MENU

DoD STEM Impact
DoD STEM Impact

DoD STEM

IMPACTIMPACTIMPACT

DoD STEM is committed to providing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, outreach, and workforce development opportunities to students of all ages and educators throughout the country.

The Department of Defense (also known as the DoD) depends on nearly 300,000 civilian STEM professionals across the Department of Defense, of which about 80,000 work in the Defense Laboratory Enterprise, to advance Critical Technology Areas and maintain our nation’s competitive advantage. To enrich our current and future DoD workforce, DoD STEM invests in evidence-based approaches that INSPIRE, CULTIVATE, and DEVELOP exceptional STEM talent.

DoD STEM’s efforts include STEM programs run by the Army, Navy/Marine Corps, Air Force/Space Force and other Defense Agencies, including the Missile Defense Agency, NSA, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and more. This page includes data reported by all of the organizations above, as well as other programs that the DoD supports.

Press to move to next section
DoD STEM Impact
DoD STEM Impact

01.01.
Inspire
engagement in STEM

DoD STEM inspires students and educators through meaningful STEM learning experiences.

DoD STEM works with people of all ages, from young students to working adults, to grow their interest in STEM fields. DoD STEM partners with schools, industry and government agencies to expand access to internships, scholarships and other STEM education and outreach.

In 2021, DoD STEM supported 149 STEM education and outreach programs that reached

100000

students across the United States.

DoD STEM Outreach
DoD STEM Outreach
DoD STEM Outreach
DoD STEM Outreach
DoD STEM Outreach
DoD STEM Outreach
DoD STEM Outreach
DoD STEM Outreach
DoD STEM Outreach
DoD STEM Outreach
DoD STEM Outreach
DoD STEM Outreach
DoD STEM Outreach
DoD STEM Outreach
DoD STEM Outreach
DoD STEM Outreach
DoD STEM Outreach
DoD STEM Outreach
DoD STEM Outreach
DoD STEM Outreach
DoD STEM Outreach
DoD STEM Outreach
DoD STEM Outreach
DoD STEM Outreach
DoD STEM Outreach
DoD STEM Outreach
DoD STEM Outreach
DoD STEM Outreach
DoD STEM Outreach
DoD STEM Outreach
DoD STEM Outreach
DoD STEM Outreach

890,331 people is about the
population of South Dakota.

DoD STEM programming reached participants in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and Guam, and DoDEA regions abroad.

Note: Data are from Fiscal Year 2021.

Number of DoD STEM Programs

Map of the USA

< 25

26-50

51-75

76-100

> 100

Note: Data are from Fiscal Year 2021.

Number of DoD STEM Programs

< 25

26-50

51-75

76-100

> 100

DoD STEM programs have

0

connections with PreK-12 schools

0

connections with colleges and universities

Percentage of Students in DoD STEM Programs, by Grade Level

Grades 6-8

19%

Grades 6-8

2-Year College

<1%

2-year college

Graduate School

<1%

graduate school

Grades PreK-5

28%

Grades PreK-5

Grades 9-12

52%

Grades 9-12

4-Year College

1%

4-year college

Early Career Professional

<1%

early career professional

Grades PreK-5

28%

Grades PreK-5

Grades 6-8

19%

Grades 6-8

Grades 9-12

52%

Grades 9-12

2-Year College

<1%

2-year college

4-Year College

2%

4-year college

Graduate School

<1%

graduate school

Early Career Professional

<1%

early career professional

Note: 55% of DoD STEM programs reported participant data by grade level. Total may not sum to 100% due to rounding.

DoD STEM Educators
DoD STEM Educators
DoD STEM Educators

10000

educators attended workshops, trainings, and other activities to boost their STEM expertise and enhance their teaching practices.

DoD STEM Educators
DoD STEM Educators
DoD STEM Educators

I want my students to realize that STEM careers are where we solve real-world problems and that they can make a real impact by building a career in STEM.

Heather Overkamp
High School STEM Teacher

DoD STEM programs offered a variety of activities.

About

60%

of DoD’s investment in STEM activities are resourced to postsecondary programs or programming.

