Show-Me Honeywell: How this high-security KC tech campus became a one-day classroom for Missouri school leaders 

A group of Missouri educators, counselors and administrators took a summer trip across the state to visit notable companies and learn firsthand about relevant career pathways for their students, detailed Brian Crouse.

Among the behind-the-scenes looks: a rare glimpse into the work at Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies, which manages the U.S. Department of Energy’s Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC).

Brian Crouse, Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry

“We are trying to bridge the gap between the business community and the education community,” said Crouse, vice president of education at the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, describing the catalyst for the group’s mock factory tour at the high-security site.

The Missouri Chamber’s Show-Me Careers program offers a multi-week tour throughout Missouri for a hands-on learning experience inside small, medium and large companies — like Honeywell FM&T — in the key industry sectors of a region. Educators, counselors and administrators are set to gain industry knowledge from businesses in Columbia, St. Louis, Cape Girardeau and Kansas City.

“To actually see how a company deploys their workforce is very valuable for our educators because they can go back to their classrooms and properly guide them into their next step,” Crouse said. “That next step could be a training program, two-year or four-year universities or straight into the workforce. Students should know their options and opportunities within their home state.”

Click here to learn more about the Show-Me Careers program.

Educators, counselors and administrators took part in an exclusive June 15 tour of the Kansas City National Security Campus’ mock factory for a hands-on learning experience in manufacturing careers. (In addition to the Honeywell FM&T stop, school leaders visited such sites in Kansas City as Children’s Mercy, BNSF Railway, JE Dunn, and Oracle Cerner.)

Eric Wollerman, president of Honeywell FM&T, introduces school leaders to the facility; photo courtesy of Kansas City National Security Campus

“We want to invest in our own backyard and in our schools,” said Eric Wollerman, who serves as the president of Honeywell FM&T. “By educating our teachers and [high school] administration on careers in STEM, we can hopefully inspire more students to get involved or just be curious. One interaction can change the trajectory for someone, so it’s very important for us to connect with our community,” 

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What is the KCNSC?

The Department of Energy’s Kansas City National Security Campus, which is managed by Honeywell FM&T, is part of the collection of laboratories and production facilities within the Nuclear Security Administration. KCNSC works to create technology roadmaps to ensure they are at the forefront of national security innovation.

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Organizing a tour of this kind presents a significant challenge, Wollerman said, explaining that KCNSC’s classified environment requires specific precautions to be taken. 

“We build the non-nuclear components for nuclear weapons,” Wollerman noted. “Nuclear weapons go through different extensions and modernizations, and we want to make sure that it is safe, secure and reliable. And that it only works if it’s ever needed to work… The intent is to never actually use one — which is called nuclear deterrence and the position our country has taken.” 

Click here to read more about how Honeywell partners with high schools to bring employment opportunities to recent graduates.  

During the tour of KCNSC, school leaders heard from the facility’s security team, as well as technical learning specialists. 

Christian Alsman, senior technical learning specialist at Honeywell FM&T, instructing school leaders in KCNSC’s Manufacturing Innovation Center; photo courtesy of Kansas City National Security Campus

Christian Alsman, senior technical learning specialist at Honeywell FM&T, wished that someone had told him about the career opportunities when he was growing up in South Kansas City, he shared.

“I almost dropped out of high school, and I did drop out of college,” Alsman said. “I was a mechanic for 20 years and have been wanting to work here for a very long time. If I would have had a teacher or educator tell me about the opportunities to be trained in manufacturing or welding or fabrication, I would’ve pursued that path. That’s why days like this are important to me.”

Jesse Shepherd, assistant principal at F.L. Schlagle High School in Kansas City, Kansas; photo courtesy of Kansas City National Security Campus

Jesse Shepherd, assistant principal at F.L. Schlagle High School in Kansas City, Kansas, had limited background on Honeywell FM&T prior to the tour, but shared her excitement to bring back her experience to the classroom.

“Ultimately, when I think of Honeywell, I think of the thermostat in my house,” Shepherd said. “So this has been really incredible to see the different aspects, like national security, that they are involved in.”

Shepherd was most eager to tell her students about KCNSC’s Manufacturing Innovation Center, which was designed for new intake employees to gain clearance. They learn basic production skills, how to use computer systems, assembly, soldering small components and other skills through a variety of new technologies, Alsman explained. 

“We have a virtual reality headset for training,” Alsman noted. “We have a system called Vega, which is a visually enhanced system — a 3D model touchscreen with a camera option for augmentative. They can move things in the air and see product come apart. It also shows build operations and how to put product together. … One of the newer systems we have is called Z Space. That is an augmented system with a laptop. When you put on the glasses, it pulls the system into a virtual field where you have a laser pen that allows you to pull things apart and move them.”

Teachers explore VR technology; photo courtesy of Kansas City National Security Campus

“I think that’s really cool and will really connect to kids,” Shepherd said. “Students today are so connected to technology, and the [innovation] lab will remind them a lot of video games — but, it’s actually a way to train the workforce. I think that will really connect to young people.”

Those interested in participating in the Show-Me Careers program must form a team of one administrator, one counselor and four educators within a school district. 

“From there, we accept the district team,” Crouse said. “We do get an overabundance of applicants, so we defer those districts that didn’t get in to the year. We primarily work with 32 school districts that are associated with the Kauffman Foundation’s real-world learning initiatives — so trying to align what we’re doing at the Missouri chamber statewide with the regional efforts that are already going on in Kansas City.” 

Click here to apply to the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Show-Me Careers program.