Naval Air Station and Maryland Higher Education Partnership Celebrates First Graduating Classes

University of Maryland officials, along with Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) leaders and representatives from the College of Southern Maryland (CSM), recognized the first three graduating classes of the triad's Southern Maryland Mechanical Engineering Partnership Program (SMMEPP) at an awards ceremony held in May at Southern Maryland Higher Education Center.

The SMMEPP program aims to address the Navy’s civilian recruitment and retention issues and also serve the economic and cultural development of the Southern Maryland region.

SMMEPP, offered in conjunction with the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center (SMHEC), allows students to complete their basic engineering studies, along with general education in math and physics, at CSM before applying to the co-op program with NAWCAD, a division of Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, and the Clark School of Engineering. Once accepted, students complete their curriculum on site at SMHEC with University of Maryland faculty and on campus in College Park. In addition, students receive hands-on experience within the engineering field while working for NAWCAD. Program participants receive a stipend to support their studies and internships, and are expected to accept associated employment after graduation.

Nineteen of the program’s graduates are now employed as DOD civilians at PAX River.

Recognized graduates:

Class of 2013 - Daniel Bonnet, Michael "Craig" Branson, Daniel Budzenski, Corey Golladay, Jonathan Shaner and Wesley Wathen.

Class of 2012 - Stephen Bell, William "David" Burch, Katherine "Kat" Cornet, Michael Jackson, William "Hudson" McGinnis, Christopher Napier, Shawn Naraine and Robert "Tyler" Pegg.

Class of 2011 - John Farnese, Christopher McDaniel, Christopher Rogers, Gary Showalter and Charles "Hank" Smith.

For more information on the NAVAIR/Patuxent River Naval Air Station Co-op Program, visit the Department of Mechanical Engineering Distance Programs webpage.

Published July 23, 2013