Air Force-Wide Needs for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (Stem) Academic Degrees

Abstract : This report documents research examining requirements across all Air Force functional areas for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)-degreed officers and officerequivalent civilians. It documents current STEM requirements, classifies disciplines as STEM or non-STEM, summarizes the prevalence of STEM degrees in the current officer-level workforce, and presents STEM requirements gathered from Air Force career field managers (CFMs) through a structured interview process. Based on the study findings, this report makes recommendations for improvements to the determination, documentation, and projection of STEM degree requirements. The research reported here was commissioned by the Air Force Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisition Integration, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition (SAF/AQX), and by the Director, Force Development, Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, Headquarters U.S. Air Force (HQ USAF/A1D) as part of fiscal year 2012 project Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), and was conducted within the Manpower, Personnel, and Training Program of RAND Project AIR FORCE. This report should be of interest to Air Force leadership and staff involved in the policy and execution of officer accessions, civilian hiring, and the management of the STEM workforce.