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Systems Engineering and Operations Research

Driving Innovation: DELTA-FORCE steers army vehicles into the digital future

Nathan Kahl — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 18:58:03 +0000

Driving Innovation: DELTA-FORCE steers army vehicles into the digital future Nathan Kahl Wed, 01/29/2025 - 13:58

The U.S. Army relies on numerous ground vehicles for successful operations, requiring vehicles that can navigate a variety of terrains and allow soldiers to be effective and safe. This creates a challenging set of requirements for new vehicle design, engineering, and operations that must be cost-effective.

Ali Raz. Photo by Creative Services

��AV is now an important contributor for researching novel approaches and development of new vehicles, thanks to a $1.6 million grant from the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences under Digital Enterprise Technology for Maintenance and Sustainment Improvements—Phase II effort, sponsored through the Army’s Ground Vehicle Systems Center.

The George Mason project, called DELTA-FORCE (Digital Environments for Life-Cycle Test and Evaluation For Off-Road Combat VEhicles), is a joint effort between the College of Engineering and Computing’s (CEC) Center for Excellence in Command, Control, Communications, Computing, Cyber, and Intelligence and the College of Science’s Center for Collision Safety and Analysis. Ali Raz of the Systems Engineering and Operations Research (SEOR) Department is the principal investigator (PI) and Steve Kan, a professor in Mason Science, is the co-PI.

This project aims to develop a comprehensive digital engineering methodology for new vehicle concepts. “It's a very unique opportunity for George Mason in that we're going to be building a complete digital environment for life cycle testing and analysis," Raz said. "Life cycle elements have their own domain-specific models, and analysis tools that are not linked. We are building a digital environment to connect them.”

Steve Kan. Photo by Creative Services

The different phases of the vehicle life cycle, from conceptual design, preliminary design, detailed design, manufacturing, and maintenance, each have their own models and analysis tools that do not “talk” to one another. A key aspect of this project is creating an ontology and model-based systems engineering (MBSE) foundation that will connect the different domain-models, providing a common language for integrating the models and building interfaces in a digital environment.

“In order to produce new advanced complex systems, we need to transition into digital environments; the Department of Defense has been laying the groundwork for that for five years or so,” said Raz. “So essentially we will build a digital twin for modeling the off-road vehicle and environments, that is connected to a physical twin via reverse engineering.”

Kan said that “This project will enable us to work in the digital engineering field in a holistic way by integrating different system-level requirements, design, and performance, to the physics level of materials and geometry using reverse engineering technologies. In this project, we build upon our expertise in automotive and aerospace safety engineering and collaborate with colleagues in both CEC and Mason Science at George Mason to develop this digital engineering platform.”

Raz added that DELTA-FORCE will provide an opportunity through new undergraduate courses for George Mason students to get hands-on experience in building digital twins and conducting analysis.

Although this effort is sponsored by the Department of Defense, its content does not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the government; no official endorsement should be inferred..

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Ali K. Raz

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George Mason joins elite defense research network

Martha Bushong — Sun, 15 Dec 2024 14:25:04 +0000

George Mason joins elite defense research network Martha Bushong Sun, 12/15/2024 - 09:25

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Art Pyster

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The Systems Engineering Research Center (SERC) and the Acquisition Innovation Research Center (AIRC) recently added ��AV as a member. Both managed by Stevens Institute of Technology, SERC and AIRC leverage the research and expertise of more than 25 universities nationwide.

The SERC and AIRC are two of more than a dozen University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs), which are sponsored by the Department of Defense (DoD). Art Pyster, associate dean for research for the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC), has a long history with SERC. He served as the proposal manager at Stevens when that institution won the initial designation in 2008 and subsequently served as Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer until 2016 when he joined George Mason. “We now have a full seat at the table, participating in meetings with DoD sponsors and helping to set the SERC/AIRC agenda.”

