INDIAN HEAD, Md. — Representatives from Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division (IHEODTD) signed an Educational Partnership Agreement with Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) during a ceremony at the Charles County Fair, Sept. 13.
The agreement is the product of years of partnership and collaboration between the two organizations. In its signing, both parties hope to promote practical, real-world applications of STEM programs and education.
"Longstanding educational partnerships like the one we have with NSWC IHEODTD help us prepare our students for today, for the future and even for jobs that do not currently exist,” CCPS Superintendent Dr. Kim Hill said. “The support the command has provided our students for many years — without a formal partnership — has been priceless. NSWC IHEODTD provides judges for our Science Fair, mentors and funding for robotics programs and research opportunities for high school students through the Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program during the summer."
Under this agreement, NSWC IHEODTD will provide CCPS students access to U.S. Navy technology and materials deemed to be surplus, in addition to advice and mentorship from command personnel. CCPS – in turn – will make laboratory equipment and facilities available to the command, as well as providing opportunities for NSWC IHEODTD to assist in the CCPS educational curriculum.
NSWC IHEODTD STEM Coordinator Dr. Martin Chernoff said this agreement will be instrumental in training the next generation of scientists and engineers.
“This agreement is a formal step to a partnership that spans decades. The intent is to be more strategic in how we engage and educate the students of Charles County,” Chernoff said. “We want to be an active force in their education, but we want to do it as effectively as possible. By allowing them access to command technology and mentors, we can prepare them for careers in STEM and ensure the continued effectiveness of the U.S. Navy.”
NSWC IHEODTD – a field activity of the Naval Sea Systems Command and part of the Navy's Science and Engineering Enterprise - is the leader in ordnance, energetics, and EOD solutions. The Command focuses on energetics research, development, testing, evaluation, in-service support, and disposal; and provides warfighters solutions to detect, locate, access, identify, render safe, recover, exploit, and dispose of explosive ordnance threats.