The Air Force Research Laboratory’s Tech Engagement Office honored winners of its 2023 New Mexico Excellence in STEM Awards during a ceremony held in June.

Since its establishment, the award has annually recognized top contributors in STEM fields across New Mexico, AFRL said earlier this month.

“The 2023 STEM winners are an outstanding group of individuals and organizations that are doing great work in STEM education,” said AFRL Tech Engagement Office Director Gabe Mounce.

He was sure to mention the large number of qualified nominees, which made it “difficult to narrow down the list.”

“That is a testament to the qualifications of this year’s winners and the strength of STEM education initiatives in New Mexico overall,” said Mounce.

Created in 2018, the award is intended to broadcast STEM achievements outside of the immediate STEM community and across the state. This year’s winners came from Albuquerque, Socorro, Los Alamos, Tucumcari, Las Cruces and southeastern New Mexico.

Awardees were selected from 12 categories, with several recognitions for students, teachers, advisors and mentors as well as honors for academic institutions, nonprofit organizations and small and large businesses. Individual awardees received $1500 scholarships.

Three students – Aaron Chand, Ixchel Valentino and Journey Allison – were identified as “standout” candidates. Chand, a high schooler, finished in 6th place at the 2022 Global Conference of Educational Robotics Competition. A homeschool graduate, Valentino has won multiple robotics awards since kindergarten, and Allison, a middle school student, has already enrolled in college-level math courses.

Also recognized was Jennifer Nilvo, a teacher at Valencia County’s School of Dreams. Her selection was driven by successful efforts to build one of New Mexico’s most comprehensive STEM programs, and her work helped secure funding for the state’s only BioSafety Level 1 and 2 STEM Research Lab within a public K-12 school.

The full list of winners is as follows:

1. Student K-8: Journey Allison – Albuquerque Institute for Math and Science
2. Student 9-12: Ixchel Valentino – Homeschool
3. Student 9-12: Aaron Chand – Tucumcari High School
4. Educator K-8: Carolyn Torres – Chamisa Elementary (White Rock)
5. Educator 9-12: Jennifer Nilvo – School of Dreams Academy
6. School: Desert Willow Family School
7. Higher Ed: Engineering Student Success Center – University of New Mexico
8. Advisor/Coach: La Tonya Jenkins – Greater ABQ National Society of Black Engineers Jr. Chapter
9. Mentor: Dr. Curtis O’Malley – New Mexico Tech
10. Non-Profit: Asombro Institute for Science Education
11. Small Business: Construction Survey Technologies Inc.
12. Large Business: Permian Strategic Partnership

Draper has entered the Intel Foundry Services U.S. Military, Aerospace and Government Alliance.

This move provides a pathway for the two organizations to incorporate their technology offerings and deliver these capabilities to military, aerospace and government clients to help them meet national security requirements, Draper announced from its Cambridge, Massachusetts headquarters late last month.

Jerry Wohletz, president and CEO of Draper, emphasized the importance of rejuvenating the defense microelectronics ecosystem to maintain economic and national security.

“As a Department of Defense Trusted Supplier, we will deliver trusted services to the alliance and IP and design solutions for aerospace, defense and government applications,” he said. “We look forward to working with IFS to ensure tomorrow’s systems are as secure as possible.”

Joining the alliance will allow Draper to help proliferate the use of IFS’ leading-edge processes while incorporating its own security IP and precision instrumentation to support its customers. Under the partnership, Draper will gain access to process roadmaps, leading edge process design kits and technical training.

As a member, Draper will contribute its microelectronics offerings as IFS works to perfect its process and packaging technologies, steering mutual customers toward their goals by reducing integration risks and assisting chip designers with security maintenance in complicated systems architectures.

“The combination of Draper’s IP and IFS’ leading technology helps ensure that customers looking to implement high-performance, secure and trusted microelectronics have the tools and resources to accelerate their success,” said Sarah Leeper, vice president and general manager of electronic systems at Draper.

The alliance will also drive collaboration in the development of custom products for specific mission and design demands. This cross-organizational engagement is intended to reduce design risks and allow federal clients to access numerous applications within the areas of high-performance and fault-tolerant computing, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, hostile environment operations and aerospace and defense systems.

“We are pleased to welcome Draper to the IFS Accelerator USMAG Alliance,” said Suk Lee, vice president of design ecosystem technology at IFS.

He added that Draper’s skill in designing, developing and deploying advanced systems for national security “will be a valuable addition to the alliance” in its efforts to support customer innovation on its foundry manufacturing platform.

The Defense Health Agency has declared its plans to modernize and stabilize the U.S. military’s health care system and improve the delivery of services to departments, combatant commands and beneficiaries for the next five years.

The DHA Strategic Plan for fiscal years 2023 to 2028 outlines three strategic functions aligned with the agency director’s priorities to enable combat support to the joint force in crisis, build an integrated and resilient health care delivery model and create a revitalized workforce, the agency said Thursday.

DHA also aims to optimize service delivery by adopting a patient-centered, digital-first heath care system.

U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Telita Crosland, director of DHA, said the organization will utilize transformative technologies, expand partnerships and transition to new models of health and wellness to achieve its goals.

“To accomplish our mission, we must use the right tools, at the right place, at the right time, for the right reason,” said Crosland, a 2023 Wash100 awardee. “This includes scaling innovative workforce ideas with proven value across the agency.”

The Department of Homeland Security received $288 million in funding under the Inflation Reduction Act for three construction projects to reconstitute its facilities.

A portion of the funds will be used to relocate the headquarters of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, as well as Immigration and Customs Enforcement, DHS said Thursday.

The renovations will take place at the agency’s St. Elizabeths campus in Washington, D.C. DHS is looking to consolidate its operations from 40 down to six headquarters in an attempt to save taxpayers over $1.3 billion in the next 30 years.

The agency also plans to comply with the Biden administration’s Buy Clean Initiative, by utilizing low-embodied carbon concrete, asphalt and steel for construction.

The projects will add office space to accommodate about 6,500 personnel, as well as a parking garage for 1,500 vehicles.

“Locating more of our agencies together enables the Department of Homeland Security to be more cohesive, efficient, and effective,” DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stated. “These projects will save taxpayers tens of millions of dollars annually and model modern environmental and sustainability standards,” the Wash100 awardee added.

The Department of Defense has released its review of the biological threat landscape outlining key reforms to strengthen the U.S. military’s biodefense posture over the next decade.

The Biodefense Posture Review aims to prepare the U.S. military for catastrophic biological incidents, such as the potential use of advanced biological weapons, through 2035, the Pentagon said Thursday.

“This review outlines significant reforms and lays the foundation for a resilient total force that deters the use of bioweapons, rapidly responds to natural outbreaks, and minimizes the global risk of laboratory accidents,” said Deborah Rosenblum, assistant secretary of defense for nuclear, chemical and biological defense programs.

Among the reforms in the review is establishing the Biodefense Council to coordinate authorities and responsibilities to develop a collaborative approach to addressing biological threats.

“We’re increasing collaboration and synchronizing efforts across the DOD enterprise—everything from policies and authorities, to research, acquisition, and investments—to meet the department’s biodefense requirements,” said William LaPlante, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment and a 2023 Wash100 Award recipient.

The BPR also highlights the importance of training and exercises to identify and close biodefense capability gaps.

John Plumb, assistant secretary of defense for space policy, said the reforms will advance the Pentagon’s efforts to support the joint force and boost collaboration with allies and partners.