Linda Hudson: Defense Industry Needs More Citizens in STEM Fields

Outgoing BAE Systems Inc. President and CEO Linda Hudson spoke to technology leaders Thursday about the changes she believes would address concerns on how to develop U.S. student and professional talent in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, FedScoop reported Thursday.

Dan Verton writes Hudson appeared at an Northern Virginia Technology Council event to discuss U.S. performance in STEM, pointing to gaps between the U.S. and other countries, in addition to between U.S. men and women.

“I need qualified U.S. citizens capable of getting a security clearance,” Hudson said, noting 75 percent of STEM students in U.S. schools are noncitizens and that talent pool is “off limits” to defense leaders like her.

Hudson also highlighted the gender gap in STEM education, as female enrollment numbers fell more than 5 percent between 2004 and 2009, compared to an 11-percent increase in men during that timeframe.

She also called on the government and the defense industry to fill skill gaps by meeting the changing mindset of STEM graduates.

“Today’s STEM grads want flexibility and transparency,” Hudson said.