I could not be more excited to share with you the most recent Department of Defense Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education and Outreach Advocate of the Quarter award recipients.

Spoiler alert: Navy wins big!

Naval STEM education and outreach is rarely a paid gig, yet year after year, I come across selfless people within the Department of the Navy who are passionate about STEM and dedicate themselves by inspiring, engaging and educating students of all ages.

The DoD SAQ award recognizes exceptional individuals or teams that go above and beyond their expected roles and responsibilities to bring STEM to students and into the community through active engagement. It is the most prestigious STEM award within the DoD, and only four are awarded each year. 

This blog is the first part of a four-part series where I will introduce you to each of the Navy's recent DoD SAQ recipients. Yes - FOUR WINNERS!!!

The DoD SAQ Awardee for FY19 Quarter 4 is Mr. Steven Corbin. Steven is the Division Chief Engineer (CHENG) for the Maneuver, Surveillance, and Engagement (MS&E) Division at Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane.

Being a chief engineer is a demanding job, yet Mr. Corbin is also dedicated to STEM education and outreach. For starters, he is a proud advocate of the Student Employee Program at NSWC Crane due to his experience working as an undergrad intern before beginning his engineering career. He also served as a member of the Corporate Hiring and Recruiting Team from 2013 to 2019. Moreover, Mr. Corbin has mentored students within the Student Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP). He has served as a presenter for the NSWC Crane Educator Boot Camp tours, an initiative that benefits local teachers interested in learning about available STEM careers in the local area.

The exceptional work that Mr. Corbin has produced is demonstrated in the instrumental part he played in developing the NSWC Crane Workplace Simulation Project. The initiative is an annual event in collaboration with the Direct Employers Institute, held with local schools. Mr. Corbin developed a real-world application that simulates the work environment and an actual project the students would complete at NSWC Crane. He leads students through the entire project lifecycle, including system design, building and testing. The project has provided students with insight into how their classes play a role in their future careers. The project has also shown students in a rural community the value of STEM education and the employment opportunities within a short commute. As a result of the initiative, educators in the local area have noticed an increased interest in computer programming, and the local high school and elementary school are now offering STEM and cybersecurity classes to their students. The project has also served as a direct pipeline to NSWC Crane recruiting, providing at least ten students who have served as interns or permanent employees at NSWC Crane.

Mr. Steven Corbin is the epitome of what Naval STEM strives to be in all that we do! He has inspired numerous students to pursue STEM, educated STEM students and created a STEM pipeline to the Navy. Mr. Corbin’s and each award recipient's contributions reflect great credit upon themselves and the Department of Navy!