Newswise — Executives with The Boeing Company and academicians at The University of Alabama in Huntsville have taken an important step to fulfill the growing needs of highly-educated professionals in a critical national technology — modeling and simulation.
The company has provided a $100,000 grant to UAHuntsville's Center for Modeling, Simulation and Analysis to create a master's level and doctorate degrees in the field.
The U.S. government last year recognized the importance of increasing the ranks of well-trained M&S professionals. The U.S. House of Representatives, in House Resolution 4165, declared that M&S is a critical national technology. In August 2008, President George W. Bush signed into law a program that will provide government grants to universities that commit to establishing and improving M&S education programs. The Boeing grants build on these national initiatives.
Boeing Advanced Systems' Analysis, Modeling, Simulation and Experimentation (AMSE) organization is sponsoring the grant effort.
"Boeing has a growing need for highly qualified modeling and simulation practitioners," said Guy Higgins, Boeing vice president of AMSE. "By partnering with academia, we can play a role in ensuring that the next generation of modeling and simulation professionals has the skills it needs to be successful."
"We are committed to developing our current and future talent in this way," said Joyce Wheeler, AMSE manager of Professional Development. "In addition to grants and tuition reimbursement for employees, we include these programs in our 'learning roadmaps' that help employees plan their career growth and professional development. We are laying the groundwork to ensure that Boeing will have the skilled M&S professionals we will need to better understand and meet customer needs."
UAHuntsville President Dave Williams said Boeing's grant strengthens the community's as well as the nation's modeling and simulation capabilities. "Huntsville is a leader worldwide in modeling and simulation, and Boeing's support to enhance our educational programs will further distinguish our role in this emerging field," said Dr. Williams. "The university's existing research in M&S, combined with advanced academic degree programs in this critical technology, will provide our students with a tremendous learning advantage. Ultimately, the students that graduate from our university will be able to make lasting contributions to Boeing and others who rely on modeling and simulation expertise."
The grant will be used to support two activities, according to CSMA Director Dr. Mikel Petty. One is curriculum design and course content development for planned M&S graduate degree programs. According to Petty, the second activity is participation in the on-going process of updating and enhancing the Certified Modeling and Simulation Professional program, which is an examination-based professional certification process that is gaining wide acceptance in the M&S community.
"Boeing's generous grant will enable a more substantial effort that will ultimately benefit M&S workforce development," said Dr. Petty.
UAHuntsville will also collaborate with M&S community efforts including the M&S Body of Knowledge project and the Modeling and Simulation Professional Certification Commission " programs established to identify what M&S professionals need to know, and how to measure their understanding and ability to apply their knowledge.
About Boeing, UAHuntsvilleA unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32.1 billion business with 71,000 employees worldwide.
The University of Alabama in Huntsville is a doctoral-granting, "high research activity" institution with more than 7,400 students. Located within one of the largest research parks in the United States, the university prepares students for demanding positions in Engineering, the Sciences, Business, Nursing, and the Liberal Arts. The university is ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the 150 best national doctoral universities in the nation. Students attending the campus come from more than 40 states and 80 countries. Refer to www.uah.edu for information on the university, its academic and extracurricular programs and offerings, and the community it serves.
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