On February 21, 2018, the SERC participated in National Engineers Week at the Pentagon Conference Center, supporting the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Systems Engineering (ODASD(SE)) by utilizing the Mobile Immersion Lab to showcase digital posters created by . In conjunction with DiscoverE sponsoring EWeek nationwide, the Department of Defense (DoD) hosted the 13th annual celebration at the Pentagon to recognize the DoD engineering workforce and highlight engineering achievements and innovation. Sponsors included the Washington Headquarters Services (WHS) Facilities Services Directorate and the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (ASD(R&E)). Ms. Kristen Baldwin, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Systems Engineering (DASD(SE)), co-hosted the event. National Engineer’s Week observes more than 70 engineering, education, and cultural societies with over 50 corporations and government agencies, demonstrating how engineers contribute. National Engineer’s Week was started in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers, and is always in conjunction with President George Washington’s birthday since he was considered the nation’s first engineer. One of SERC’s missions is to institute new approaches to educate future systems engineers and engineers, and Engineer’s Week helps to demonstrate the vast amount systems engineers can contribute.
This year’s featured speaker at the 13th Annual Pentagon National Engineers Week (EWeek) Celebration was Lieutenant General Todd T. Semonite, Chief of Engineers and Commanding General, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The event included a presentation of awards for Scientist of the Quarter and STEM Advocate of the Quarter.
The awardees are:
Richard Sciotti from the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command is the 2018 first quarter recipient of the DoD Laboratory Scientist of the Quarter award. Sciotti is a senior scientist and chief of medicinal chemistry for experimental therapeutics, Military Malaria Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. He is recognized as a leader in malaria prophylaxis and small molecule antibiotic developed for the DoD.
John DiCecco from the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport Undersea Warfare Weapons, Vehicles, and Defensive Systems Department, is the 2018 first quarter recipient of the Department of Defense Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Advocate of the Quarter Award. DiCecco was recognized for his efforts in STEM education and outreach programs and activities. His leadership and mentorship efforts are reflected in his commitments to Newport Division-sponsored outreach and in the greater Naval Sea Systems Command community.
On the Mobile Immersion Lab displays were eight posters:
