Statistical comparisons among industrialized nations clearly reveal evidence of declining emphasis on STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) education in the United States. If this decline continues, how will we sustain the workforce required to maintain the leading edge of STEM innovation that fostered the US rise to national supremacy during the 20th century? Without ongoing investment in STEM education, our international prominence will surely fade. The GEOINT Community may not be reeling from the economic catastrophe that the rest of our nation is currently suffering, but deeper cuts in public education proposed by politicians represent a real and present danger for GEOINT workforce development.

US colleges and universities are the best in the world and international students now comprise 50 percent of the graduate student population in STEM programs at US research universities, in part because US students are not applying to these graduate programs and the international students are filling that vacuum. What is the root cause of declining interest in STEM education among US students? Is the strident anti-science rhetoric of populist politicians and news-talk personalities spilling over from issues such as evolution and climate change and affecting students and their parents as they consider collegiate majors? Have we simply become fat and happy as a society, unwilling to take on the greater challenges of STEM education in favor of perceived profitability of business and finance degrees? Regardless of cause, the GEOINT community has the political gravitas needed to influence public funding of STEM education, a worthy investment towards long-term strength in national security.

Today we are speaking with Max Baber, Director of Academic Programs at USGIF, about the GEOINT Community Career fair, as well as GEOINT opportunities for students.

The one-day festival is part of the museum’s KidSpy program. Whether it’s the challenge of cracking secret codes or the fine art of developing a disguise for cover, children and families will find an amazing array of public programs, workshops, demonstrations, and action-packed missions to hone their tradecraft skills. Meet real “spies,” go on missions, discover the ground truth from experts, and find out if you have what it takes to be a spy! Workshops on disguise, gadgetry, spy science, codes and ciphers; Spy Magic performances; Spies on Screen; Operation Secret Slumber overnights; and Spy camps are offered on a monthly basis.

In addition, below is the official press release from USGIF on the 5th anniversary:

USGIF Celebrates 5-Year Anniversary

Herndon, Va., January 22, 2009 – Today, the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) marks its fifth anniversary as a not-for-profit educational organization committed to promoting the geospatial intelligence tradecraft and building a stronger GEOINT Community.

“I am amazed with and proud of the Foundation’s accomplishments over the years,” said K. Stuart Shea, USGIF chairman and CEO. “In five short years, USGIF, its board of directors and its membership, have achieved so much and created a truly unique organization that continues to be a key player in the tradecraft’s continuous growth and success.”

In 2003, a group of leading authorities realized an inherent need for a unified vision and approach to promoting the geospatial intelligence tradecraft after the success of the GEO-INTEL 2003 conference—the predecessor to the uniquely successful annual GEOINT Symposium. The hard work of this small group resulted in the official establishment of USGIF. The Foundation’s mission was, and continues to be, to bring together government, industry, academia, professional organizations and individuals for the advancement of the geospatial intelligence tradecraft as it relates to national security.

Being the first and only organization of its kind, USGIF has helped to advance the tradecraft through its many events and programs, such as the highly acclaimed GEOINT Symposium and technology focused TECH DAYS. The Foundation currently has 156 sustaining member organizations supporting and assisting in executing the Foundation’s objectives. The Foundation also has made education a top priority, exemplified by its scholarships, college and university accreditation programs, grants to underprivileged K-12 schools, and other initiatives.

USGIF President Keith J. Masback, who joined the Foundation in March 2008, said, “The remarkable partnership that makes up the Foundation has accomplished so much in its first five years, and I’m absolutely thrilled with the opportunities that I see for us in the coming five years and beyond. I especially look forward to increasing the Foundation’s educational outreach over the next few years, and we are all excited about the future as we continue to foster the Community and further establish GEOINT as the foundation for all intelligence disciplines.

“Finally,” Masback concluded, “I’d like to take a moment this day to thank our small staff and to recognize the many volunteers from our member organizations, as together they epitomize the essence of what make not-for-profit organizations like USGIF special, and without whom we wouldn’t have accomplished so much.”

We were able to catch up with Mr. Shea a few weeks ago, and he shared with us why he started USGIF and where he sees us going – during a most interesting and challenging time of transition.

(Q) It’s been five years. Congratulations. Before we talk about the accomplishments of the Foundation, why did you create it in the first place?

(A) It really got down to the desire to have a community of interest around geospatial intelligence. I had witnessed a similar construct in the space, intelligence and security communities and my sense was that there was not that same level of camaraderie and relationships that existed between government, industry, academia, the private sector, individuals and trade associations in the geospatial intelligence space. We decided to see if we could get everyone together and step outside of their own needs and desires within their own businesses and agencies to focus on something bigger and more significant.

