Mooney speaks at STARBASE conference

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jeff Walston
  • 307th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
Barksdale AFB, La. --  Brig. Gen. John J. Mooney III, the commander of the 307th Bomb Wing from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., spoke about the importance of a communication strategy to the Program Managers, Directors and Instructors for STARBASE during the 2011 DoD STARBASE Program Conference at the J.W Marriott Hotel in New Orleans, Aug. 9, 2011.

The DoD STARBASE program has an annual Director's conference and a bi-annual Instructor's conference. This year, for the first time, the two conferences were held in tandem. The Director's were involved in sessions that provided information in regards to program updates, collaboration opportunities, networking and resources, STARBASE 2.0 after school STEM mentoring programs, and other support-related information. The instructors had the opportunity to participate in workshops designed to introduce the newest lessons being integrated into the core curriculum. STARBASE Louisiana presented two of the seven lessons unveiled at the conference in 8 workshops over the course of three days.

Mooney, who was the first guest speaker at the three-day event that hosted approximately 200 Directors and Instructors, passed on ideas and ways the STARBASE educators can maintain communication between their host units and publicize their perspective programs to local community. There are 60 DoD STARBASE Programs located in 34 states.

"We are partners in STARBASE at Barksdale," said Mooney. "We provide administrative and financial support, allowing them to focus on their mission of producing and inspiring youth in our area. We have to make sure we're not an absentee landlord. It's a day-in and day-out commitment, and communication is the key."

The STARBASE program presents an exciting, 25-hour hands on/minds on aviation and aerospace curriculum to area 5th grade students and their teachers. The DoD program is committed to addressing the critical needs in STEM education - Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. STARBASE Louisiana introduces its students to exciting STEM education topics, inspiring these young minds to further explore these topics in future course work.

"STEM education is critical to the success of the United States," Mooney said. "That's why it's important that it's a DoD Program."

"Why do we do it?" Mooney asked. "When I look in the mirror in the morning, I feel good about it, and I want those kids to ask ... can I change my life?"

Although the attendees benefited from hearing the many speakers comment on how STEM Education can strengthen our national and economic security, being a command sponsor was not the only common bond General Mooney had with the attendees at the conference.

"We are extremely proud that our own commander, himself an educator and committed to the STARBASE mission, had the opportunity to highlight some of our program's unique features and encourage other sites to leverage the community and military resources to expand their programs' impact in the same manner the STARBASE Louisiana program has employed," said Kathy Brandon, executive director, STARBASE Louisiana.

General Mooney told the audience that he viewed the STARBASE Program as an opportunity to give back to the local community, and it shows the Air Force cares.

"I challenge you to inspire those kids," Mooney said. "If you can change a child, you can change a nation."