The StellarXplorers Summer Camp will take place this summer at the Vogelweh Youth Center from 29 July to 2 August (1330-1630).  The summer camp will expose current and future StellarXplorer students to the interesting world of orbital mechanics, satellite design, rocketry and "real world" scenario challenges requiring the use state-of-the-art orbital simulation software (STK).

Below is an outline of what you can expect at the camp:

Circular Orbits & Orbit Determination

Why go to space? | Basic Classical Orbital Elements (COEs) | Introduction to Systems Tool Kit (STK) | Visualizing Orbits and Calculating Total Access Time

Launch Vehicles

History of Rocketry | Rocket Science and Propulsion Systems | Types of Launch Vehicles | Launch Vehicle Selection Planning

Satellite Component

Remote Sensing Payloads | Satellite Component Subsystems | Interplanetary Missions | Selection Considerations | Cosmic Perspective

Elliptical Orbits

History of Space Exploration | Advanced COEs | Space Careers | Visualizing Elliptical Orbits using STK | Calculating Total Access Time of Elliptical Orbits using STK

Artemis Mission and StellarCamp Challenge

Space Environment | Artemis Mission | StellarCamp Challenge

Senior Jack Salzman is one of those rare individuals you just know will make it BIG!!  Jack arrived at KHS last school year, and right off the bat, I knew this kid was special.  He seemed to know so much about computers. It did not take me long to recognize this kid's passion and talent, so I immediately asked him to join my Cyberpatriot program to which he had a real knack for Windows security.  Jack also made an enormous impact throughout the school as the school's leading Windows expert, not to mention taking Tech Student of the Year honors as well.

This year Jack was privileged to receive an internship offer from our Headquarters in Virginia.  Somehow, Jack's inquisitive nature revealed numerous security vulnerabilities in our school systems.  Jack informed our IT staff and somehow made it all the way to the top.  They then recognized his talent and sent a few representatives from HQ to sit with Jack and ask him to be part of their team this year and to continue to locate security vulnerabilities within our school system.

Jack has passed his CompTIA Security+, CompTIA Network+, CompTIA A+ and is soon looking to acquire his PenTest+.  This cyber phenom is just getting started.  

I must say, as his teacher (Cybersecurity and A+ Certification) and Cyberpatriot mentor, he is one of the nicest, friendliest and supportive students I have had the honor to both teach and know.  

It will not be the same at KHS without this enormous personality.  Fortunately, he will be staying in Germany and I do hope to see him next year, not as a student, but as a Cyberpatriot coach for our school team.

For the full story of Jack, please see his DoDEA Connects Senior Feature article.

The 2024 AFCEA STEM Olympics held its awards ceremony and team drone contest on 28 April at the Innovation Lab on Ramstein Air Base, Germany.  This was a great location to host the event as the Innovation Lab has become a center for STEM excellence and outreach.  A live drone contest was held to generate excitement and bring virtual competitors together for an in-person challenge as students competed for prizes and recognition.  

For this year's event, teams received Tello Drones and were tasked to program their drones to fly a specific flight path within select constraints. Teams scored points based on the complexity of the task and course completion time. In addition to these criteria, teams were also evaluated on their problem-solving strategies and the creativity of their drone maneuvers. This hands-on challenge provided students with an engaging way to apply their coding and engineering skills in a competitive environment.

After the drone competition, STEM Olympians gathered in the auditorium to listen to this year's keynote speaker, Maj. Rachel Kolesnikovlindsey, a Space Force Guardian who has been instrumental in the Atlas V Rocket Launch and in placing over a dozen satellites into orbit. Concluding the event, AFCEA's Vice President, Lt. Col. David Simmon, had the honor of announcing the winners of this year's STEM Olympics and awarding scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $2,500.

The SeaJelly Project, initiated by NAVSEA (NSWC Carderock), is an innovative and engaging STEM initiative aimed at providing students with hands-on experience in robotics and engineering. This project allows students to build their own free-swimming biomimetic platform, known as a SeaJelly, using open-source CAD and PCB designs, Arduino code, and comprehensive build instructions. The SeaJelly Project is designed to enhance students' understanding of engineering concepts and robotics through a practical and interactive approach.

The SeaJelly Project offers numerous benefits for student as they gain valuable skills in programming, electronics, and mechanical design. Students are tasked with modifying and improving their SeaJelly designs through creativity and problem solving.  This initiative not only provides for an exciting and challenging educational experience but also helps prepare students for future careers in STEM fields by giving them practical experience with real-world applications.

I was recently honored to serve as a judge for the European Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS) finals. This prestigious event took place in Groß Gerau, Germany, bringing together some of the brightest young minds from across Europe. As a judge, I had the incredible opportunity to witness firsthand the innovative research and projects presented by high school students throughout DoDEA Europe who are passionate about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Their enthusiasm and dedication was truly inspiring, and it was a privilege to evaluate their work and provide constructive feedback. 

Research plays a crucial role in the educational development of students. It not only improves their grasp of theoretical concepts but strengthens their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.  JSHS is an incredible program enabling students to perform a deep dive into topics of their choice, while building perseverance towards completion, and acquiring skills in effectively communicating their findings. These experiences are invaluable and will prepare them well for future academic and professional opportunities. 

The months of September through November were spent building STEM capacity through new or enhanced programs.  This was an incredibly busy time as I was balancing outreach programs with a suite of new courses to teach, plus an aggressive after-school STEM program.  

• AFCEA STEM Olympics

  • Engineering Contest

  • STEM Challenge

  • Programming Contest

  • Cybersecurity Contest

• STEM Lender Program

• STEM Club

  • • Cyberpatriot (two teams)

    • StellarXplorers

    • JSHS

    • NTHS

• AFCEA Chapter 158

  • Community Partnership Program

  • STEM grants and community outreach

DoDEA Public Affairs Office (PAO) contacted me and asked to do an article about my activities in STEM and the Ambassador program.  I was honored to have this story published as it allowed me to share with others the types of programs I have been pushing both locally and beyond.  It was a great  opportunity to inform DoDEA educators about STEM ecosystems and how schools can leverage local resources to build and enhance programs as part of a community-wide effort.

The article also allowed for me to showcase a number of stateside programs that can implemented abroad, such as SkillsUSA, Cyberpatriot and StellarXplorers.  It also allowed me to share with readers the importance of educational partnerships and the need to leverage skillsets across the ecosystem to maximize efficacy of STEM programs.

Of course, it was extremely proud to be able to share with the PAO my experience with the DoD STEM Ambassador program and how it opened my eyes to the sheer number of STEM opportunities associated with DoD STEM and their DSEC partners:  www.dodstem.us.