STARBASE Maxwell Inspires Next Generation Of STEAM Leaders
by U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Nelvis Sera
November 17, 2025 STARBASE Maxwell, a Department of War (DoW) hands-on, minds-on youth Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics outreach program, is educating thousands of local students each year through immersive, inquiry-based learning. The program bridges the gap between military and civilian communities while opening doors to technical careers that support both national defense and Alabama’s growing industries. Part of a nationwide DoW initiative, STARBASE programs operate on military installations across the country to promote science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics education and career awareness among our nation’s youth.
“STARBASE is about sparking curiosity,” said Ted Welch, STARBASE Maxwell director. “We want students to see that science and engineering aren’t just subjects in school, they’re ways of thinking, creating and solving problems that shape the world around us.”
Through partnerships with Autauga County schools, Elmore County School District, Montgomery public schools, Crenshaw County schools and Pike Road schools, the program provides fifth graders with 25 hours of hands-on STEAM education during a five-day session. Students attend free of charge and engage in challenging experiments and team-based learning opportunities designed to make complex scientific concepts come alive.
Each day, students apply math, science and engineering principles through activities such as studying Newton’s laws and Bernoulli’s principle, building and coding robots and space vehicles, and exploring nanotechnology and navigation. Mathematics is woven throughout the curriculum as students calculate measurements, analyze data and use geometry to solve real-world problems. 
October 9, 2025 - (Top) Students with a STARBASE Maxwell’s robotic dog at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. The robot helps students in real-time programming exercises like ... learn coding, problem-solving and advanced robotics concepts. The robot can also navigate terrain, recognize colors, and shapes. Bottom - Students with each holding a rocket launch during a lesson with instructors from the STARBASE Maxwell program outside at Maxwell Air Force Base on October 8, 2025. The hands-on, inquiry-based curriculum allows fifth-grade students to apply principles of physics and engineering, and basic aerodynamics, through engaging team-based challenges. (Image created by USA Patriotism! from U.S. Air Force photos by Airman 1st Class Nelvis Sera.)
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To connect these lessons to real-world applications, STARBASE Maxwell invites service members from across the military to visit classrooms and share how STEAM supports their missions. Students hear from a variety of career fields, including pilots, air traffic controllers, firefighters, nurses, engineers and Space Force Guardians, helping them understand how technical skills support the nation’s defense mission.
“The kids love meeting military members,” said Margaret Woods, STARBASE Maxwell instructor. “It gives them a glimpse of the teamwork, technology and service behind every uniform. It also helps them see pathways they might not have considered before.”
This partnership reinforces Air Education and Training Command’s commitment to developing Airmen and inspiring future innovators while also building stronger relationships between Maxwell AFB and the River Region community.
Since its start in 2004, STARBASE Maxwell has grown significantly. During the 2024-2025 academic year alone, the program reached a record 3,266 students, and plans are underway to expand to more than 4,000 participants next year. As such, STARBASE Maxwell is the largest of 87 STARBASEs around the globe and the only STARBASE in the State of Alabama. A key part of that growth includes new technology like a robotic dog that helps students learn coding, problem-solving and advanced robotics concepts. This robot can navigate terrain, recognize colors and shapes, and engage students in real-time programming exercises.
“Astro brings robotics to life,” said Welch. “It makes coding tangible and exciting, and students leave wanting to learn more.”
The program’s impact reaches far beyond the gates of Maxwell. By igniting interest in STEAM subjects early, STARBASE Maxwell helps prepare students for technical careers that support Alabama’s industries, including aerospace, automotive and defense sectors.
With plans to expand facilities, integrate more advanced robotics and increase participation across the region, STARBASE Maxwell continues to embody the DoW’s commitment to education, innovation and community partnership.
“Whether these kids join the military, work in engineering or start their own tech companies, they’ll carry the confidence and problem-solving skills they learned here,” said Welch. “That’s what STARBASE Maxwell is all about, building the next generation of innovators who will strengthen our communities and our nation.” Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) | U.S. Department of War Our Valiant Troops | I Am The One | Uncommon Valor | Veterans | Citizens Like Us | Spouses Serve Too |
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