Dalton Young Tours DoD STARBASE Central Florida with NCS COO Dr. Neal Finkelstein

Visiting DoD STARBASE Central Florida

Dalton Young, Founder and CEO of Desra Group, toured DoD STARBASE Central Florida with Dr. Neal Finkelstein, Chief Operating Officer of the National Center for Simulation (NCS). DoD STARBASE is a Department of Defense youth education program that introduces students to science, technology, engineering, and math through hands-on learning.

Inside the lab

The learning space was built for hands-on work. Collaborative team stations, 3D printers, robotics kits, Arduino and electrical tool stations, and a Battlespace Visualization and Interaction display gave students a direct look at the technology behind modern defense and space missions. A message across the main wall summed up the purpose of the room: "We want you in the future workforce!"

Why it matters

The defense industrial base depends on people. Programs like STARBASE spark interest in STEM long before students choose a career, and the simulation and training community in Central Florida, led in part by organizations like NCS, helps turn that interest into real pathways. Thank you to Dr. Finkelstein and the STARBASE Central Florida team for the visit. We look forward to supporting the relationships that help build the next generation of mission talent.

About Desra Group

Desra Group is a relationship-driven strategic partnerships and commercial representation company based in Central Florida. We connect organizations across the defense industrial base and adjacent regulated industries with the people, capabilities, and trusted solution partners they need to solve problems and advance their missions, and we provide board and strategic advisory to leadership teams nationwide.