government and private investment, future growing business is expected in unmanned aerial vehicles, cyber security, bio- technology, biofuels, and transportation to the International Space Station.
At present the most critical skills sought in hiring by our companies are: systems engineering, aerospace engineer- ing, mechanical engineering, program management, software development, structures and supply chain. The Workforce Steering Committee, along with other technical committees at AIA, is investigating what the aerospace and defense indus- trial base will need to move forward; and what that means in terms of numbers of people, educational degrees and profes- sional certificates, skills and capabilities that will be required to operate successfully.
Programs and Partnerships
Exciting young people to be interested and pursue studies in math, science, engineering and technology is a central part
of our plan to nurture the future workforce. AIA’s signature STEM program is the Team America Rocketry Challenge, the world’s largest model rocket contest, now celebrating its 10th season. More than 55,000 students from across the country have participated in the competition to date. Begun in 2003 as a fun way to celebrate the 100th anniversary of flight, TARC has become our model workforce development program. A past participant survey conducted in 2010 shows its effective- ness. Seven in ten (71%) surveyed say they plan to pursue a career directly related to STEM.
Another key component of our workforce strategy, launched in March 2010, is the Business and Industry STEM Education Coalition. BISEC is a dynamic affiliation of dozens of industry associations that represent employers of STEM professionals and other partner organizations,including federal departments and agencies and philanthropic groups, who have pledged to work together to advance STEM. One of BI- SEC’s goals is to double the number of STEM graduates in 10