According to Mike Bunting, assistant dean for research in CEC, “Each UARC, composed of one or more universities, has a long-term strategic relationship with the DoD in a specific research area.” Bunting added the structure facilitates collaboration, and the UARC contract mechanism allows for an “easy button” to perform research for the DoD.

Most UARCs are just a single university. The SERC formed in 2008, and AIRC, formed in 2020, are different because they are university consortia. Now that George Mason is a full member, it can receive unlimited tasking from the government and collaborate with other SERC/AIRC members on their research and other activities.

“It's about having a set of resources that the government can rely upon from a trusted agent,” Bunting added. “As an R1 university, George Mason has hundreds of faculty, staff, and students who conduct research in areas of interest to the DoD. George Mason teams can propose and lead new research tasks and be part of joint projects with other members of the SERC/AIRC consortia.”

Stevens recently renewed the SERC/AIRC contract for five years, at which point they were able to add new members, including George Mason. John Shortle, chair of the Systems Engineering and Operations Research Department (SEOR), and Jerry McGinn, executive director of the Greg and Camille Baroni Center in the Costello College of Business, were instrumental in adding George Mason.

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Marine Corps Congressional Fellowship

After Earning a Master of Public Policy Degree, Marine Captain Staton Is Headed to Congress

Andrew J Schappert — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 15:49:58 +0000

After Earning a Master of Public Policy Degree, Marine Captain Staton Is Headed to Congress Andrew J Schappert Mon, 11/11/2024 - 10:49

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Since 2018, the Schar School of Policy and Government at ��AV has welcomed a cohort of United States Marine Corps officers to campus as Master of Public Policy (MPP) students. The officers chosen for the prestigious Marine Corps Congressional Fellowship Program will complete their fellowships by working for elected representatives on Capitol Hill. Captain Naquan Staton is among the 2024 cohort.

Captain Naquan Staton has a very simple reason for applying to the Marine Corps Congressional Fellowship Program. As a financial management officer, the Charlottesville native sees firsthand how the congressional legislative process directly affects military strategic planning for resource allocation. In short, he wants to be able to do his job more strategically and successfully.

“As Congress passes authorizing and spending bills, I—at the receiving end—have to continually forecast how such activities will impact military operations and requirements,” he said. “When I learned that the Marine Corps had a program that allowed its members to gain firsthand experience in the legislative process, I was eager to apply.”

Captain Naquan Staton: ‘It's an honor to undergo such an essential preparation process at George Mason.’ Photos provided.

After more than 17 years in the Marine Corps, Staton is back at college for the third time. He earned a BS in business administration from Regent University in 2017 and an MBA from Baylor University in 2021. Now he’s at George Mason’s Schar School studying for a master of public policy degree. He said he appreciates the school’s support to the Marines cohort.

“Beginning with the application process until now, my second semester, the admissions staff, the advisors, the professors, and even the school's dean have provided us with strong academic support, preparing us for our time on Capitol Hill next year,” he said. “It's an honor to undergo such an essential preparation process at George Mason.”

The MPP program has so far delivered what Staton was hoping for when he applied. In particular, the course taught by Adjunct Professor Andrew Pavord called National Budgeting Process fit right in his professional wheelhouse.

“He is an oracle for all things budget,” Staton said. “He did more than teach the students about the federal budgeting process—he went deep into its history, explaining cause and effect from yesterday to today.”

Pavord is an example of the accomplished practitioners who make up much of the adjunct and affiliated Schar School faculty. In addition to teaching at George Mason, Pavord, a former executive at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, is CEO at Federal Consulting Alliance, a Virginia-based, veteran-owned consultancy. He and others on the faculty bring their experience into the Schar School classrooms and provide an extra dimension of learning.

Naquan Staton was promoted in 2022 to captain in a ceremony at Marine Corps Recruit Depo in San Diego.

Knowing more about how public policy is developed and deployed is important to Staton who said the appropriations process is the segment of public policy that interests him the most.

