HUNTSVILLE, ALA. — More than 100 aspiring engineers and scientists from 10 Huntsville-area high schools visited DIA’s Missile and Space Intelligence Center Jan. 15 to learn about careers in engineering and the sciences. The annual “Adventures in Engineering Day” allows MSIC to showcase the science and engineering aspects of the analytical profession
MSIC employs electrical, aerospace, mechanical and computer engineers to work all phases of foreign missile systems analysis. Working with all sources of information, these engineers utilize their scientific and technical skills to assess and report on threat missile characteristics and performance, including system and subsystem design, concepts of operation, and system limitations and vulnerabilities.
MSIC engineers are heavily involved in many types of missile system modeling and simulations, routinely using the center’s high-performance computing system. The center concentrates their analysis on foreign surface-to-air missile systems; anti-tank guided missile systems; ballistic missile defense systems; ground-based anti-satellite systems; and ground-based directed energy weapon systems. This analysis is provided to the combatant commands, the weapons acquisition community, national policymakers, homeland defense partners, and other customers who need this critical technical analysis.
MSIC was one of eight organizations in the greater Huntsville area that cooperated in the educational program sponsored by Junior Achievement of North Alabama. The high school juniors received briefings on many of the weapons systems, including some hands-on demonstrations. These small group sessions provided the students with opportunities to have one-on-one conversations with MSIC analysts and engineers.