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OC-ALC prepares for future in sciences

  • Published
  • By Brandice J. Armstrong
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., --  The sciences have proven to be an ever-changing career field, and Tinker officials said they are determined to stay competitive.

Commencing Feb. 17, the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center Engineering and Technical Management Directorate will celebrate National Engineers Week, an annual event geared toward celebrating today's engineers while attracting a younger generation. During the celebratory event and the weeks following, the OC-ALC/EN will host several colleges and high school students for tours and job-shadowing activities in an effort to promote Tinker. Officials will also continue to promote the EN's Long-Term Training program, which allows personnel to pursue an advanced science-oriented degree.

"The Air Force is a technical enterprise," said Russell Howard, OC-ALC/EN director. "As such, it literally could not function without the tireless and devoted efforts of its scientists and engineering workforce."

National Engineers Week debuted in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers. To honor the program this year, OC-ALC Engineering and Civil Engineering Directorate officials are also scheduled to work with the Oklahoma Society of Professional Engineers Association and host students, from area high schools, for a job shadowing event and Bldg. 3001 tour.

In the coming weeks, the engineering directorate will host four job-shadowing events for college and high school students. Students from Oklahoma State University's School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, State CareerTech and Mid-Del Technology Center and Southeast High School in Oklahoma City, are among the schools that will visit Tinker. The unit is also scheduled to provide expertise and judge the Real World Design Challenge competition, an engineering project for high school students.

Mr. Howard described Tinker's engineering and science professionals as dedicated, disciplined and skillful, and said those are qualities that he looks for in newcomers. "Engineering is at the heart of our chief responsibility at the center, to sustain and improve the operational safety, suitability, and effectiveness of the systems we support," Mr. Howard said. "Our nation's global competitiveness depends on students who are willing to achieve, to work hard in school, and apply their skills."

Several of Tinker's already-established personnel are working to keep themselves and the Air Force competitive and are enrolled in the LTT program.

The LTT program allows Tinker's science-oriented professionals to obtain Master of Science degrees from an accredited in-state public university. Students can attend school full-time and the Air Force will pay for tuition and book expenses, as well as the student's salary and full benefits. But, the individual is required to complete the degree within three semesters. It takes the average non-LTT student at least two years, attending classes full-time, to complete the degree. Eleven students have graduated from the program and seven are currently enrolled.

Shanna Wyczynski-Tate, an operations research analyst for the 639th Aircraft Sustainment Group, received a Master of Science degree in Mathematics from the University of Oklahoma in December. She had started the degree at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, but after four years of evening classes, she had only earned 18 credits. Even though a master's degree was important to her, Ms. Tate said she felt she went as far as she could on her own. When she learned of LTT, she had renewed hope.

"LTT was my last hope of actually completing the work I started," she said. "In today's workforce, higher education is becoming more and more important. It will not be long until the master's degree will be the minimum qualification required."

Matt Sukraw, 556th Aircraft Sustainment Squadron lead engineer for B-2 Low Observables, agreed. He received a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from OSU in December.

"I work on one of the most highly technical aircrafts and to keep up with the technology of this airplane, this degree helps me do my job," Mr. Sukraw said.

EN is currently accepting nomination packages for the next LTT cycle through March 31. For more information, send an e-mail to ocalc.en.workdev@tinker.af.mil.