“Most policy problems that Congress attempts to solve are solved with money and by appropriation,” he said. “Policy initiatives often come with a price tag, which demands congressional consensus before arriving at the president's desk. So many policy proposals and great ideas flow through Congress. Still, the appropriations pie is only so large, and it's fascinating to see which ideas actually take flight.”

Next year, as he serves on Capitol Hill, Staton will be able to see how the fabled “sausage is made” by legislators and their staffs, and by the end of his Hill tour, he hopes to be well-versed in the congressional culture and understand the key areas of policy, politics, and process.

“It's one thing to have a fundamental understanding of how a bill becomes a law, but until you have been in the kitchen, it's difficult to truly appreciate how the ingredients come together,” he said.

With a regime change in Washington arriving in January, things could be less than normal in official Washington for the Marine Corps fellows, but Staton isn’t concerned.

“I believe every Marine's best attribute is composure under chaos,” he said. “We are taught to be flexible, fast, and to constantly consider all risks to the mission. Being somewhat aware of how high-tempo the halls of Congress are, I'm confident any Marine Fellows will thrive.”

More than 4,700 of George Mason’s more than 40,000 students are military or veteran-connected. The university is designated a Military Friendly ^TM institution and has been rated as a top college for veterans by U.S. News and World Report. In fall 2024, the university’s incoming freshman transfer cohort was 20 percent military connected, and the incoming graduate cohort was 19 percent military connected. See this webpage to learn about the Military, Veterans, and Families Initiative at George Mason.

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Schar School News for November 2024

Costello College of Business News

U.S. Army Vet and MBA alum credits Costello for expanding his dreams

Jennifer Anzaldi — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 14:31:18 +0000

U.S. Army Vet and MBA alum credits Costello for expanding his dreams Jennifer Anzaldi Mon, 11/11/2024 - 09:31

After eight years in the U.S. Army, Allen Taber, MBA ’22, was looking for a way to grow in his career. The Donald G. Costello College of Business at ��AV provided him the tools he was seeking. Taber came to George Mason for an MBA, and left with a new dream of pursuing a doctorate.

Allen Taber, MBA ’22

“George Mason was an awesome experience, especially for someone who wasn’t in school for over a decade,” says Taber. A parent of a young child, Costello offered him the location and flexibility he was seeking. “Professors worked with us. Almost every single professor you had was out there to help students out.”

Prior to coming to Costello, Taber served as a computer detection specialist in the U.S. Army. “I brought the skills I learned in the military to the workplace, which allowed me to become a program manager within the information technology industry,” says Taber. While working as a project manager he quickly realized that if he wanted to grow in his company, he needed an advanced degree.

For Taber, learning the theory behind what he was doing in his position helped to make him a better manager. Taber says his Management Consulting course with Jim Wolfe, associate professor of management and entrepreneur in residence at Costello, was particularly impactful. “We bounced ideas off of each other in the class that I could implement in my current position,” says Taber.

Allen Taber, MBA ’22, in Chile on his MBA Global Residency.

In addition to Wolfe’s class, Taber says his most memorable experience during his time at George Mason was the Global Residency Program to Chile. “We had the opportunity to learn different business operations, and more importantly how a different country operates, both similarities and differences. It was amazing to study in a place you normally would never go,” says Taber. “It was the first time I left the country in 20 years.”

Taber says that not only was the business education experience impactful, but exploring the city and learning about the culture left a lasting imprint as well.

Allen Taber, MBA ’22, spent eight years in the U.S. Army.

After completing his MBA, Taber continued on for his doctorate in business administration at Walden University. “Professor Wolfe was a catalyst to push me into my doctoral studies,” says Taber. “You talk about it, you think about, but having someone who’s been doing it for so many years say ‘Go for it’ is pretty awesome.”

Taber says the MBA program prepared him well for his doctorate. Taber is currently the senior technical project manager for Monture, LLC, and working on completing his doctoral study.

