Page 21 - Engineering Career Guide, 4th Edition

come the new frontier of engineering work on defense pro- grams. Advanced sensing instruments, sophisticated com- munications tools, and precision weapons are being combined to make real the kinds of things we’re used to seeing in the movies. Swarms of miniature battle drones ex- ecuting warfighters’ orders delivered with waves of a hand or spoken commands. Unmanned surface and underwater vessels – some camouflaged in the shape of sting-rays – carrying out reconnaissance and even attack operations hundreds of miles away from humans who can nevertheless see in real time what is happening. Invisible headlights that reveal minute details about the battle space without ever exposing themselves to enemy positions.
For the US to maintain the military advantage that imagi- native, advanced technologies like these three examples can bring, we need a steady stream of smart young people entering the field of defense research and development. An engineering degree can help you become part of these ef- forts. Current areas of priority include microelectronics, arti- ficial intelligence, biotechnology, and hypersonic propul- sion. In military, university, and private-sector labs and testing grounds, engineers are exploring new ways to use advances in all these areas to keep the US military ahead of the rest of the world. Studying engineering now could lead you into an exciting, meaningful career in the future in any of these three areas of employment.
ENGINEERING CAREER GUIDE 21