Exploring Military and STEM E17

In honor of Veterans Day, the November STEM Unplugged podcast features a conversation about Military & STEM. Our featured guests – Chaz, Celeste and Daniel share their personal experiences and highlight career pathways in the Navy, Army and Air Force. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math are relevant in many Military Occupation Specialties (MOS) along with enhancing personal skills in leadership, communication and project management.

Arizona is home to seven different military bases, including one of the largest bases in the world – Luke Air Force Base. Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson is one of the most active while Fort Huachuca Army Base in Sierra Vista is the home to the Army Intelligence Center & Network Enterprise Technology Command. While the Navy and Coast Guard have not established any bases in Arizona for obvious reason of the lack of coasts, Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma spreads over 3000 acres. All of the bases in Arizona are quite large, around five to six thousand military personnel each and offer additional opportunities for civilian contractors and the logistics network in our state.

Listen in to meet PO1 Chaz Schrader, a Nuclear Field Coordinator with the United States Navy, share about the personal growth and success he has had after enlisting in 2013 and his assignment on the fast attack submarine USS Jefferson City (SSN-759).

Learn more about the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion goals for DEMA, The Department of Emergency and Military Affairs from LTC Celeste Snyder who serves as the DEI officer. DEMA consists of the Arizona National Guard (Air, Army & Joint Task Force), the Division of Emergency Management and the Division of Administrative Services to focus on merit based promotions for all career pathways in state and federal positions.

Major Daniel Romero, Director of Operations for the 56th Civil Engineer Squadron describes his pathway to STEM and how it began early in life with exposure to hands on activities. With his training and leadership skills, he is charged with leading a team of 204 personnel maintaining and sustaining 1,043 facilities, a 3.7 billion dollar infrastructure and the 1.7 million acre Barry M. Goldwater Range in support of the 171 F-35 and F-16 aircraft.

Our host, Kelly Greene had a chance to share details about her 21 year career in the United States Army. After joining at the age of 17 and serving in three combat deployments, she shares about the skills military training in logistics and human intelligence provided to find success in her current role as the Chief Operating Officer at SciTech Institute.

The Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA) consists of the Arizona National Guard (Air, Army, Joint Task Force), the Division of Emergency Management and the Division of Administrative Services. DEMA provides unique capabilities and services to the citizens of Arizona in three distinct roles: community, state and federal.

Lieutenant Colonel Celeste M. Snyder is currently assigned to the Joint Force Headquarters, Arizona Air National Guard. As the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) officer she directs, coordinates, and oversees DEI functions for military and civil support missions through the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs.

She advises staff regarding policies, procedures, and directives that apply to personnel and quality of life initiatives. Lieutenant Colonel Snyder also manages and directs the Division of Administrative Services Equal Opportunity, Equal Employment Opportunity and sexual harassment complaint programs.

Lieutenant Colonel Snyder initially enlisted in the Arizona Air National Guard and served as a personnelist for eight years, achieving the rank of Technical Sergeant. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management through the University of Arizona and commissioned through the Academy of Military Science in 2003 in Knoxville, TN.

Lieutenant Colonel Snyder served as the 162nd Fighter Wing, Equal Opportunity Officer for six years then became the Wing Education and Training Officer and volunteers as a member of the Air National Guard Diversity Committee.

While serving with the National Guard she also worked as an accountant for the City of Sierra Vista for 11 years and later earned her Masters in Elementary Education from Arizona State University and taught kindergarten for eight years in a low socioeconomic school district.

Lieutenant Colonel Snyder was recently selected as a Federal Technician with Division of Administrative Services as the State Equal Employment Manager and became a graduate student through Air University’s, Air Command and Staff College and Air and Space Basic Course.

Major Daniel Richard Romero is the Director of Operations for the 56th Civil Engineer Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. He leads 204 personnel maintaining and sustaining 1,043 facilities, a 3.7 billion dollar infrastructure, and the 1.7 million acre Barry M. Goldwater Range in support of 171 F-35 and F-16 aircraft which make up the world’s largest fighter wing.