Taber’s advice to students considering the program: “It is never too late to go back to school. While I had great accomplishments in the workplace, having an advanced degree will open up future opportunities that would not be possible without it.”

Photos provided by Allen Taber.

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Learn more about the Veterans Co-enrollment (VCE) program.

Bringing a Veteran’s Global Perspective to Nursing

Taylor Thomas — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 16:47:40 +0000

Bringing a Veteran’s Global Perspective to Nursing Taylor Thomas Fri, 11/08/2024 - 11:47

The School of Nursing here at George Mason is #1 in Virginia for veterans for a reason. Who better to attest to this than students who are veterans and pursuing their nursing degree?

Veteran Frankie Farmakis is pursuing his BSN at George Mason after 30 years in the Marine Corps. Learn why.
To all our veterans, thank you for your service.

During his 30 years of military service in the U.S. Marine Corps, Frankie Farmakis witnessed the differences across international health care systems and was exposed to cultural contexts across the globe. In this next chapter of his career, Farmakis applies these experiences to the field of nursing.

“My service brought immense internal and external gratification. There are many similarities to the U.S. health system across the world and also pieces I think would be beneficial to incorporate [into how we do things]. A major example is ensuring people have access to long-term care and don’t only seek care when their health is in serious decline,” Farmakis said.

Farmakis says George Mason is excellent at opening doors for veterans to attain higher education. “George Mason is undoubtedly veteran-friendly. They have the process down. You talk to real people well-versed in veteran needs and how to apply military benefits in a streamlined manner,” Farmakis said. “This is where to go to make your life easier.”

He entrusted the George Mason School of Nursing to nurture this journey and is currently a student in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Veterans Co-enrollment (VCE) program. Students complete a BSN degree online while simultaneously enrolled in an Associates of Applied Science nursing degree (AAS Nursing) program at a partner community college.

After earning his BSN, Farmakis intends to specialize in medical-surgical (med-surg) or emergency department (ED) nursing.

“I became interested in med-surg and ED nursing during my clinical rotations. I’ve been in chaotic environments, which I feel will lend well to handling the stress that comes with these specialties,” said Farmakis.

He is also eager to empower patients to continue their care once they are no longer under his. “Relationship building with patients is crucial positive outcomes. Engaging patients increases their desire to participate in continuity of care,” he said.

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Marine Corps Fellow Captain Desiree Peterson: Studying to Improve Military Processes

Andrew J Schappert — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 13:21:09 +0000

Marine Corps Fellow Captain Desiree Peterson: Studying to Improve Military Processes Andrew J Schappert Fri, 11/08/2024 - 08:21

Since 2018, the Schar School of Policy and Government at ��AV has welcomed a cohort of United States Marine Corps officers to campus as Master of Public Policy students. The officers chosen for the prestigious Marine Corps Congressional Fellowship Program will complete their fellowships by working for elected representatives on Capitol Hill. Captain Desiree A. Peterson is a member of this year’s cohort.

Marine Corps Captain Desiree A. Peterson’s military and academic journey has led her from undergraduate studies at the United States Naval Academy, where the communications officer earned her BS in Honors English in 2019, to George Mason’s Schar School where a Master of Public Policy degree awaits. After she dons her cap and gown next year, the Paterson, New Jersey, native will head to the halls of Congress.

Peterson’s path is not only about personal growth but about gaining the insight needed to bring tangible improvements to the Marine Corps, she said. In fact, her drive to join the Congressional Fellowship Program grew from her curiosity about the inner workings of policy and how it impacts the processes within the Marine Corps.

“I wanted to gain a more comprehensive understanding of policymaking to bring back insights that could improve Marine Corps processes,” Peterson said. “The fellowship offers a unique chance to see the legislative process from the inside, which I believe is essential for enhancing our effectiveness as a force.”

Captains and Marine Corps Congressional Fellows Desiree A. Peterson, left, and Elizabeth Hosie at the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. Photo provided.

