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About St. Mary's College of Maryland

Connecting SMCM to Local Career Paths

About St. Mary's > Connecting SMCM to Local Career Paths

Turn Your Degree Into a Career in STEM, Business, or National Defense

Learn more about the partnership between St. Mary’s College of Maryland, the U.S. Navy, and The Patuxent Partnership that connects students directly to hands-on experience, internships, and career pathways.

A person in an eagle mascot costume sits at a racing simulator setup, while several people stand nearby watching in a gymnasium setting.
A group of people stands inside a narrow, exposed mechanical area of an aircraft, surrounded by wires, pipes, and orange equipment panels.

What Students Can Expect: Internships, Mentorship, and Workforce Development

This partnership creates new opportunities for you to move from classroom learning to real-world experience.

  • Access to internships and mentoring with professionals in STEM and business fields
  • Opportunities to work on real-world challenges in aviation, engineering, and national defense
  • Exposure to cutting-edge technology and specialized facilities
  • Clearer pathways from your major to your career

Faculty Collaboration and Applied STEM Research Opportunities

Faculty will have new ways to bring applied learning into the classroom and expand research opportunities.

  • Collaboration with experts at the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division
  • Opportunities to align curriculum with emerging industry needs
  • Engagement in joint research and innovation initiatives
Four men in suits sit at a panel table with microphones, speaking to an audience. A banner and an American flag are in the background. The table has a "Center for the Study of Democracy" sign.

St. Mary’s College of Maryland Partnership with U.S. Navy and Industry Leaders

St. Mary’s College of Maryland has renewed its long-standing partnership with the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) and The Patuxent Partnership (TPP).

Together, the partners will:

  • Expand applied learning opportunities
  • Strengthen workforce development in STEM and business
  • Build connections between education, innovation, and national priorities
  • Located near Naval Air Station Patuxent River, the College is uniquely positioned to connect students with one of the region’s most important employers.

"We are building a powerful engine for innovation and economic growth in Southern Maryland."

- Bonnie Green, Executive Director, The Patuxent Partnership

"We are cultivating the innovative and mission-ready talent needed to solve the nation’s most complex defense challenges."

- RMDL Todd Evans, NAWCAD Commander

"This partnership reflects what higher education must do at its best: connect learning with real-world impact."

- President Rhonda Phillips, St. Mary's College of Maryland