The Commanding General of the Brigade Modernization Command, Brig. Gen. John W. Charlton, is leading by example when it comes to supporting the push of science and technology among middle and high school students.
These two miniature robots built by fifth grade students were showcased at a media event hosted by the Brigade Modernization Command in support of the El Paso STEM foundation and UTEP’S upcoming science-tech competition. (Photo by Lt. Col. Deanna Bague, Brigade Modernization Command/Released)
Charlton hosted a kicker event to help spread the word about another competition in which students showcased their science and technology-based projects and compete for the 5-STAR Innovation Cup Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, or STEM competition.
“The purpose of the 5-STAR Innovation Cup and the El Paso STEM foundation is to inspire, engage, educate, develop and support the next generation of STEM professionals in our region.” - Shane Haggerty, president of the El Paso STEM Foundation
Charlton said he is looking forward to the event and is providing soldiers from his command to help judge.
“We’re surrounded by technology every day, so we’re really happy to be co-sponsors of this Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math effort,” said Charlton. “This event is going to showcase some of the best minds in the middle and high schools across the El Paso community. So we’re real excited about that.”
Charlton and other members from the BMC had the opportunity to see robotic models that student s from surrounding high schools presented.
“[These] high school students brought some of their equipment to see how it compares to ours,” said Charlton. “I’m pretty impressed. I hope to see some of these things in action, and I’m sure it’s going to be a great competition.”
BMC’s job for the Army, said Charlton, is to take a look at new technologies, new capabilities and figure out a way to bring them into the Army and put them in the hands of soldiers so they can perform better on the battlefield. During the event, the students saw some of the equipment BMC uses as part of their mission to assess and evaluate systems.
“This is kind of our monster garage down here,” said Charlton. “We work with a lot of our partners in the military to build these vehicles and then we take them out into the desert and test them a couple of times a year. And the things that work well eventually find their way into the Army.”
Brig. Gen. John Charlton, commanding general of the Brigade Modernization Command, and two members of the Engineering department from the University of Texas at El Paso, watch a demonstration of a miniature robot that was built by fifth grade students. (Photo by Lt. Col. Deanna Bague, Brigade Modernization Command/Released)
The University of Texas at El Paso was also represented during the event. Gabby Gandara, outreach director of UTEP’s Engineering Student Services introduced two undergraduate engineering majors who serve as ambassadors to help implement the college’s outreach programs that include robotics.
“High school students from Hanks and Parkland have participated [in the robotics program],” said Gandara. “Part of those programs is what we’re going to showcase come March twenty-ninth as part of the Five-STAR Innovation Cup [STEM competition].”
By Lt. Col. Deanna Bague
Brigade Modernization Command
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