As Research and Engineering department head for the Naval Ship Systems Engineering Station at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pat Woody has seen the organization grow from 650 employees to nearly 1,700. While that may indicate the militarys growth, it does nothing to speak of women pursuing engineering jobs. And that, Woody believes, is something thats still lacking.
Woody will do her part to promote the cause at a far-reaching event intended to advance regional collaboration around science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education on Monday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philly. Woody is one of nearly a dozen featured speakers at Innovation in STEM, which will be hosted by the Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center.
Women in engineering peaked in about 2004 and then its been back on the decline again, says Wood, who is responsible for the vast majority of employees in her organization. When I look at national defense, which is my interest, we need a workforce of highly skilled and educated scientists and engineers.
The program will draw on regional and national assets to showcase successful local STEM education programs, including those in emerging fields like alternative and clean energy. It also hopes to involve attendees in a tri-state initiative that will focus on the urgent need to support a regional STEM collaborative, academic/industry/government partnerships underway, creating new STEM programs and the Navy Yard as a hub for regional STEM activity.
Woody pointed to several programs her organization runs or participates in, like a summer apprentice program for high school students and the adoption of George Washington Carver High School of Engineering and Science that includes tours, career days.
An engineering degree is a great degree to have, says Woody. When you ask engineers around here, theres a certain sense of reward knowing theyre doing things to make a sailor in harms way safer and more effective.
Source: Pat Woody, Naval Ship Systems Engineering Station
Writer: Joe Petrucci
Photos:
(Top) Engineer and STEM graduate, David Engels, makes an adjustment to a scale-model hovercraft lift fan in the Naval Ship Systems Engineering Station’s Anechoic Chamber at the Philadelphia Navy Yard
(Bottom) Pat Woody
