SIX PLUS TWO EQUALS STEM


I hold a B.S. in chemistry and an M.A. in leadership, and I previously participated in ACS to earn an M.S. in biomedical engineering.


KEEP IT CLEAN


The author learned to fabricate gold wafers using electron beam deposition tools within the VINSE clean room. (Photo courtesy of the author)


Lastly, I have had the opportunity to interact with a number of other officers on campus who are earning their degrees through ACS. While most are post-command captains earning MBAs, I met three field-grade officers working toward doctorates in Amer- ican politics. Tese officers are a part of the U.S. Army Strategic Planning and Policy Program run at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. Teir program includes two years of coursework at a top university, additional training in strategic studies at Fort Leavenworth and a developmental assignment in a strategic planning position. Te program was established by former Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond T. Odierno to address a shortage of military officers who could think strate- gically. Tese officers are highly competitive and come from all branches of the Army. While the new acquisition officer Ph.D. program has some key differences from the Army Strategic Plan- ning and Policy Program, the vision and outcomes align well with the aims of Dr. Bruce D. Jette, assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, specifically for develop- ing future Army acquisition leaders with strategic and technical acumen, credentials and skills.


SUPPLY AND DEMAND Te need for uniformed technologists is not new, nor is the effort to develop these types of officers. Leaders within the Army acqui- sition community have long wanted to leverage officers with STEM backgrounds to lead more technical programs, with the idea that greater familiarity with the technology could improve decisions about program cost, schedule and performance. Both the Defense Treat Reduction Agency and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) leverage advanced researchers with Ph.D.s as project managers within their science and tech- nology organizations. An earlier acquisition branch program to develop officers with doctoral degrees, the Uniformed Scientist and Engineer Program, ended in 2010, due in part to a lack of career progression opportunities for these officers, and the need to focus the workforce on other acquisition priorities.


SEE HERE


The author presented his research at the VINSE Nanoday 2019 poster competition. (Photo courtesy of the author)


Te acquisition proponent has recognized the need for more offi- cers with STEM degrees and has invested in outreach at both


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Army AL&T Magazine Winter 2021


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