Equally, she views this as a pathway to becoming a more well-rounded leader, balancing her technical expertise with equally crucial skills of communication and policy understanding.

“As someone who has worked in a highly technical field, it remains important to me to maintain balance and continue to pursue to develop both technical skills and the ability to communicate complex material effectively,” she said.

Her ultimate goal is not just to understand policy but to use it to shape and optimize processes within the military. As officers advance in their careers, she said, understanding the “why” behind decisions can dramatically influence operations within the Corps.

By comprehending how processes—like the authorization and appropriations that influence military spending—directly impact the way the Marines are trained and equipped, Peterson sees a chance to act as a bridge, capable of explaining decisions and their impact to those under her leadership.

“It is my goal to better understand the legislative processes that inform the design of our force, but also to integrate myself within a cohort of scholars, leaders, and staff and members of Congress who possess the latitude to not only understand, but influence, the way we prepare for and respond to future national security concerns,” she said.

One of her favorite classes has been Technology, Culture, and Commerce, taught by Adjunct Professor Mark Langevin, an expert in global commerce and policy.

“This course expanded my understanding of how Congress intersects with evolving industries and technology, as well as the broader cultural impacts of technological change,” Peterson said. “This intersection is especially relevant to my background, highlighting the challenges the military faces in rapidly adapting to new technological landscapes.”

In addition to her professors and fellow classmates, Peterson has received academic encouragement from previous Schar School Marine Corps fellows.

“I am deeply grateful for the mentorship I've received throughout my journey to join this program,” she said. “Marines who previously completed this fellowship have shared invaluable insights that shaped my understanding of the experience, providing a realistic view of what it entails and helping me determine if it would be the right fit.”

Her upcoming service on Capitol Hill is a far cry from her typical duties in uniform, but Peterson is ready for the transition.

“Military training has prepared me to stay mission-focused and resilient, qualities that will be crucial when navigating the complexity and pace of Congress,” she said. “My hope is that this experience [at the Schar School] will provide the opportunity for me to represent the Marine Corps in a small capacity so that we can connect the needs of the service with the realities of the legislative process to foster better understanding and outcomes.”

In This Story

Mark Langevin

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Veterans

Marine veteran changed his life and seeks to reach others in need of positive direction

Colleen Rich — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 19:33:35 +0000

Marine veteran changed his life and seeks to reach others in need of positive direction Colleen Rich Wed, 11/06/2024 - 14:33

It was an epiphany of sorts, in the most unlikely time and place, but it changed the course of ��AV veteran Abidail “Abi” Estrada’s life—and the many lives he’s touched since.

Abidail “Abi” Estrada. Photo provided

At 19, after making “a lot of bad choices,” Estrada found himself sitting by a Northern Virginia road next to his broken-down car, reflecting on his future. This pivotal moment motivated him to leave behind his troubled past, join the U.S. Marine Corps, and eventually find his true calling in helping fellow veterans and others in need.

“I went off on myself,” recalled Estrada, now a proud husband, father, and U.S. Marine veteran of two tours in Afghanistan who is pursuing a master’s degree in social work. He asked himself what was wrong, wondering if this was truly the life he wanted, and whether he would continue down the same path forever.

This was just the impetus Estrada needed to break free from an unstable home environment that had him headed nowhere good. As a Guatemalan native, who was just 11 years old when his family arrived in the United States in 1998, Estrada longed for a better life, and after that moment of self-realization, enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, which allowed him to alter his own personal narrative.

Estrada’s first tour of duty in Afghanistan began with a stay in the volatile Helmand Province in May 2010, followed by another stint in the war-worn nation from 2013-14. It was extremely dangerous, but as a Marine sergeant and infantry squad leader, he took great pride in serving alongside his new brothers in arms. “I was doing something with purpose, something that was meaningful to me,” he said. “If I was going to die, I was going to die with a purpose.”

