Building a diverse and highly skilled workforce of scientists, engineers and analysts is integral to DEVCOM’s mission to accelerate technology and deliver next-generation Soldier capabilities. In support of that mission, the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, or DEVCOM, hosted a booth during the 36th Black Engineer of the Year Awards STEM Conference’s virtual career fair February 18-19.
Recruiters and hiring managers from DEVCOM’s eight science and technology organizations interviewed prospective candidates during the career fair as part of its plan to recruit, train and maintain a diverse and highly skilled workforce.
The command also participated in ceremonies at the Washington, D.C. location of the hybrid event, where they honored DEVCOM employees for their achievements.
Two DEVCOM employees received awards for their outstanding work as Department of the Army Civilians and for volunteering to mentor and work with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics students.
Lt. Gen. James Richardson, the acting commanding general of the U.S. Army Futures Command, presented Christine Dedrick, DEVCOM Aviation & Missile Center engineer, with the Outstanding Technical Contribution in Government award at the ceremony February 19. Dedrick won the award for her technical expertise and leadership in developing and fielding aircraft survivability equipment for the American Warfighter.
Tyrone Hutchinson, DEVCOM Armaments Center project lead, received the Modern Day Technology Leaders and Science Spectrum Trailblazers award for his contributions to the Abrams Main Battle tank system. A video featuring Hutchinson receiving his award was shown at the awards ceremony.
The BEYA Conference promotes recruiting, networking and professional development opportunities for STEM college students and professionals from across the country.
Maj. Gen. Miles Brown, DEVCOM commanding general, participated in the Stars and Stripes Mentoring Program, which is a special component of the BEYA Conference. During the two-hour event, mentors not only speak to multiple groups of young people about leadership, STEM and the rewards of military service, but they also build relationships and serve as role models for prospective employees.
DEVCOM is committed to mentoring and recruiting a diverse workforce, which is critically important as part of Army Futures Command’s organic STEM talent base, Brown said.
“Events like BEYA are important opportunities for us to mentor the next generation of STEM professionals,” Brown said. “They also help us diversify our workforce through building a pipeline of highly skilled candidates that will drive change and help innovate and sustain our Nation in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.”
Schools select students to participate in the mentoring program. The Stars and Stripes Committee selects the mentors, and mentorship opportunities are open to active duty and retired senior enlisted, field grade/senior officers and industry executives.
DEVCOM is the Army’s largest technology developer and employs more than 14,000 personnel in 100 locations around the world. DEVCOM participates in events, including BEYA, to connect with and recruit the most qualified graduates in STEM. Talent Management, including the effort to attract, develop and retain a capable workforce that operates across competencies and domains, is a top priority for the command. DEVCOM developed and published a Talent Management Strategy, which includes developing existing talent and shifting from reactively filling job vacancies to proactively building the talent needed to continue executing the mission as technology advances.
During the two-day career fair, DEVCOM representatives interviewed 112 prospective candidates and collected 148 resumes. The resumes, which are stored on the Yello talent acquisition platform, can be are accessed for review and consideration by the DEVCOM centers/lab and AFC headquarters for future career opportunities.
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The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, known as DEVCOM, is home to thousands of Army scientists, engineers, technicians and analysts working around the globe to leverage cutting-edge technologies and empower the American warfighter with the data and abilities to see, sense, make decisions and act faster than our adversaries – today and in the future.
As part of Army Futures Command, DEVCOM takes calculated risks to find new technological solutions each day. Our experts drive innovation, improve existing technologies and engineer solutions to technical challenges. Our work goes beyond theory to simulation and prototyping. We take potential science and technology solutions from the lab “into the dirt” for experimentation alongside Army Soldiers. DEVCOM prides itself as a global ecosystem of innovators, from world-class universities and large defense contractors, to small, minority-owned businesses and international allies and partners.
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