Comment on FR Doc # 2013-04352

As a citizen, an educator and a Chemical Engineer I am in full support of STEM education; because this is the best path for us as a country to develop lasting solutions to our local problems of job creation, security and prosperity for all. It appears to me that rather than spend all of our efforts with seemingly quick solutions that end up ailianating some members of local communities, DoD might provide some guidance of what they would like to see by way of training and education in Urban America. Rather than relying on local Education Boards to shoulder the burden DoD might work directly with local Universities to roll out programs that could transform high school science curriculums that eventually target the kind of trained personnel that DoD could use in their many operations. These potential students/employees would provide low security risks as they are already part of a local American community. Imagine what it could be like for a local University, such as New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) working with a local high school such as Irvinton High to develop a strong STEM curriculum. This could be as simple as sponsored undergraduates and graduate students providing service learning activities under the supervision of selected high school science teachers and NJIT professors under the guidance of a DoD supervisory personnel. Other similar initiatives where local community and DoD team up to address issues that benefit the community and DoD could be considered depending on local and DoD needs going forward.