After eight years of service, Estrada left the Marine Corps in 2015. Hoping to get a higher-paying job to take care of his family, he enrolled at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), with the goal of transferring to George Mason to earn a four-year college degree. Hardly a great student while in high school, Estrada quickly found that he was no longer that same guy—he had matured through his military experiences.

He thrived academically, making the Dean’s List at NOVA before transferring to George Mason in 2017 and graduating from the College of Public Health with a bachelor’s degree in social work in 2019. His wife, Maritza, also a George Mason graduate, strongly encouraged her husband through it all.

When beginning his academic career, Estrada found that he had an innate desire to help others. He soon discovered his niche in assisting veterans and their dependents navigate the often-complicated GI Bill process, enabling them to receive the benefits were entitled to. Whether at NOVA or George Mason, Estrada supported fellow veterans by providing them opportunities to connect and share their military experiences with someone who truly understands.

Estrada’s dedication for helping others did not go unnoticed. Ryan Barnett, associate director of George Mason’s Office of Military Services, recognized Estrada’s potential and encouraged him to pursue social work.

“Abi has a heart of gold and a passion to help people and connect with them,” said Barnett, a fellow Marine veteran.

“The more I learn about the profession, the more I love it,” Estrada said.

Following his graduation, Estrada spent several years helping local youth, first as a youth counselor for Northern Virginia Family Services and then as an investigator of child abuse and neglect cases for Prince William County. Now as a 37-year-old father of three, he returned to George Mason this fall to pursue his master’s degree in social work, continuing his mission to serve his fellow veterans and others in need.

Estrada is grateful for the opportunities the United States has provided him. He said giving back is the least that he can do. “I’ve always loved and respected this nation,” he said. “It fed me and clothed me. What my birth nation couldn’t do for me, America did. That’s why I want to give back.”

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From Cockpits to Capitol Hill: Marine Corps Officer Charts New Course in Public Policy

Andrew J Schappert — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 12:11:38 +0000

From Cockpits to Capitol Hill: Marine Corps Officer Charts New Course in Public Policy Andrew J Schappert Wed, 11/06/2024 - 07:11

Each year since 2018, the Schar School of Policy and Government at ��AV has welcomed a cohort of United States Marine Corps officers to campus as Master of Public Policy students. The officers chosen for the prestigious Marine Corps Congressional Fellowship program complete their fellowships by working for elected representatives on Capitol Hill. Major Anthony Matacotta is a member of this year’s cohort.

Major Anthony Matacotta with daughter Talia: ‘I am interested in public policy because I want to enrich my understanding of what I have sworn to defend.’ Photo provided.

Major Anthony Matacotta is more familiar with the cockpits of KC-130J Super Hercules, a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft, than he is with navigating the marble halls of Congress. But the Marietta, Georgia, native and Marine Corps aviator is looking forward to gaining “a better appreciation for what Congress does and glean some insight into how legislating is really accomplished,” he said. “What’s that quote from Hamilton? ‘I want to be in the room where it happens.’”

Matacotta was excited to continue his academic education after earning a BS in political science from the United States Naval Academy in 2013.

“The Marine Corps emphasizes the idea of being a lifelong learner through professional military education and personal enrichment and I have always wanted to seek higher education,” he said. “So, the chance to earn a masters degree and represent the Marine Corps in a Congressional office struck me as an incredible opportunity.”

Returning to a college campus after nearly a decade, he said, he found himself in classrooms with students from a vast array of professional experiences and backgrounds.

“The diversity of thought amongst everyone at George Mason fuels energized discourse and innovation,” he said. “I have learned so much from my classmates.”

Matacotta praises all the courses and faculty at George Mason.

“My favorite course so far has been statistics with [Associate Professor] Jessica Terman,” he said. “In a time where information abounds, but good information remains scarce, Dr. Terman’s course gave us the tools to extract truth from the noise.”

Matacotta was drawn to the Schar School’s public policy program as a way to build on his commitment to public service developed during his military career.

