Glen Burnie High School
Project SCOPE, the Fort Meade Alliance’s Security Clearance Overview and Preparation Education program, started off the 2024-2025 school year strong with presentations at Severna Park High School, Old Mill High School and Glen Burnie High School. So far this year, 280 students have learned about the benefits of a security clearance and how they can set themselves up for success in the security clearance process.
This fall, FMA members Brandon Tipton of Lockheed Martin, Antoine Roseman of RACTSOL Corp., Brooks Schilling of Culper Technology, Terry Dickerson of AWS, Taylan Brooks of the National Security Agency and Eric Thomas and Amanda Horne of MasterPeace Solutions shared their experiences with the security clearance process with students, giving them an inside look at the types of cleared careers that might be available to them in the future.
Severn Run High School
“Bringing awareness to the types of careers and jobs that require security clearances, coupled with a focus on being a good citizen is central to our charge as a valued community organization,” said Education and Workforce Committee Chair Doreen Harwood.
Presentations are currently planned throughout the school year at Anne Arundel and Howard County public schools.
With its high school programming in full swing, the FMA plans to expand its Project SCOPE offerings to middle school students this year through a grant from the Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation (AAWDC). The goal is to reach every seventh grader in Anne Arundel County.
Old Mill High School
This expansion aligns with the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future directive to introduce career exploration to younger students and represents a proactive approach to early career development. By introducing middle school students to the concept of security clearances at an earlier age, Project SCOPE hopes to spark their interest in future cleared career opportunities in the Fort Meade region.
Carmen McGinnis, a former Howard County and Prince George’s County Public School teacher, will be leading Project SCOPE’s expansion to middle school students.
“Expanding Project SCOPE into middle school is an exciting opportunity,” said McGinnis. “I’ve seen firsthand how early exposure to career pathways and life skills can inspire students to think bigger about their future.”