Major Romero is a 2009 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and and has deployed once to Thumrait Air Base, Oman to establish an operational bare base, directly supporting Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and New Dawn. Major Romero’s held a number of high visibility positions as a Fighter Wing Executive officer in USAFE’s largest fighter wing, a manager for the Air Force’s Military Construction (MILCON) program, and a Deputy Director for a 2-star Commander’s Action Group at the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center (AFIMSC).

Prior to his current position, Major Romero was the Director of Staff at Squadron Officer School, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. He was the principle advisor to the Commandant of Squadron Officer School and led 4 personnel in executing all Commander’s programs. Lastly, he oversaw all manpower processes, and was critical to the revamp of the entire school curriculum for 135 faculty and IDE Fellowship cycles.

Connect with Major Romero on LinkedIn.

The mission of America’s Navy is to recruit, train, equip, and organize to deliver combat ready Naval forces to win conflicts and wars while maintaining security and deterrence through sustained forward presence.

Chaz Schrader was born in Southern California where he joined the Navy in 2013. He has been active duty since then culminating in eight and a half years of active service.

After graduating from Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes Illinois he went to Nuclear Field “A” School and Power in Goose Creek South Carolina to receive his training as a Nuclear Field Electronics Technician. To complete his two years of training he spent his last six months in Ballston Spa, New York at Nuclear Power Training Unit.

Upon graduation, he was assigned to the USS Jefferson City (SSN-759) fast attack submarine out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

After serving four and a half years on the USS Jefferson City he transferred to Phoenix, Arizona as the Nuclear Field Coordinator for all Nuclear Field applicants in the Arizona and New Mexico areas.

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About Our Sponsor

SciTech Institute™ was established as the Arizona Technology Council Foundation as the conduit for collaboration among STEM industry, academia, civic, and non-profit organizations in Arizona. Now, rebranded and named the SciTech Institute™ the goal centers around aligning assets and resources to motivate individuals to pursue STEM-related educational and career paths or find a passion while engaged in community events during the SciTech Festival.

The Chief Science Officer program highlights the 6th-12th graders that have been selected as leaders in their schools and communities to receive training to build a world-class community of diverse STEM-literate workers and knowledgeable, engaged citizens. Science For All allows for tax credit donations to provide engaging experiences for students while RAIN (Rural Activation Innovation Network) focuses on resources for the rural areas of Arizona.

As a STEM Learning Ecosystem, SciTech Institute™ focuses on collaboration and connecting individuals with opportunities! STEM Professionals are encouraged to engage with the future workforce by serving as a mentor, leadership coach, panelist, keynote and session trainer during a variety of conferences hosted or sponsored by SciTech Institute™ and The Arizona Technology Council.

Teachers and Administrators are invited to connect with the resources available while activating a large network of STEM champions for student projects, judges at events, volunteers, exhibitors and more. SciTech Festival Event Coordinators are supported during the planning and execution of community STEM events around the state by the SciTech STREET Team Members and the growing network of volunteers. The possibilities are endless! SciTech Institute™ looks forward to connecting with you today. Visit SciTechInstitute.org today for more information.

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About Your STEM Unplugged Host

After grow up in rural New York and joining the United States Army, Kelly Greene learned quickly to adapt to her surroundings to be successful. She attended Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education.

She also enlisted in the United States Army and after graduating from training, Kelly traveled the world with the military. While stationed in Misawa, Japan, she fell in love with learning about cultures around the world. Even as a deployed Soldier during Operation Iraqi Freedom for two tours, she found opportunities to connect with the local children to form the Victory Base Council Girl Scouts with her fellow servicemen.

In 2013, she was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and traveled the country by air. During this deployment, she had the opportunity to utilize the most advanced technologies available to the tactical HUMINT operations in theater. Upon return from combat, she retired with 21 years of service and began teaching. From 6th grade Math to 7th grade STEM, Kelly used her enthusiastic nature combined with her strong classroom management to design curriculum based on the Engineering Design Process!

Now, as the Chief Operating Officer at SciTech Institute, Kelly is excited to serve the communities in Arizona and beyond to share their interest in STEM!

Claire Conway is the STEM Ecosystem Programs Manager at SciTech Institute.