"If your dreams don't scare you, you are not dreaming big enough," challenged Jimmy Smith, deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for expeditionary programs and logistics management (DASN E&LM), at the NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support (NAVSUP WSS)-sponsored Navy Career Day, March 23.

Navy Career Day, which took place at the Independence Seaport Museum (ISM) and was geared toward high school students from the Philadelphia area, was born out of a partnership between NAVSUP WSS and the ISM to develop and retain the next generation of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) professionals. The event featured an inspiring panel discussion with Navy military and civilian STEM leaders and student participants from the NAVSUP WSS and ISM STEM program; as well as interactive exhibitions and information booths from Navy commands and local colleges and universities.

"We need the world's brightest scientists, most innovative designers [and] most creative coders to help keep this country strong," Rear Adm. Heinz, commander, NAVSUP WSS, told the attending students. "This is your chance to start or further the type of connections that can help you achieve your goals.

"To know that you're interested in STEM and learning more about the U.S. Navy - both of which are so important to the protection and prosperity of our Nation - is very encouraging for our future," Heinz continued.

In addition to exploring the booths and displays set up around the museum, students participated in an underwater robotics competition, tested and played with For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Tech Challenge robots and learned about the Delaware River's biology, ecology and chemistry through a Scientific Discovery Workshop.

Lynn Kohl, vice commander, NAVSUP WSS, a career Navy STEM professional, encouraged students to push their boundaries, accept challenges and get out of their comfort zones as they pursue their goals in STEM. As a senior executive service member who began her career as an engineer, she emphasized opportunities for civilian naval careers as an alternative to military service.

"I loved being an engineer for the Navy, and as I grew in my career, they gave me the opportunity to work in all kinds of fields - not just engineering," Kohl said. "It expanded into logistics and into information technology. If you want to serve your country, but you don't want to be in the military, being a government civilian is an excellent choice."

Smith not only served as a panelist but also provided inspirational keynote remarks about his own life journey, naval career path and scholarship opportunities.

"I started with something small in STEM, and it blossomed into something I'm still doing today," Smith said, referencing his time as a young pilot and linking it with his experience as a submarine technician and DASN E&LM. "The opportunities following a STEM path are endless."

Earlier in the day, Smith took time to visit NAVSUP WSS to discuss the command's leading role in establishing performance based logistics contracts for the Navy, the future of Navy supply chain management and NAVSUP WSS's critical role in maintaining fleet readiness and superiority.

Navy Career Day participating agencies included: Naval Sea Systems Command; Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command; Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery; the U.S. Naval Academy; Navy Recruiting District - Philadelphia; the University of Pennsylvania; Drexel, Temple, and Rowan universities; the Community College of Philadelphia; the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia; and the Urban Youth Racing School. The event was funded by the Navy Recruiting Command Diversity Office.

On November 3, 2014, NAVSUP WSS and Independence Seaport Museum announced a new partnership to guide high school students towards STEM-related occupations through their Educating Acquisition, Global Logistics and Engineering (EAGLE) program. The new alliance came in response to the high demand for STEM graduates and the low numbers of students pursuing or receiving STEM-related degrees in Pennsylvania and throughout the nation. Navy Career Day functions as an inspiration and awareness campaign to further the partnership's goals.

For more information about the EAGLE program, visit www.facebook.com/eaglestem

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Naval Supply Systems Command, visit www.navy.mil/.