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Members of Team Wright-Patt talk with college representatives during an education expo inside the base club at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, July 12, 2018. During the expo civilians and military personnel were able to talk with a number of different colleges, and attend briefings on a variety of education based topics. (U.S. Air Force photo by Wesley Farnsworth)

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Tech. Sgt. John Lacy 595th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, talks with Kenneth Haight from Indiana Wesleyan University, during an education expo inside the base club at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, July 12, 2018. During the expo civilians and military personnel were able to talk with a number of different colleges, and attend briefings on a variety of education based topics. (U.S. Air Force photo by Wesley Farnsworth)

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Emily Demeter, a representative of Sinclair College, answers questions from a member of Team Wright-Patt during an education expo inside the base club at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, July 12, 2018. During the expo civilians and military personnel were able to talk with a number of different colleges, and attend briefings on a variety of education based topics. (U.S. Air Force photo by Wesley Farnsworth)

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Senior Airman Kenaan Maxwell, National Air and Space Intelligence Center intelligence operations analyst, talks with Deunka Hampton a representative of Xavier University during an education expo inside the base club at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, July 12, 2018. During the expo civilians and military personnel were able to talk with a number of different colleges, and attend briefings on a variety of education based topics. (U.S. Air Force photo by Wesley Farnsworth)

Empowering Education in the Workforce

Published July 12, 2018
By Elizabeth Clinch
88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio - More than 50 organizations, including academic institutions, helping agencies, and the Ohio Department of Higher Education, attended the 2018 Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Development, Education, and Training Exposition July 12.

Academic institutions attending ranged from those with locations on base, to local campuses, to locations across the country.

These organizations provided information to Total Force Airmen making personal and professional education plans, giving them resources to pursue and explore their developmental interests.

“This event is extremely important because it provides, annually, a consolidated effort to bring all educational information together,” said Dr. Sara Black, the force development flight chief for the 88th Force Support Squadron. “This way you are able to get information, compare academic institutions program offerings and receive on the spot answers.”

There were breakout sessions held throughout the event, focusing on everything from financial aid options to force development opportunities to free on-line learning opportunities.

“It is extremely important to continue to provide this information, because not everyone who goes to school is working towards a degree; they are working towards enhanced information,” said Black, “Either way, knowledge is gained and we need competent individuals to be able to perform the vast number of jobs for DoD,”

Attendees came from a variety of backgrounds- enlisted, officers, civilians, dependents, and even high school participants in Department of Defense STEM education outreach programs.

“These individuals are looking to advance themselves, not only for their career but for themselves personally, and for their dependents,” said Black, noting, “Statistically, Wright-Patterson is a highly educated workforce. There is over 87 percent of the staff, who work at all levels, that have an earned degree.”