
Start in Elementary School: Building America’s Defense STEM Pipeline
From Emerging Tech Horizons by Dr. Arun Seraphin
May 13, 2026 · 36 min
About this episode
Jeremy Anderson discusses the importance of K–12 STEM education as a national security priority and the role of trained teachers in building a future workforce.
Start in Elementary School: Building America’s National Security STEM Pipeline YouTube Description: America’s next generation of emerging technology will not be built without the workforce to design, manufacture, operate, and sustain it. Jeremy Anderson, CEO of the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI), argues that K–12 STEM education is a national security priority, and the pipeline has to begin long before college or career decisions. Anderson explains NMSI’s “train the trainers” model, which equips teachers, school leaders, counselors, and media specialists to help students build confidence, rigor, and a stronger STEM identity. According to Anderson, students who have at least one NMSI-trained teacher are far more likely to pursue a STEM degree or credential in fields tied to emerging technology and innovation. Industry cannot rely only on late-stage internships or higher education programs. Companies can help grow the future workforce by supporting teacher externships, connecting classrooms to real jobs, and investing earlier in tomorrow’s STEM talent to strengthen America’s national security and leadership in emerging technology. National Math & Science Initiative…
People in this episode
Host: Dr. Arun Seraphin
Guest: Jeremy Anderson
Topics covered
- STEM education
- national security
- workforce development
- teacher training
- emerging technology
Keywords
- STEM pipeline
- education
- national security
- teacher externships
- emerging technology
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: National Math and Science Initiative, NMSI
More episodes of Emerging Tech Horizons
- Inside NDIA’s Defense Hackathon: How Collaboration, Learning, and Rapid Problem Solving Come Together · June 10, 2026 · 60 min
- Beyond Attrition: Integrating Drone and Unmanned Systems into the Future of U.S. Warfare · June 3, 2026 · 44 min
- Fight the Base: Military Infrastructure Resilience Against Cyberattacks in a Contested Battlespace · May 27, 2026 · 45 min
- Connecting the Factory to the Fight: AI-Enabled Software and Proactive Defense Supply Chains · May 20, 2026 · 41 min
- Beyond the Battlefield: Emerging Technology, AI, and the Future Force of War · May 6, 2026 · 42 min
- Human Systems at the Speed of Acquisition: How Defense Innovation Is Reshaping the Workforce · April 29, 2026 · 1h 1m
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Emerging Tech Horizons podcast page.