BDPA Partners with US Navy to Create More Officers and Gentle(wo)men

The US Navy agreed to participate in the 2013 BDPA Technology Conference as part of its Diversity and Student Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) outreach programs. The Navy Recruiting Command is taking the lead for this event with a focus on workshops for students, parents and industry which foster year round engagement with BDPA for youth interested in STEM careers. Also, the Navy Recruiting Command will coordinate the presentation of their booth at the BDPA Career Fair on August 16-17, 2013 in Washington DC.

There is a rich history between BDPA and the US Navy. In 2010, Admiral Gary Roughead, then Chief Naval Officer, invited BDPA co-founder Earl Pace to the Pentagon to discuss expanded partnership between Navy and BDPA. Adm. Roughead felt Navy should expand its outreach engagements with BDPA over the next few years as BDPA is the only cyber-focused affinity group identified by the Navy.  This increased partnership now includes expanded year-round STEM-Intelligence/Cyber engagements with local BDPA chapters.

Earlier this year, Raven Stevenson, one of the alumni members of the BDPA High School Computer Competition program graduated from Duke University as a Navy Ensign becoming the organization's first student member to do so. Raven attended Duke University on a full Navy ROTC scholarship (valued at $180,000) that she earned at the 2009 BDPA Technology Conference.  Raven tells the story best herself in this video!

Another BDPA HSCC alumni student, Joseph Huggins, Jr. is on the journey as well. He agreed to join the US Navy in 2010.

BDPA looks forward to supporting the efforts of the Navy to identify additional information technology talent ... both seasoned professionals and young people ... during our upcoming conference. Kudos to BDPA account manager Perry Carter and National Office administrator Lesley Menor for working with the Navy to see this sponsorship renewal through to its conclusion.

BDPA Philadelphia Supports Pennsylvania MESA Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

BDPA seeks to advance the careers of African Americans in the Information Technology (IT) industry from the classroom to the boardroom. An important element of that process is ensuring that our young people have exposure and experience to as many STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs as possible.

As such, it was a no-brainer for our BDPA Philadelphia chapter leadership to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the nationally-recognized Math Engineering Science Achievement (MESA) initiative in Pennsylvania. MESA is an academic preparation program for K-12, community college and university-level students that was originally created in 1970. The program provides academic support to students from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds throughout the education pathway so they will excel in math and science and ultimately attain four-year degrees in STEM fields. The program has successfully been replicated in over a dozen other states.

BDPA Philadelphia chapter president Eileen Gadsden and chapter vice president Charles Ireland attended the ribbon cutting ceremony held on August 27th at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. There are over 50 students enrolled in MESA ... and our hope is that some of them will find their way to BDPA over the coming weeks and months. We also want to ensure that BDPA students are fully aware of MESA as an option for their consideration in the future.

"It was a truly awesome event to see so many students committed to studying medicine, engineering and technology," said BDPA president Gadsden.

A number of other dignitaries were at the event, including Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter, past BDPA conference keynoter and current chief of Naval operations Admiral Gary Roughead, special assistant to the CNO for diversity Dr. Cynthia Macri and Temple University's Dr. Jamie Bracey.

Admiral Roughead spoke about the Navy's ability to have a global impact due to a strong educational foundation and its continued efforts to stay on the forefront of technological advances.

Our BDPA leaders at the event were able to cultivate some strategic relationships that will result in an expansion of the chapter's 2012 Student IT Education and Scholarship (SITES) program to include cyber-security and healthcare components.

This blog encourages BDPA chapters in California and Maryland to follow the lead of BDPA Philadelphia. Make a connection with California MESA or Maryland MESA. Once you've made the connection ... follow the lead of BDPA Philadelphia chapter and find a way to get engaged with MESA. It is a wonderful opportunity for a STEM-based strategic alliance!

BDPA New York HSCC Team Meets Chief of Naval Operations

Student finalists from BDPA New York Chapter High School Computer Competition Team speak with Admiral Gary Roughead, CNO, during the 35th annual BDPA Awards Gala Reception.

Pictured above (L-R) are Nicholas Reid, Kevin Rey Castillo, Cazemba Richards, and Alan Rosales with the Admiral.

Navy Admiral Gary Roughead Will Keynote National BDPA Technology Conference

The 29th Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Gary Roughead, USN will be the guest of honor and keynote speaker at the annual premiere event of the National BDPA (NBDPA). This event will be held on July 31, 2010 at the Marriott Downtown in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Admiral Roughead will address this distinguished audience comprised of congressional leaders, senior staff, industry leaders, state and local government representatives, other uniformed and civilian senior
Department of Defense leaders, college interns and high school students from NBDPA Chapter cities, NBDPA Corporate Sponsors, and NBDPA members.





The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) is the senior military officer of the Department of the Navy. Having earned the rank of four-star admiral, Admiral Roughead is responsible to the Secretary of the Navy for the command, utilization of resources and operating efficiency of the operating forces and shore activities for the Navy assigned by the Secretary. As a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), the CNO is the principal naval adviser to the President and to the Secretary of the Navy on the conduct of war, and is the principal adviser and naval executive to the Secretary on the conduct of activities of the Department of the Navy.

NBDPA will convene their 32nd Annual National BDPA Technology Conference, National High School Computer Competition (HSCC), National IT Showcase (ITSC), Youth Technology Camp, National Career Fair and Technology Expo from July 28 to July 31, 2010. The Marriott Downtown in Philadelphia, PA will serve as this year’s conference headquarters.