“The future of our aviation and maritime infrastructure is dependent upon the next generation being properly educated and trained in these subjects,” said Massport CEO Thomas P. Glynn. “We need our young people to have the interest and motivation to study the STEM disciplines so we can continue to generate the good-paying jobs and economic impact that propel the Commonwealth.”
Massport employs hundreds of people in STEM fields including electricians, engineers, analysts, and technicians who work in concert to accomplish the authority’s mission of connecting Massachusetts and New England to the world. The STEM Education Expo started as a collaborative effort sponsored by the FAA and Massport in 1994.
Almost 40 displays and information booths representing various aspects of the industries served as the backdrop for the event at the Delta Hangar. There were 15 aircraft including a FedEx A310, smaller planes, a Boston MedFlight helicopter, numerous airport operations vehicles, as well as a Coast Guard vessel. In addition to several Massport departments, exhibitors included the Museum of Science, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Massachusetts Air and Space Museum, Massachusetts State Police, Boston MedFlight and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
“Hundreds of careers at our airports were represented today,” said Massport’s Director of Aviation Ed Freni. “We rely on the engineers who design and build the planes, the pilots who fly them, the electricians who keep runways lit and radars working properly, the air traffic controllers who make sure aircraft travel safely in the sky, and many more. Showcasing the various career paths at the STEM Expo will hopefully encourage these young people to one day have a career at Logan or the Port of Boston.”