'Project lead the way' key to future defense industry workforce.

• Jurisdiction: United States
• Date: 01 July 2009
• Author: Swallow, Edward M.
• Published date: 01 July 2009
• Author: Swallow, Edward M.

The National Defense Industrial Association has focused on a growing challenge in the United States: The country is not graduating enough science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workers to meet demand.

Because maintaining a highly skilled U.S. aerospace, defense and homeland security work force is critical to the nation's security and economic strength, NDIA has searched for ways to head off that shortage.

It recently stood up a STEM Workforce Division whose goal is to increase the supply of quality, clearable STEM workers. The association is leveraging the resources of its members, working in conjunction with government, partnering with educational organizations and accelerating the growth of proven initiatives.

The National Business Roundtable projects an annual need of 400,000 college graduates in STEM if the United States is to be competitive in the global marketplace...