell them about you and your life experiences. Be willing to reach back and mentor others. There is the expectation that you are going to give back, once you have progressed.”

Outreach advantage

Calling the numerous opportunities and outreach efforts made by the APG team welcome and the timing phenomenal, Bridgers said the school looks forward to developing a strong community partnership with APG.

“We’re in the age of live — everything has to be live for kids today. You can’t just fictitiously create some of these things. This is a great opportunity for us because our kids would get an opportunity to actually see it. Feel the people, and touch the people. We definitely appreciate APG. We appreciate the outreach and for stopping here at Frederick Douglass,” he stated.

Mirroring a similar response, Layton summed up the visit by stating, “The purpose of our CECOM outreach efforts is to educate surrounding communities about APG and its mission, as well as identify opportunities to support those communities.  During today’s visit, Maj. Gen. Crawford successfully addressed both of those objectives.  We leave here knowing that FDHS students now know more about Aberdeen Proving Ground, and that school administrators are looking forward to working with us in the future to explore greater opportunities for their students.”

About APG

The sixth largest employer in Maryland, APG has more than 22,000 civilian, military and contractor employees. Its diverse professional backdrop embraces career and intern opportunities that include scientists, engineers, chemical and biological specialists, Information Technology analysts, legal, contracting and cyber-security engineers.

The APG economic impact on the region spans $6.5 billion – $2.4 billion of which was earmarked for small businesses in fiscal year 2016.

A high tech and vibrant business environment, a government research position at APG promotes researchers’ abilities to not only try new ideas, but enjoy the benefits of selecting the direction of their research for creativity through hands-on lab expertise, mentorship programs, travel opportunities, field experience that ultimately helps America’s Warfighters serving in harm’s way.

As a community that embraces true partnership, the installation hosts a STEM Outreach Center where students can interact directly with science and engineering professionals.  Occupying more than 72,500 acres in Harford County, APG is in close partnerships with several local organizations such as the Maryland National Guard’s Freestate Challenge Academy which offers at-risk youth the chance to gain a sense of duty and selfless service to their community and nation while pursuing educational goals.

FRED DOUG BY MBG SIGN 000 768x608

-30-

Visionary Awards Honorees 2017 WEB 300x200A select group of Marylanders received the prestigious Visionary Award on February 23, 2017, for their contributions to the advancement of STEM education and technology. The ceremony, at the Richlin Ballroom in Edgewood, MD, now in its sixth year, was attended by 200 leaders in industry, government, and education.

“We honor remarkable people who continue to play key roles in moving our region forward in the areas of STEM education and technology,” said NMTC Board Chair, Michael Parker. “These are individuals who selflessly donate their time and talents to make a difference in their community.”

VISIONARY Award – Significant contributions to the well-being of our total community displayed as a personal commitment to the advancement of STEM Education or Technology & Innovation with demonstrated qualities of enlightened leadership over a remarkable period of time.

LEADER Award – Acknowledging the individual’s steadfast, consistent contribution to the advancement of STEM Education or Technology & Innovation in a public way while inspiring others to help in accomplishing shared goals.
INNOVATOR Award – Recognizes exceptional personal efforts in development and implementation of innovative program(s) measurably benefiting STEM Education or Technology & Innovation with the potential for broad positive impact in the community. MENTOR Award – One who consistently goes above and beyond in volunteering their knowledge, experiences, and wisdom to stimulate and inspire greatness in students, teachers or organization protégés?
RISING STAR Award – One who demonstrated, in a bold way, the potential to be an excellent, long-term contributor to STEM Education or Technology & Innovation

READING LEFT TO RIGHT
BOTTOM ROW
Joan Michel Leader Founder/Owner Profile Partners, Inc.
Dr. Veronica Dougherty Innovator Chair, Sciences and Engineering, Cecil College
Dr. Mary Bolt Visionary President Cecil College
Jacqueline Wilson Rising Star Assistant Professor, Computer Science, Cecil College
Marlene Lieb Innovator Assistant Vice President (retired), Harford Community College

MIDDLE ROW
Scott English Innovator Forester APG Directorate of Public Works
Alison Baranowski Rising Star Master Teacher Harford County Public Schools
Dick Schwanke Mentor President Senior Science Society at Harford Community College Anne Marie Baumann Mentor Teacher Cecil County Public Schools
John Nierwinski Mentor Operations Research Analyst, APG Materiel Systems Analysis Activity

TOP ROW
Jerry Crabb Rising Star STEM Program Coordinator, APG Research Development and Engineering Command
Dr. Ebony Roper Mentor Professor of Chemistry Cecil College
Dr. Patrick McNutt Leader Research Scientist APG Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense
Dr. John Suarez Leader Research electronics engineer APG Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center

Northeastern Maryland Technology Council (NMTC) Named Visionary Award Winners for 2017

Fourteen Marylander’s To Be honored at February 23, 2017 Ceremony 
Havre d Grace, MD ― A select group of Marylander’s will receive the prestigious Visionary Award on February 23, 2017, for their contributions to the advancement of STEM education and technology advancement. The ceremony, at the Richlin Ballroom in Edgewood, MD, now in its sixth year, is typically attended by more than 250 leaders in industry, government, and education.