“As Marines, we swear an oath to defend the constitution,” he said. “I am interested in public policy because I want to enrich my understanding of what I have sworn to defend. Public policy is how the ideals of that Constitution are applied to address contemporary social, economic, and political issues.”

Once the fellows earn their Schar School MPP degrees and serve their term on Capitol Hill, they return to uniformed duty. After that, they may reenlist or return to civilian life. Whatever the future holds for Matacotta, “I hope to apply the knowledge and insights I gain at George Mason both during and after my military career,” he said.

“I am consistently impressed by the caliber of the students in the Marine cohort,” said Noah Jacobson, an adjunct professor of politics and government who has taught the cohort for the last five years. “They are driven and thoughtful, always eager to learn more. They play a key role as part of an invaluable program.”

“There is a lot of policy that reaches out and touches the military and I hope to use what I learn at George Mason to help translate it to my Marines and the service writ large,” Matacotta said. “After the military, I believe a better understanding of public policy will make me a better-informed citizen, able to effectively participate in government.”

More than 4,700 of George Mason’s more than 40,000 students are military or veteran-connected. The university is designated a Military Friendly ^TM institution and has been rated as a top college for veterans by U.S. News and World Report. In fall 2024, the university’s incoming freshman transfer cohort was 20% military connected, and the incoming graduate cohort was 19% military connected. See this webpage to learn about the Military, Veterans, and Families Initiative at George Mason.

In This Story

Noah Jacobson

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Schar School News for November 2024

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Military Veterans and Families Initiative (MVFI)

��AV recognized for supporting military families through collaboration

Colleen Rich — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 14:17:27 +0000

��AV recognized for supporting military families through collaboration Colleen Rich Mon, 11/04/2024 - 09:17

��AV was recently recognized as a member of the Northern Virginia team that earned one of the four national Pete Taylor Partnership of Excellence Awards for 2024 from the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC).

Now in its 20th year, the award recognizes and celebrates partnerships between military installations and nearby school districts that support K-12 children from military and veteran families, addressing their unique challenges that come from frequent relocations. There are approximately 1.6 million military-connected children in the United States, with nearly 80% attending public schools. Each year, the coalition honors schools and military installations from around the world for their “exceptional and sustainable” efforts in celebrating military children.

George Mason is part of the Fairfax County Military-Connected Youth Process Action Team, a collaboration between Fort Belvoir, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), and George Mason’s Military, Veterans, and Families Initiative. This team works to support military-connected students as they transition in and out of FCPS, ensuring their academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs are met through ongoing events.

“This program is another terrific example of how George Mason’s Military, Veterans, and Families Initiative works to bring together faculty expertise, community partnership, and experiential learning for our students in service of the broader military and veteran population,” said Keith Renshaw, MVFI director, professor in the Department of Psychology, and George Mason’s senior associate provost for undergraduate education.

Studies show that military children typically move six to nine times between kindergarten and high school graduation—about three times more often than their nonmilitary peers—as their parents change duty stations. These frequent moves can make it difficult for them to feel connected to their communities, a factor that is crucial to their success and well-being. Around 900,000 military children have experienced a parent being deployed, adding another layer of complexity to their lives.

George Mason and Fort Belvoir officials worked directly with Renée LaHuffman-Jackson, the director of family and school partnerships for FCPS.

And that collaboration proved effective.

“This award recognizes the value of community collaboration and working together to support the population,” said Jennifer Drake Patrick, an associate professor at George Mason’s College of Education and Human Development and a military spouse. “It shows the power of coming together rather than working individually.”

Help from Mason came through consulting in course development for Fairfax educators in understanding military culture and strategies to engage and support military families and in collaborating to develop training for Student Ambassador Programs in area high schools. These initiatives serve to help K-12 schools create a more welcoming and supportive culture for military-connected students and their families.

“We want the students with military connections to come in and feel connected,” Drake Patrick said.

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