(Q) From developing the idea of USGIF on a cocktail napkin to where we are today, did you accomplish all of your intended goals and objectives?

(A) While I certainly helped play the role of a catalyst, it is really all about what the community has done as a whole to move things forward. And it has been phenomenal. When the idea was first bounced around with a few people, we originally thought we would pull together 200-250 people and a few keynote speakers to network and discuss ideas, and do something for the betterment of the tradecraft. And today, we just came off of the 5th GEOINT in Nashville with 3,700 attendees, all the key players in industry, government and academia came together…it makes you think “wow, how did we get here.” And, I spoke with the folks who run the Space Foundation – who run the Space Symposium — they are blown away by how far we have come in a short five years. And, they have a 25-year heritage.

(Q) Tell us about some of the key milestones and accomplishments of the Foundation?

(A) This Foundation exists not because of me, or any one person. It exists as a community as whole for the betterment of our tradecraft. And the passing on of my leadership philosophy to Mr. Keith Masback has been a tremendous accomplishment for the Foundation.
Another key milestone is seeing our membership increase over the years. And, it is amazing to see major national agencies like NRO, DIA as well as the U.S. Army become members, and essentially want to be on par with the NGA. It really demonstrates that it is all about a community and not about a particular agency or particular function of an agency or industry member company – it’s much bigger than that.

We have also reached a point where key intel and defense leaders ask us to be speakers – without us soliciting them. They find GEOINT to be a fantastic forum to communicate their messages and visions, and our biggest challenge is managing this influx of requests. So, as I look back on 5 years, there are a number of milestones like these that make you realize just how far we have come in a short amount of time.

(Q) Many folks have told us that geospatial intelligence serves as the “foundation” for all other intelligence functions. Can you tell us your perspective on this?

(A) The original symposium that preceded the GEOINT symposia was the GEOINTEL 2003 Symposium and the theme for that event was “Geospatial Intelligence, The Foundation for Security.” Essentially, you have to know where you are, and every intelligence decision deals with some fundamental location on the earth’s surface…and geospatial intelligence is also the foundation for SIGINT and MASINT, HUMINT and all the other “INTS,” providing the horizontal structure for all intelligence functions. People are now realizing that geospatial intelligence is not a vertical stovepipe, but it is in fact the horizontal function that ties everything together.

The theme for GEOINT 2008 was about transition…where do you see our tradecraft heading?
If you look back on the history of technology, there are the early adopters who embrace niche solutions. Then, these solutions grow and evolve to be ubiquitously deployed, and that is where we are today and where we are he heading. Five years ago, we did not have the technologies we have today. And I think that 5 years from now, geospatial intelligence technologies will be so ubiquitous that they will be a part of everyone’s normal vernacular and the way we think. As a result of that, you will see more young people and college students moving into this field because it offers a unique way of looking at the world. These young people will also accelerate the development and deployment beyond our expectations.

(Q) You are known for being very passionate about the community and the tradecraft. Why the passion? And what got you to where you are today?

(A) Well I am passionate in things I believe in. That is my mantra. First, I believe in the United States of America. If you cut me open, I would bleed red, white and blue. And I believe in the service to our nation and I believe in national security. When I think about geospatial intelligence being the foundation for all of this, how could you not be excited?

I am also passionate because we are on the precipice of a really dramatic change in our world. We have all of these new technologies and we can do better with them. We can save lives, protect our nation, and protect our loved ones. Ultimately, we have to operate as a unified whole, between government and private sector, professional associations…and if we do this and focus on something that is bigger than all of us, it is a very powerful thing…and being on the front-end of this is so energizing that it drives me every single day.

(Q) What do you think the highlight of GEOINT 2008 was?

(A) That is a tough question because there were so many highlights. First, the venue was fantastic. The quality of the speakers was unprecedented – exceeding all expectations in terms of being honest and thought provoking. The quality of the attendees and exhibits was also phenomenal. I spent a significant amount of time on the exhibit floor this year, and was energized by what I witnessed. I also thought Phil Vassar, which was a great way to signify the end of the event and mark our 5th anniversary.

I would really like to reinforce that GEOINT and the Foundation is not a one-man show. When you look back on the Foundation, the heart and soul has always been Aimee Correnti, and when you look back on everything she has done, she deserves a tremendous amount of acknowledgment and accolades. And, the entire USGIF team, our volunteers, as well as the financial support of our members and exhibitors have been a tremendous asset that has facilitated our growth.

One last thing I would like to mention is that these are tough times. We really are in a time of transition with the new administration, the economic markets are in turmoil and we are still fighting the war of terror. I don’t want to see GEOINT 2008 as the “top of our game.” I look to the Foundation, as well as to our members and GEOINT participants, to keep up the energy and focus on how important this mission is…and we need to keep this at the forefront of everything we do.