In 1947 President Truman signed the National Security Act, and along with it, the creation of the U.S. Air Force as an independent service, equal to the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy. The official Air Force birthday is Sept. 18, 1947!

This year we wanted to say a very special happy birthday to the U.S. Air Force by releasing our NEWEST X-STEM All Access episode! Join engineer and TV host, Tamara Robertson, for an engaging conversation with Capt Ariel Knepper about her role as an F-35 pilot with the U.S. Air Force! Capt Knepper is a combat-ready F-35A pilot, ready to deploy anywhere in the world. She earned her biology degree from San Diego State University before joining the U.S. Air Force in 2015. Hear from this inspirational STEM role model yourself with the X-STEM All Access video below! 

Educators- It is now easier than ever to access our NGSS and CASEL aligned lesson plans designed for middle and high school classrooms. Click here to navigate the library, browse by STEM field, search by NGSS performance expectation or scientific domain, and more! Each lesson is compatible with an X-STEM All Access episode featuring an inspiring STEM role model. You can still access the full lineup of X-STEM All Access episodes on demand here.

Sign up with the link below to be some of the first to watch the ALL new episodes coming this month! 

Join engineer and STEM educator Aspen Meineke for an engaging conversation with Capt Jason Seik about his role as Project Manager of the Hypersonic Plasma Re-entry Effects Program within the Air Force Research Laboratory! Watch this episode. Click here for the FREE NGSS and CASEL aligned companion lesson. Want more ways to interact with these lessons? Check out the lesson plan in PocketLab for free.

Join the Hip Hop M.D. Maynard Okereke for a Q&A session with Capt Adrian Castillo of the Air Force Research Laboratory. Learn about his job managing the development of emerging Space Domain Awareness (SDA) technologies! Watch the episode. Click here for the FREE NGSS and CASEL aligned companion lesson.  Want more ways to interact with these lessons? Check out the lesson plan in PocketLab for free.

Join environmental engineer and research scientist for NOAA, Dr. Tracy Fanara for a Q&A session with Capt Colton Mott of the U.S. Air Force. Get a glimpse into Capt Mott's journey and life as a Satellite Navigation Technology Area Lead.  Watch this episode. Click here for the FREE NGSS and CASEL aligned companion lesson. Want more ways to interact with these lessons? Check out the lesson plan in PocketLab for free.

Join Erin Winick Anthony for an engaging conversation with Lt Col Cassandra McCloud about her role as a licensed professional engineer! Watch the episode. Click here for the FREE NGSS and CASEL aligned companion lesson.  Want more ways to interact with these lessons? Check out the lesson plan in PocketLab for free.

Join engineer and science communicator Maynard Okereke for an engaging conversation with Capt Sophia Schwalbe about her exciting role as a physicist and "meteorologist for space"! Watch this episode. Click here for the FREE NGSS and CASEL aligned companion lesson. Want more ways to interact with these lessons? Check out the lesson plan in PocketLab for free.