August 2, 2010 | By Rachael King |BusinessWeek.com
With U.S. technologists retiring—and security clearances needed for many aerospace jobs—can America’s youth be persuaded to take up tech?
On the TV show NCIS, actress Pauley Perrette plays quirky, über-smart forensic specialist Abby Sciuto. As part of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the tattooed, well-educated goth uses her expertise in hacking, ballistics, and DNA analysis to solve murders and other crimes that involve the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.
In a public service announcement shot in July, Perrette takes on a different—and possibly more challenging—role. On behalf of the nonprofit Entertainment Industries Council, Perrette encourages students to pursue careers in the fields of science, engineering, and technology.
There’s a pressing need for young people in the U.S. to consider careers in science and technology, particularly in aerospace, says Marion Blakey, chief executive officer of the Aerospace Industries Assn. A high percentage of the industry’s workforce is nearing retirement and many of the jobs that will need to be filled are in engineering..