58 percent
Internship or Apprenticeship
26% Internship or Apprenticeship Tooltip Information
Expert Panel or Lecture
30% Expert Panel or Lecture Tooltip Information
Awareness
56% Awareness Tooltip Information
Teacher Training
35% Teacher Training Tooltip Information
Competition
23% Competition Tooltip Information
Outreach
74% Outreach Tooltip Information
Hands-On Activity
59% Hands-On Activity Tooltip Information
Scholarship or Fellowship
13% Scholarship or Fellowship Tooltip Information
Internship or Apprenticeship
26% Internship or Apprenticeship Tooltip Information
Expert Panel or Lecture
30% Expert Panel or Lecture Tooltip Information
Awareness
56% Awareness Tooltip Information
Teacher Training
35% Teacher Training Tooltip Information
Competition
23% Competition Tooltip Information
Outreach
74% Outreach Tooltip Information
Hands-On Activity
59% Hands-On Activity Tooltip Information
Scholarship or Fellowship
13% Scholarship or Fellowship Tooltip Information

Note: Total may not sum to 100% because DoD STEM programs could choose more than one response.

Several DoD STEM programs operate using a consortium-based approach to engaging communities in STEM, and by creating STEM ecosystems.

Two examples are the Defense STEM Education Consortium (DSEC) and the Regional Community College Consortium. These programs focus on inspiring students of all ages, and opening doors to a wide range of STEM career pathways via activities such as hands-on laboratory exercises, courses, mentorship opportunities, internships, and more. These consortia include partnerships among DoD components, industry, academic institutions, and non-profit partners.

Interested in finding STEM
opportunities near you?

Interested in finding STEM
opportunities near you?

02.02.
Attract
STEM workforce

DoD STEM connects students to the DoD STEM workforce.

The DoD employs the largest number of scientists and engineers in the federal government. With the help of DoD STEM, these professionals are inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders. Each year, over 12,000 DoD scientists and engineers volunteer to help students of all ages build interest in STEM careers.

In 2021,

0

DoD scientists and engineers spent

0

hours volunteering with DoD STEM programs

Sun
Shuttle

You could travel around the sun 9 times in that many hours!

About 27% of STEM professionals at the DoD work on cutting-edge research at 63 research labs and engineering centers.

DoD STEM sponsors events where DoD scientists and engineers discuss their journeys into STEM careers with high school and college students.

DoD STEM Sponsors
DoD STEM Sponsors
DoD STEM Sponsors
DoD STEM Sponsors

It was reassuring to learn that someone with such a high level of expertise in a very technical niche didn’t discover his interest and enthusiasm in that area until he had explored other pathways first.

Student Participant
San Diego Miramar College

Karrin Felton

Karrin Felton, Chemical Engineer and Former Program Manager of SMART Scholarship-for-Service Program

DoD scientists and engineers create on-the-job experiences for high school and college students in DoD research labs and engineering centers.

The SMART Scholarship-for-Service Program gives STEM students the tools they need to seek higher education and begin a career with the DoD. With a full scholarship, students earning STEM degrees can focus on complex research to further the DoD's mission and create lasting impact.

Applications for the SMART Program are accepted between August 1 and December 1 each year.

The SMART Program provides the research leaders of tomorrow with not only an education, but a career. Applications accepted between August 1st and December 1st.

Chemistry experiment

The SMART Program has given me a chance to both earn a degree and land a career that I did not think I would be lucky enough to obtain. I wanted to pursue a master’s degree and work in either the space or defense sectors, but thought they were both just out of reach. With the SMART Program, I now am on my way to earning both.

Spencer Lee
SMART Scholar

Meet STEM professionals and alumni who are inspiring the future of STEM.

03.03.
Increase
STEM participation of underserved and underrepresented students

DoD STEM serves students who are underserved and underrepresented in STEM education and workforce development programs, activities, and outreach.

DoD STEM is committed to serving military-connected students and developing exceptional STEM talent that reflects the diversity of the nation.

In 2021, 50% of programs reported an intended outcome of diversifying the STEM workforce. 66% of programs reported direct alignment to Goal 3, objective 2: Expand the outreach of DoD STEM education and workforce development programs and activities to underserved and underrepresented communities through consideration of the barriers faced by these populations.

DoD STEM also works with Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Minority-Serving Institutions and Tribal Colleges and Universities to understand how STEM programs can better serve these communities.

