[JoeFromSidney]

My final assignment before I retired from the Air Force was as commander of an engineering unit. A full third of my engineers and technicians were Blacks. They all had degrees from reputable colleges. They did their jobs well, and I was able to give awards and promotions to many of them. Granted, they were all from the upper tail of the distribution, But there they were. They existed.

[mdmathis6]

Blacks that I have known that were smart STEM wise were really very smart, but there was something else, they were ‘application smart’ and were adept in actually applying science and tech in very practical ways. There is a history of that, GW Carver for example. I read of a renown surgeon, can’t remember his name who pioneered multiple surgical techniques who gave much praise to his black surgical aide who created many of the tools the surgeon used in his work, many of the tools of which are in use now or their improved variations.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

#16. Hopefully your Air Force engineers and technicians pass on their work ethic and educational achievements to their children and grandchildren. Perhaps one of the greatest gifts they can give besides love.