From Defense to Degree: Integrating Military Veterans into Engineering ProgramsThis paper addresses curricular issues involved in integrating post-9/11 veterans into theengineering workforce. A 2009 NSF Workshop on Enhancing the Post-9/11 VeteransEducational Benefit indicated that new, more generous veterans’ educational benefits create anopportunity to expand the technical workforce while benefitting those who have served ourcountry. The workshop further indicated that the veterans include a diverse and qualified pool offuture talent for the nation’s engineering and science employers.Based on this opportunity to involve veterans in the workforce, researchers have developed aprogram to help integrate veterans into electrical and computer engineering degrees. The initialtechnical focus will be in the renewable energy and energy distribution systems areas, which hasbeen identified as a critical area where there is a large projected shortage of trained technicalpersonnel. A 2008 NSF Workshop on the Future Power Engineering Workforce indicated “aserious need is emerging for more power and energy engineers.” The IEEE Power and EnergySociety has also indicated that “Immediate action must be taken to avoid letting a growingshortage of well-qualified electric power engineers slow progress in meeting critical nationalobjectives.”This paper will focus on the progress made in developing an accelerated track for militaryveterans into bachelor’s degrees in engineering. It is important to have contact with the militaryveteran prior to their arriving on campus to facilitate their transition to an academic program .This allows an initial thorough evaluation of the veterans’ training, experiences, and expertise tobe conducted with the option of granting academic credit where appropriate. An informationbrochure to inform veterans of engineering workforce opportunities prior to separation from themilitary has been developed.Veterans may have a base of knowledge acquired through the technical nature of their serviceexperience. Assigning them to introductory level courses with traditional freshman andsophomore students does not respect their technical expertise. The development of subject basedon-line tutorials is being used to accelerate the veteran’s entry into the math sequence and thecircuits sequence. These tutorials will include videos of laboratory exercises to ensure thatveterans understand the equipment and terminology used in the introductory courses. We havecreated an informal cohort of veterans to gain feedback and build learning communities. Afuture feature of this project is the inclusion of summer industrial internships for participants.Student success in follow-on courses will be the primary evaluation metric. This evaluation willtake place when a significant number of students are in the program. There are many additionalsupport structures that may or may not be available on any given campus. Key components ofthis program include the development of recruitment activities and coordination with campusmilitary veteran support staff and personnel at nearby military installations.