In 2021, DoD STEM programs served

10000

military-connected students.

DoD STEM Programs
DoD STEM Programs
DoD STEM Programs
DoD STEM Programs

66%

of programs reported direct alignment to Goal 3, objective 2: Expand the outreach of DoD STEM education and workforce development programs and activities to underserved and underrepresented communities through consideration of the barriers faced by these populations.

66 percent

66%

66 percent

of programs reported direct alignment to Goal 3, objective 2: Expand the outreach of DoD STEM education and workforce development programs and activities to underserved and underrepresented communities through consideration of the barriers faced by these populations.

Percentage of Students Engaged in DoD STEM Programs, by Race/Ethnicity

ASIAN: 10%
NATIVE AMERICAN OR ALASKA NATIVE: 1%
NATIVE HAWAIIAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER: 1%
MORE THAN ONE RACE/ETHNICITY: 2%
BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN: 13%
HISPANIC OR
LATINO/A/X: 18%
WHITE: 41%
NOT REPORTED: 14%

Asian: 7%

Back or African American: 16%

Hispanic or Latino/A/X: 21%

Native American or Alaska Native: 2%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: <1%

White: 45%

More than one race/ethnicity: 5%

Not reported: 2%

Note: 61% of DoD STEM programs reported participant data by race/ethnicity. Total may not sum to 100% due to rounding.

Percentage of Students Engaged in DoD STEM Programs, by Gender

SELF-IDENTIFY: <1%
MALE: 52%
FEMALE: 46%
NOT REPORTED: 1%

Male: 50%

Female: 49%

Self-identify: <1%

Not reported: <1%

Note: 76% of DoD STEM programs reported participant data by gender.

Partner Spotlight

Partner Spotlight

STEMKAMP

Grades 3-8

STEMKAMP partners with 10 military-connected school districts across the United States to bring hands-on summer science camps to students. Through these camps, students gain a better understanding of STEM careers, develop critical thinking engineering skills and gain the self-confidence and motivation to continue on paths toward STEM careers.

STEMKAMP
Visit the STEMKAMP website

DoD STEM works with many STEM education and outreach partners to increase the participation of underserved and underrepresented students.

04.04.
Advance
efficiency and effectiveness of STEM programs

DoD STEM conducts evaluation and assessment to improve outcomes.

DoD STEM - Advance

DoD STEM regularly monitors progress towards our vision and mission and promotes a culture of evaluation and accountability in all of our programs.

DoD STEM operates around a logic model to translate high-level goals into meaningful programs and activities.

Download the Logic Model

PDF, 463 Kb

76%

of DoD STEM programs engaged in evaluation and assessment activities in 2021.

Although differences in program measures do not allow for cross-program comparisons, programs will be able to evaluate changes in student behaviors and attitudes over time as more data become available.

76 percent

76%

58 percent

of DoD STEM programs engaged in evaluation and assessment activities in 2021.

Although differences in program measures do not allow for cross-program comparisons, programs will be able to evaluate changes in student behaviors and attitudes over time as more data become available.

DoD STEM programming aligns to the overarching logic model.

Percentage of DoD STEM Programs Aligned With Logic Model Outcomes

DOD-RELEVANT STEM SKILLS

68%

QUALITY AND DIVERSE STEM WORKFORCE AND TALENT POOL

57%

TRADITIONAL AND NONTRADITIONAL PATHWAYS TO STEM

55%

CONTINUED EXCELLENCE IN DOD STEM WORKFORCE

46%

ENRICHED CLASSROOM TEACHING AND LEARNING

46%

DIVERSE STEM WORKFORCE

44%

COLLEGE-READY STEM STUDENTS:

39%

HIGH SCHOOL–READY STEM STUDENTS

31%

LEVERAGED STEM ECOSYSTEMS

26%

Note: Total may not sum to 100% because DoD STEM programs could choose more than one response.

Collectively, DoD STEM programming reaches a vast number of participants through a diverse offering of programs and opportunities, and continues to promote evaluation and reporting efforts across the Department.

DoD STEM Programs
DoD STEM Programs

The data on this page are from Fiscal Year 2021 (October 1, 2020 - September 30, 2021).