Photo By Staff Sgt. Alexandra Huettner | Leadership of the Maryland National Guard discuss plans for introduction of the...... read more read more
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MIDDLE RIVER, Md. – Inside Martin State Air National Guard Base, preparations are underway for something far beyond the typical cadence of military operations. Soon, classrooms reserved for training Airmen will welcome a new kind of student: fifth-graders from local school districts across Maryland ready to explore the frontiers of science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM).
The Maryland Air National Guard will soon become the first in its state to adopt the Department of Defense’s STARBASE program – a milestone that fosters greater connection between national defense and community education for the next generation.
STARBASE, a Department of Defense educational outreach initiative established in 1991, brings students onto military installations for an immersive, five-day experience that integrates STEAM learning with real-world application through engaging, hands-on activities. From designing and launching rockets to exploring flight dynamics and robotics, the program aims to make STEAM both fun, tangible and accessible for students from diverse backgrounds.
“Getting kids interested in STEAM is not just about filling future jobs – it’s about opening doors to opportunities, possibilities, purpose, and personal transformation,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Alisya Davis, Maryland National Guard Joint Staff Joint Resiliency (J9) director. “For children, especially those with varying needs, early exposure to science, technology, engineering, arts and math can be the spark that shifts the trajectory of their entire lives.”
Approximately $507,000 in federal funding was recently granted to establish the STARBASE program in Maryland. In the future, students participating in the program will spend five days immersed in dynamic STEAM modules that emphasize the practical use of math and science principles to solve engineering challenges as a team.
Once the program is fully operational, Maryland will facilitate approximately 30 classes of no more than 35 students throughout the school year through an immersive 25-hour curriculum in addition to a summer program. The curriculum will include activities such as rocket building, computer programming, computer-aided design (CAD), 3-D printing, and virtual reality simulations.
Classrooms and learning facilities will be hosted at the 175th Wing, with all materials and instruction provided at no expense to the participating students or their schools. The 175th Wing is planning to convert its former Emergency Management Office into a fully equipped STARBASE classroom, transforming the space into a hub for hands-on STEAM learning.
Students will also receive school credit for their participation in STARBASE as the curriculum is tailored to accomplish fifth grade learning standards and outcomes. However, what sets the program apart is its unique setting. Being on an active military base exposes students to role models in uniform – people using STEAM in real-world, high-stakes environments every day. For many of these students, it’s their first time stepping foot onto a military installation, much less one where the classrooms feature 3-D printers and virtual reality simulations instead of whiteboards and textbooks.
“STARBASE is a great opportunity that allows the Maryland Air National Guard to build lasting connections within the community while introducing students to foundational STEAM experiences,” said 1st Lt. Luciano Dimino, a Maryland National Guard Joint Force Headquarters executive officer who helped spearhead the STARBASE Maryland standup. “Many of these students may not have access to tools like CAD software, 3-D printers, or drones. This program provides the opportunity for them to explore and develop skills that they might not otherwise encounter.”
For one Airman at the 175th Wing, the launch of the STARBASE program in Maryland carries personal significance. 2nd Lt. Jack Prewitt, an officer assigned to the 175th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, participated in the STARBASE Atlantis program as a fifth grader at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland, in 2008. At the time, the program, run by Naval Education and Training Command (NETC), offered 25 hours of science, technology, engineering and math curriculum, as well as hands-on science experiments for fifth grade students from local elementary schools. He recalls the excitement of building model rockets, as well as a structural payload design activity that involved dropping an egg off a 100-foot tower without breaking. These early experiences served as the catalyst for his continued pursuit of engineering, leading him to join his middle school’s then STEM program, and later earn advanced degrees in mechanical and aerospace engineering. This fall, he is set to begin a Ph.D. program in aerospace engineering, continuing the journey that STARBASE helped ignite years ago.
“Growing up, I didn’t have a STEM influence at home – no one in my family was an engineer or worked in a technical field,” said Prewitt. “That’s why it’s great for students to have real, interactive engineering experience, especially if they don’t have an engineering background. Sometimes, that’s all it takes to start a lifelong interest.”
Although STARBASE has expanded to more than 80 military organizations across the U.S., Maryland had previously remained a blank spot on the STARBASE map. That changed when Maryland National Guard leaders saw an opportunity not just to give back to its communities, but also to help address the growing STEAM workforce needs in the state. By inspiring and preparing the next generation of innovators and leaders, the STARBASE program has the potential to strengthen the future workforce for both Maryland and the Air Force, as well as our competitive edge in an evolving threat environment.
“Welcoming students onto our base is a unique way to inspire curiosity and spark aspirations that could shape their futures,” continued Dimino. “Introducing young people to a military environment – whether its watching A-10s fly on our runway or interacting with service members – gives them a perspective they may have never experienced before. For many, it can open their eyes to an entirely new career path.”
Learning doesn’t end when students leave the base. The hope is that the impact will continue to grow far beyond the classroom, with a focus on long-term impact by encouraging schools and families to continue STEAM exploration at home and in their own classrooms.
According to the DoD STARBASE 2023 Annual Report, student performance on STEAM knowledge questions improved significantly from pre- to post-program, with 15 percent more correct answers on average. Students’ positive opinions of STEAM rose on attitude questions, of which 95 percent were significant increases. The largest shifts were toward greater science confidence, understanding that engineers solve challenging problems, awareness of jobs using STEAM — including military, and belief that the STARBASE experience will be helpful in school. Eighty percent of participants reported a more favorable view of military service post-program.
Whether they end up in military service, engineering, or healthcare, or even a field that doesn’t exist yet, the goal is to inspire.
“STARBASE isn’t just about sparking curiosity – it’s about showing kids what’s possible,” said Davis. “In a world increasingly defined by innovation and complexity, getting children from all backgrounds and abilities excited about STEAM is more than a strategy; it is a moral imperative. It’s how we build a workforce that reflects the full genius of our nation. It’s how we ensure every child sees that their sky is not the limit – it’s just the beginning.”
| Date Taken: | 06.12.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 06.12.2025 17:23 |
| Story ID: | 500514 |
| Location: | MIDDLE RIVER, MARYLAND, US |
| Web Views: | 36 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Building Rockets and Launching Futures: STARBASE to Enhance STEAM Education in Maryland, by SSgt Laura Virtue, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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