WASHINGTON, DC -- Gen. Dennis L. Via, commander, U.S. Army Materiel Command was honored Feb. 9 alongside 30 workforce leaders, engineers, scientists and educators at the 2013 Black Engineer of the Year Award Gala for contributions to science, technology, engineering and mathematics, STEM.
Known as the nation's largest gathering of STEM professionals, the BEYA Conference is committed to increasing the presence of minorities in the technology field. The annual conference is hosted by the Council of Engineering Deans of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and the US Black Engineer & Information Technology magazine.
Programs like BEYA are intended to reinforce our country's commitment to its most valuable resource, its human capital. They recognize that the impact that educators, leaders and mentors have on an individual's life is immeasurable.
"A recurring theme we hear today is that "talent is universal; but opportunity is not," Via said. "Throughout a career of service in the United States Army, I've been blessed to have had someone recognize my potential, even when I did not; to encourage me to strive to be the absolute best."
The STEM program has shared a long standing partnership with the Department of Army providing opportunities for students to work with soldiers and civilians to provide cutting edge solutions for the American Warfighter.
During the gala AMC's Research, Development and Engineering Command was among the many organizations recognized for harnessing the talents of new recruits from around the globe.
RDECOM is at the forefront of introducing young professionals to the design, development, testing, evaluation, fielding and support of a variety of joint systems.
An RDECOM press release, featuring Ghana native and BEYA 'Most Promising Engineer' awardee, Moses K. Mingle, a supervisory electronics engineer, surmised the importance of the STEM program.
"From my own experience, I know how very important it is to promote STEM to the next generation," said Mingle. "My uncle was an example for me and now young students can see what I've been able to achieve. We must keep STEM education alive and prospering."
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