(From left) Jason Mason, a rising freshman in the Pathways in Technology Early College High School program, looks through a device called the Integrated Visual Augmentation System while Joseph Baron of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command’s Integrated Logistics Supply Center and Adedolapo Junaid of the U.S. Army Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center watch during the P-TECH Summer Institute APG Technology Showcase on Aug. 6, 2024.
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ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Maryland – Robotics, cybersecurity, programming languages, night vision devices and radars were just some of the topics covered by 35 rising freshmen in the Pathways in Technology Early College High School program during the annual P-TECH Summer Institute APG Technology Showcase on August 6, 2024.
The event included demonstrations of state-of-the-art equipment used by Army soldiers and civilians, as well as a bus tour of the facility.
For many students, it was the first time they saw what was “behind the fence” at APG. Liz Miranda, deputy commanding general of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command, welcomed the students to the installation. Miranda shared that she herself was once in a similar situation when she began her government career as an accounting intern. She encouraged the students to get to know the technology demonstration presenters by asking lots of questions.
“They all have a lot of great information and insights to share with you,” Miranda said.
Developing the workforce of the future
Miranda, who has 30 years of government experience and 14 years at APG, said she is incredibly proud of the P-TECH program because it will develop APG’s future workforce.
“(This generation) will one day support the soldiers just as we support them today,” Miranda said.
Ronald “Boomer” Rizzo, assistant director of the CECOM Software Engineering Center, gave an overview of the technology P-TECH students will see during the event and spoke about his experiences as a civilian in the military.
Rizzo also began his career as an intern in the U.S. Department of the Army, fresh out of college. He said one aspect of his career that he has enjoyed immensely is traveling around the world, including to Korea and Germany. He calls joining the federal government “the best decision I ever made in my life.”
“There are a number of intangible benefits of being an Army civilian,” he said.
Students also watched a video about the variety of operations that take place on a military base like APG and met some of the mentors who will work with them throughout the school year. They were then broken into smaller groups to attend technology presentations.
Ayden Brown (right), a student in the Pathways in Technology Early College High School program, completes a cybersecurity simulation while Cadet Geffen Franus, an intern with the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at Norwich University, assists him during the P-TECH Summer Institute APG Technology Showcase, Aug. 6, 2024. The U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command’s Software Engineering Center hosted this simulation, which demonstrated how Army cybersecurity professionals “harden” systems to defend them against advanced, persistent threats from nation states, domestic hackers and other malicious activities.
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Organizations participating in the demonstrations included CECOM SEC, CECOM Integrated Logistics Support Center, Aberdeen Test Center, Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense, and the N-STEP Robotics Team.
“Here at (APG), there is a job for everyone,” said P-TECH Coordinator Casi Boyer, CECOM G1.
IT specialist Josh Pedrero of CECOM SEC’s Army Reprogramming Analysis Team participated in a demonstration showing how his team uses threat detection and analysis to get mission-critical software products into the field as quickly as possible. Pedrero said he hopes the students now have a better understanding of the Army’s broader mission.
Students’ reactions
Several students said they were impressed by the cutting-edge technology the soldiers use. P-TECH student Lannera White described the technology demonstration as “amazing.”
“Until today, I didn’t know much about the army or the resources it uses to protect its soldiers,” she said.
P-TECH student Chase Brown said he enjoyed seeing the night vision technology and was grateful for the opportunity to come to the base and learn about cybersecurity directly from Army civilians.
“I was already thinking about getting into cybersecurity, and I think the simulation reinforced my plans,” he said.
About the P-TECH program
The P-TECH program combines the best elements of high school, college and career-based learning. Students are immersed in high school and college courses while working in the field of computer information systems or cybersecurity. The program empowers students to pursue advanced education and succeed financially in a global economy. Offered at Joppatowne High School in partnership with Harford Community College and CECOM on APG, the program provides students with paid internships and individualized mentoring throughout their education. Any incoming ninth-grader from Harford County can apply for the program.
For more photos, see: https://www.flickr.com/photos/usagapg/albums/72177720319661257
