Diversity In Action

The U.S. Navy has jobs for engineers and scientists

Navy programs promote STEM at pre-college levels. One outreach program uses a submarine simulator as a classroom

For those who want to serve our country, the U.S. Navy provides a number of job options for new grads. They can serve as active-duty or reserve military personnel, of course, and there are jobs for civilians as well, particularly for those with experience in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

“We are working to bring in a lot of engineers and scientists,” says Captain Ken Barrett, head of the Navy’s diversity directorate. “The number is in excess of 1,000 this year. We’re hiring on the civilian side and recruiting on the active-duty side.”

The Navy hires civilians, including new grads, into engineering positions in the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) and other divisions. NAVSEA engineers build and support the nation’s fleet of ships and combat systems. NAVAIR is responsible for avionics and new aircraft. ONR hires scientists as well as engineers in its mission to promote science and technology collaboration between the U.S. and researchers around the globe.

On the uniformed side, Barrett says, there is a need for officers with STEM backgrounds. Some officers train at the Naval Academy in Annapolis; others participate in a Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) program in college and become officers at graduation. Several HBCUs have NROTC chapters: Florida A&M University, Morehouse College, Prairie View A&M University and more.

There are also some specialized college programs in specific areas. One, the Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate Program, pays a stipend to students studying nuclear engineering when they agree to become nuclear officers on a surface ship or submarine after graduation. “It’s one of the premier ways that folks get trained in nuclear engineering today.” Barrett says.

Other entry points to the Navy’s uniformed engineering roles are the Naval Reserves or Officer Candidate School (OCS). Barrett explains that OCS is a three-month, post-college training course. “I refer to it as Navy 101 because you get Navy history and tradition, some math and science, and learn what it’s all about to be an officer,” he says. “From there, you follow a particular rating, or career path.” Options include surface warfare, shipboard engineering, Navy flight school and more. Specialized training prepares candidates for their duties.

With very few exceptions, officer candidates must be no older than thirty-five when they receive their commissions.

Members of the Naval Reserves, however, can join up until age thirty-nine. “The Naval Reserves are like the other services’ reserve programs: one weekend a month and an annual training program. If you come in with, say, a civil engineering degree, you can work in that area. Of course you may be activated, but then you come back to the reserve one weekend a month.”

Barrett understands that the Navy’s in competition with major corporations for talent in general, and diverse talent in particular. “We spend a lot of time with SHPE, NSBE, SWE and similar groups,” he says. The Navy has been a major sponsor of both national and regional activities with each of these groups for many years.

Barrett knows that recruiting is only one aspect of building a diverse corps of naval officers. It’s important to prime the pipeline in middle school to ensure that minority and female students enroll in STEM majors in college, he notes.

“We stress awareness and outreach campaigns,” he reports, to keep kids in school and get them excited about math and science. One outreach program, “NavOps: Deep Submergence,” is a math, science and technology learning platform for students that uses a submarine control-room simulator as a classroom. “Starbase-Atlantis” programs from Hawaii to Rhode Island bring students together with active-duty naval personnel to explore STEM careers and learn about the fascination of science.

“We target the major metropolitan areas where the population is diverse,” Barrett says. “We’ve added outreach officers to many of those locations.”

Diversity is increasingly important to the Navy, says chief of naval operations Admiral Gary Roughead. “As our population changes and the percentages of majority-minority changes, we have to reflect that same demographic. At the end of the day, we’re stronger because of the different perspectives and ideas that people bring to bear.”

D/C