Joint Munitions Command Professionals participate in University Engineering Event

By Ms. Rikeshia Davidson (AMC)November 13, 2015

Engineering Small Talk
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – JaMarlon Figgs, Industrial Engineer, Joint Munitions Command catches up with Dr. Micheal Opar, Engineering professor, St. Ambrose University and an Engineering Event attendee. Figgs, an SAU graduate, identifies installation infrastructure, capabili... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
The Business of Small Caliber Ammunition
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Aimee Bland, lead Product Quality Manager for ground munitions and countermeasure flares, Joint Munitions Command uses her expertise as a former Product Quality Manager for small caliber rounds to explain her role within the Joint Munitions Command. ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
JMC - DoD's Ammunition Logistician
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – JaMarlon Figgs, Industrial Engineer, Joint Munitions Command is joined by a prospective engineering student at St. Ambrose University's Engineering Event. JMC represented the Army Materiel Command with a variety of information about both JMC, DoD's ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
JMC has Something for Everyone
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Aimee Bland, lead Product Quality Manager, and JaMarlon Figgs, Industrial Engineer, described the many careers available at the Joint Munitions Command to a student attendee at the Engineering Event. JMC boasts many science, technology, engineering ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
What is Mechanical Engineering
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Dr. Jodi Prosise, Chair and Associate Professor in the Department of Engineering and Physical Science for St. Ambrose University, explains the differences between mechanical and industrial engineering to students. Prosise holds degrees in both mecha... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

DAVENPORT, Iowa -- Are Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, or STEM, careers growing at expansive rates? Or are those careers stagnant due to declining student interest in the four-pronged field? It depends on who you ask.

The answer may be as conflicting as 'yes and yes', but the energy and focus shifting toward student-to-STEM exploration is undeniably on the rise.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2012 statistics, in Iowa, 41, 715 college graduates ages 25 to 64 are employed in STEM occupations. In Illinois, 227,030 graduates in the same age group work in STEM occupations.

Locally at St. Ambrose University (SAU), Davenport, Iowa, the 4 November outreach effort was all about the "E" in STEM - engineering.

The Engineering Event was a one-stop shop for students who may one day be counted among Illinois and Iowa's STEM professionals. Designed to introduce students to all elements of engineering, SAU faculty and industry leaders defined engineering, explained the coursework needed to earn a degree in that field, and highlighted the differences among various engineering specialties.

Serving as Chair and Associate Professor in the Department of Engineering and Physical Science, Dr. Jodi Prosise oversees the Engineering Event. Through this event, Prosise establishes relationships with both local industry leaders and government agencies to show students of the Quad Cities engineering is a booming career field.

For students, Prosise labels engineers quite simply: "Engineers are problem solvers." And with that she makes the case for why engineering is a career students will find reason to love, whether they choose industrial, mechanical or biomedical engineering -- the latter two Prosise's areas of specialty.

Eleven companies and government agencies supported SAU's Engineering Event including the Joint Munitions Command, JMC, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District.

At JMC, St. Ambrose graduates Aimee Bland (née Holliday) and JaMarlon Figgs keep the ammunition mission on task in their respective directorates. Bland, lead Product Quality Manager (Quality Directorate) does just that, she manages product quality for ground munitions and countermeasure flares. While Figgs, Industrial Engineer (Industrial Facilities Analysis Division) focuses on identifying installation infrastructure, capabilities and process requirements for Scranton Army Ammunition Plant -- the only government-owned large caliber projectile metal parts facility.

Both Bland and Figgs are routinely on site at JMC subordinate sites ensuring performance standards are met. And as alumni of SAU, Bland and Figgs enjoy the opportunity to give back to the school, sharing their personal college experiences and the unique roles they occupy in their current professions.

For Figgs, "(it's) important for high school students to discuss their futures with successful individuals in the community to understand the choices available in their desired career fields. And it is equally important for those same successful individuals to continue to reach out to the students to inform them of the endless opportunities available with a college education."

Bland saw the event as an awesome experience to educate students specifically about JMC and its role as the Department of Defense's ammunition logistician.

"Informing students not only of the engineering opportunities, but (also) the many other career paths that are within JMC was exciting. So many people see the Rock Island Arsenal as one entity, so the opportunity to hone in on JMC -- and share my experiences -- was rewarding," said Bland.

As Prosise and SAU continue outreach to students, the Engineering Event is yet another opportunity for students to interact with industry engineering leaders like SAU graduate Jeff Bloomer, Director of Engineering, Tyson Foods.

Bloomer shared with students his travels across the U.S., from Iowa as a SAU graduate, to the former Sara Lee facility in Mississippi, back to Illinois, and all for his love of engineering.

Encouraging students to feed their own interest in engineering, Bloomer said, "Engineering -- I can't think of any better profession to get involved in. You can work in any industry (and) travel the world: I know because I've done it."

In its own right, headquarters JMC employs a host of STEM careerists including physical scientists, health physicists, information technology specialists, mathematical statisticians, and four types of engineers.

Quad Cities students don't have to look far for engineering inspiration and innovation with commands like JMC in their backyards.

"Over the years the event has molded and changed, while always keeping the same goal--to get high school students interested in engineering. We are excited that local industry support for the event has grown so much, as we feel it shows how the Quad Cities has a thriving economy and engineering workforce, and one that shares our passion for STEM education," said Prosise.

The Joint Munitions Command manages a nationwide network of 14 industrial base installations throughout the United States. Its four core competencies are to produce, distribute, store and demilitarize Class V ammunition. It manages ammunition ranging from small-caliber rounds used by all military services to bunker-buster bombs used by the Navy and Air Force.

Related Links:

Army Materiel Command

Joint Munitions Command