May 2020
FMA Community Steps Up
In challenging times, the members of the Fort Meade Alliance have always pulled together to support Fort Meade and the surrounding region. Though the challenge we face now rests on a global scale, the response of FMA members to COVID-19 is no different. As the pandemic has evolved, the FMA and its members have taken steps to combat the needs of people in this region and across the globe. 

FMA members from large government contractors to educational institutions to small businesses have focused their efforts on supporting communities around the world in this time of need.

In a time when PPE and medical supplies are hard to find, FMA members have found ways to fight the shortages. On behalf of our members, the Fort Meade Alliance and the FMA Foundation have purchased much needed PPE for first responders at Fort George G. Meade. 
The Future of Internships in a Socially-Distanced World
As restrictions on work and travel continue, many companies have begun to explore what their operations — including internships — will look like as the bulk of their employees continue to telework. Companies typically offering internships to high school, college and graduate students are determining how to handle these essential skill-building experiences remotely. 

Maintaining internship programs may be essential for some companies, as interns often provide businesses low-cost labor and the opportunity to groom an individual’s skill set for potential full-time employment with the company.

Two companies – one a small start-up housed in the FMA 5-star partner Howard County Economic Development Authority’s incubator space and the other the sizeable FMA Mission Partner Lockheed Martin – will both provide digital internships this summer to local community college students. Each of the students is enrolled in STEM Core, a program that allows them to accelerate their progress through core mathematics courses with the support of a mentor who helps them navigate community college life.
Introducing the new Project SCOPE website
In 2009, at the forefront of efforts to help businesses and government fill the need for security-cleared workers, the Fort Meade Alliance debuted Project SCOPE (Security Clearance Overview, Preparation and Education). Though much has changed since that time, the need for a workforce prepared for the security clearance process remains as important as ever. With this in mind, the FMA has updated and revised Project SCOPE with relevant and timely information for today’s evolving workforce. 

The website has three different target audiences: high school students, college/workforce and transitioning military/veterans. Each section provides tailored information to its audience to help them navigate and master the security clearance process. In addition to updated information, there are now interactive quizzes sprinkled throughout the site, allowing users to actively engage with the information, test their knowledge and share their results on social media platforms.
Our Mentorship Program carries on through COVID-19
On March 11th, we kicked off our 2nd Annual Rising Stars Mentorship Program. Since then, our 18 mentors and 27 mentees have been connecting virtually. Thank you to all participating in this important program. 
Welcome to our newest FMA members
Members: Barrow Wise Consulting, LLC, Base2 Engineering, LLC, Halogen Engineering Group, Inc., Intelliforce-ITSG and Vincia Consulting
Mission Partners
5 Star Partners
Anne Arundel Community College
AAEDC
ASRC Federal
Boeing Intelligence & Analytics
CACI
Chugach Government Solutions
Ciena Government Solutions, Inc. (CGSI)
Corporate Office Properties Trust
Deloitte, LLP
HCEDA
Jacobs
LG-TEK
ManTech International Corporation
Nominet
Oceaneering International, Inc. 
Parsons
PCI 
Perspecta
Praxis Engineering
Raytheon
SAIC
Tower Federal Credit Union
Vision Technologies
Whiteford, Taylor & Preston
The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company

Patriot Partners
Aronson, LLC
Capitol Technology University
ClearEdge
Howard Community College
National Instruments 
Granting Sponsor