Three federal agencies will join forces with industry and academia for a
two-day conference next month to foster teamwork and collaboration to meet a
critical need: drawing and retaining young engineers and scientists to the
Huntsville area.
The first Education and Employment for Technological Excellence in Aviation,
Missiles, and Space (E2 TEAMS, pronounced “E-squared-TEAMS”) conference will
be May 15 and 16 at the Von Braun Center.
A key goal of the E2 TEAMS concept is to encourage research colleges and
universities from a four-state area – Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and
Georgia – to partner with industry and government to build a “high-tech
corridor” in the region.
Supporting the event are NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, the U.S. Army
Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM), the U.S. Army Space and Missile
Defense Command, the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce,
Huntsville Association of Technical Societies and the National Space Science
and Technology Center.
“I’m firmly behind E2 TEAMS because it’s a unique opportunity to join with
our regional partners in industry and academia to address a critical
challenge – attracting and keeping the best talent available,” said Marshall
Center Director Art Stephenson.
Besides highlighting Huntsville’s technological excellence, the event will
address future research and technology needs. It also will promote
educational opportunities and workforce development initiatives for
engineers, scientists and students.
“This event is an excellent opportunity for Team Redstone to work with our
business and academic partners to build an unparalleled technological base
right here in the Tennessee Valley,” said Maj. Gen. Julian Sullivan Jr.,
AMCOM commanding general.
Bill Gurley, senior vice president with Science Applications International
Corp. and chairman of the event, said that, “The technology fair will
emphasize efforts to showcase the Huntsville area and attract young
high-tech workers and graduates.”
Brig. Gen. John M. Urias, deputy commanding general for acquisition at the
Space and Missile Defense Command, noted that “E2 TEAMS is an excellent
forum for fostering collaboration between educational institutions,
government and industry.”
To encourage participation by colleges and universities, Marshall, AMCOM and
the Space and Missile Defense Command will jointly offer up to $1 million in
grant money. This money will be awarded competitively to participating
research colleges in the targeted four-state area prior to next year’s
conference.
Government agencies supporting the event will focus on future technological
needs through panel discussions in four cutting-edge areas – Advanced
Propulsion and Hypersonic Systems, Robotics, Novel Power Sources,
and Broad Spectrum Vision Sensors. Numerous companies and universities will
participate with displays and exhibits. Human resource personnel will be on
hand to discuss employment and career opportunities.
The North Alabama Aerospace Teachers Association will host a discussion of
space and science projects, including the “Astro Bowl” competition for
middle and high school students. Projects to enhance science and technology
education for K-12 students also will be discussed by the Education
Directorate of the Huntsville Association of Technical Societies.
Exhibits open each day of the conference at 9 a.m.
More information on E2 TEAMS, including exhibitor and event registration,
can be found on the Internet at:
