Dr. Robert Cherinka is a Senior Principal Information Systems Engineer for the MITRE Corporation, located in Tampa, Fl.  His expertise is in software and process engineering, with a focus toward XML-based web service and agile development technologies.  Bob is currently a Department Head for Agile Engineering and Interoperability, leading a distributed team of IT professionals located at 7 MITRE locations in developing and applying emerging technologies that enable information services and interoperability across several major US Government domains.  Dr. Cherinka earned a Ph.D. and M.S. in computer science from Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, leading research in static analysis and testing techniques for component-based systems.  In addition, he earned a B.S. in computer science in 1987 from the University of Pittsburgh.  After 6 years in the US Air Force, he joined MITRE in 1993.

Mr. J. Paul Wahnish is the president and founder of CTEF (Career Technical Education Foundation, Inc.), and a member of SAE, ASME.  Mr. Wahnish received his Political Science bachelor’s degree from University of South Florida and then attended Stetson College of Law.  He started several engineering companies including: Wahnish Consulting, Inc, and Metro Automotive Marine Accessories, Inc.  While traveling the globe as an entrepreneurial owner of several businesses it became apparent to Mr. Wahnish that the structure of education in the United States was not preparing today’s students to fill the workforce needs for tomorrow.  In 2001, he sold one of the engineering companies and began a new career as a professional educator.  He received his State of Florida certification in Social Studies and Technology Education and recently served as the Department Chair at the Academy of Engineering at East Lake High School.  He has grown the school from 22 students at its inception seven years ago to 600 students. In 2008 the Academy achieved the Center of Excellence from Pinellas County and was recognized by Project Lead the Way as one of the Top 10 Best Engineering Academies in the U.S.

In 2010 STEMflorida awarded CTEF the STEM Business and Education Award recognizing CTEF as the best program producing the STEM proficient workforce needed by Florida employers. Mr. Wahnish received recognition at the 2010 Tampa Bay Technology Forum (TBTF) as an Industry Achievement Award winner.  CTEF won TBTF’s Community Supporter of the Year Award, as an organization making a significant impact on advancing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) initiatives and educational programs in the region.  Mr. Wahnish was additionally honored by TBTF for Outstanding Leadership, and received a finalist award for his significant and positive impact on the region’s technology community with his demonstrated leadership.  The Tampa Bay Times Newspaper elaborated on CTEF’s STEM SUMMIT and its contribution to STEM education and industry in 2011; in 2012 Mr. Wahnish was featured in the top 20 best people making a difference in Tampa Bay.

Mr.. Joseph Prezzama is a Lead Communications Engineer and task leader the MITRE Corporation, located in Tampa, FL.  Joseph leads MITRE work program in support of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for a Department of Defense customer.  His expertise is in the areas of tactical communications and strategic enterprise planning.  In 1996, Mr. Prezzama earned a Masters of Science in Software Engineering from Monmouth University, Eatontown, New Jersey.  Prior to that, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Trenton State College, Ewing, New Jersey.  He is a member of and has been published in AFCEA, and is a senior member of the IEEE, IEEE Communications Society.

There is a growing concern in the United States regarding the declining state of education and college enrollment for degrees in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). As part of a STEM Outreach program, MITRE is partnering with the Career Technical Education Foundation (CTEF) to take an active role working to encourage school districts to seek out and take advantage of opportunities for their students to learn and apply STEM-related constructs and emerging technologies in a contextually relevant setting. A sustainable model for fostering partnerships between Industry and Academia is presented.