“We honor remarkable people who continue to play key roles in moving our region forward in the areas of STEM education and technology,” said NMTC Board Chair, Michael Parker. “These are individuals who selflessly donate their time and talents to make a difference in their community.”

The 2017 Visionary Award winners are:

    • Visionary: Dr. Mary Way Bolt, President, Cecil College.
    • Leader: Joan Michel, Managing Partner, Profile Partners
    • Leader: Dr. Patrick McNutt, Principal Investigator, Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense
    • Leader: Dr. John Suarez, Senior Research Engineer, Army Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center
    • Innovator: Dr. Veronica Dougherty, Chair, Sciences and Engineering, Cecil College
    • Innovator: Scott English, Forester, Directorate of Public Works at Aberdeen Proving Ground
    • Innovator: Marlene Lieb, Associate Vice President (retired), Harford Community College
    • Mentor: Anne Marie Baumann, Lead Teacher, Cecil County Public Schools.
    • Mentor: John Nierwinski, Operations Research Analyst & Adjunct Professor, Army Materiel Systems Analysis Activity and Florida Institute of Technology
    • Mentor: Dr. Ebony Roper, Professor of Chemistry, Cecil College
    • Mentor: Dick Schwanke, President, Senior Science Society at Harford Community College
    • Rising Star: Alison Baranowski, Master Teacher, Harford County Public Schools
    • Rising Star: Jerry Crabb, STEM Program Coordinator, Army Research Development and Engineering Command
    • Rising Star: Jacqueline Wilson, Assistant Professor, Computer Science, Cecil College

“We are grateful to these individuals for helping our region grow to the next level. Northern Maryland has changed and our economic infrastructure is increasingly focused on research and technology development,” said John Casner, executive director of NMTC. “These are the individuals who are building the foundation for the future of our region.”

NMTC is Maryland’s fast growing technology council, connecting collaborative leaders in Academia,  Industry and the Federal Government to build a STEM educated workforce and advance innovation & technology growth to better the economy of our region and protect our national security.

AR vs VR final 768x525TECH CONN3CT workshops familiarize NMTC members with specific tipping-point technologies, to expand their thinking and encourage/facilitate collaboration.

The 15 December workshop delved into the enormous potential of augmented, virtual and the blending of these two ‘realities’.

Rob Baltrusch, thanks for presenting the potential with these technologies with large scale Army drones, and details on the HoloLens.

Thank you Dave Carey for comparing alternatives to the HoloLens and how the soldier benefits form these light weight visualization system.

Thank you Todd Marks and Hank Hank McLaughlin for showing the potential of blending these two realities, and for setting up your creative Holodeck.

survice logo  Envision Innovation Solutions logo  mindgrub

nmtc stem summit xiv 27817478273 o R 768x512The 15th STEM Summit, July 14, 2016, focused on education, particularly STEM education, as it is evolving at a fast pace to meet the demands of the 21st Century.

This STEM Summit explored these changes, and painted a picture of what the classroom of 2025 will look like. How teaching, learning, technology, and the physical space of learning will change over the next decade was covered in a variety of ways, by experts in their field.

Over 80 joined the summit to get these answers and learn that education is poised to undergo trans-formative change over the next decade like none seen in modern age.

STEM Summit XIV explored four drivers of this revolution in education: technology, discoveries about brain and cognitive science, innovative design of learning spaces, and entrepreneurship.

We highly appreciate and commend Joan Michel, President Profile Partners, for her extensive and diligent work in locating, vetting and inviting such high caliber and expert presenters, and for logistics support in preparing the venue, speakers A/V and all media.

sandy 768x511The American Chemical Society named Dr. Sandra K. Young, an Army research chemist and strong supporter of science, technology, engineering and mathematics outreach, as a fellow in a July 18 announcement. 

Dr. Young also received NMTC’s Visionary Awards honor, for her work in STEM education and as a STEM student mentor at The Visionary Awards Gala, in 2013.

Throughout her career, Young said she has taken a personal interest in STEM education. She ran the APG STEM Center for the first two- years of its existence while teaching and mentoring middle school, high school and college students, and encouraging the continuing education of teachers. She has also taught an introduction to chemistry class for non-chemistry majors at a local community college since 2003.

The NMTC and the community it supports is proud of the work Sandy is doing and thanks her for her continuing years of service.

NMTC Logo Main Web 2021 02

Northeastern Maryland Technology Council
2021 Pulaski Hwy, Suite D, Havre de Grace, MD 21078
410-638-4466

John W. Casner, Executive Director
john.casner@nmtc.org

  Copyright NMTC

Follow us on NMTC at LinkedIn  NTMC at FaceBook  NMTC at Twitter  NMTC at Twitter