Howard University and NAVFAC have long, distinguished histories, but they cemented their relationship with the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) during the 2009 Advancing Minorities' Interest in Engineering (AMIE) Conference Sept. 9 at the Washington Plaza Hotel.

NAVFAC is hiring around the world at its 16 commands, which includes 64 public works departments and 3 officers in charge of construction.   The facilities engineering command is facing unprecedented workloads in its history such as  projects funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, construction of the new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., and the upcoming military buildup in Guam. 

Dean Bradford C. Grant, CEACS professor and director, explained the significance of the MOA for Howard University graduates.  "This is an extraordinary opportunity for students of Howard University College of Engineering, Architecture and Computer Sciences to gain first-hand knowledge and applied experience working with NAVFAC, especially during this economic downturn."

The official signing ceremony of the MOA featured professionals and leaders from top engineering corporations who share NAVFAC's vision to diversify its workforce.  The agreement will provide opportunities for minority students looking to pursue careers in the engineering fields, enhance NAVFAC's diversified workforce and provide information and guidance to potential candidates.

"This agreement represents opportunity for Howard University engineering graduates, NAVFAC and the Navy.  Our warfighters will benefit from the skills and potential that the best engineering graduates from Howard University offer," said Steven Iselin, NAVFAC's executive director, "If we are proactive, this agreement represents the start of a long and fruitful relationship."

AMIE is a coalition of corporations, government agencies, and the ABET accredited historically black colleges & universities (HBCUs) engineering schools that facilitates the development of partnerships between its member organizations and one or more of the HBCU engineering schools. 

NAVFAC recently became a member of AMIE and signed an MOA that outlines the manner in which AMIE will assist NAVFAC in partnering with HBCU engineering schools.  These partnerships can consist of many options, such as internship and co-op opportunities, scholarships, research projects, technology transfer, and support of pre-college programs.