1. Contacts:
Willie L. Daniels, President
(303) 549 - 6204
willied2nd@earthlink.net
Mail Address:
558 Castle Pines Pkwy
B4 Suite 355
Castle Rock, CO 80108
www.ourshadesofblue.org
Did You Know?
Each engineering job in the United States generates five to six additional jobs.
Europe produces roughly 3x as many engineering graduates as the U.S. each year while Asia
produces 5x as many.
Female students make up only 17% of the current engineering enrollment at U.S. colleges and
universities.
Less than 2% of U.S. high school graduates will earn an engineering degree.
African-American and Hispanic students represent fewer than 14% of
engineering enrollment nation wide.
Less than 15% of high school graduates have enough math and science to
pursue scientific and technical careers.
More than 60% of the aerospace technical workforce is 50-years old or older making it more
difficult for employers to fill available positions.
To explain one of the aerospace industry’s biggest challenges, let’s compare the space
program of the 1960s and ‘70s to the space program of today. In that time, it would be hard
to find people who didn’t watch a space launch or recovery on television. They were, after all,
national events. Today, in contrast, most people don’t know the names of astronauts or when
there’s a space shuttle mission.
In a way, aerospace is a victim of its own success. It doesn’t attract the same kind of attention
and passion that the industry did back then. That’s just one reason the aerospace industry
is facing a looming workforce crisis. The generation that was attracted by the space race is
coming to the end of their careers; Industry hasn’t been generating new engineers at a rate
that will replace those leaving.
It’s estimated that 40,000 engineers graduate each year in disciplines needed by the industry,
such as aerospace, information technology, and materials. Five years after graduation, 80% of
engineering graduates are working in different fields.
Testimonials
“I joined Shades of Blue in 2002. It’s an outstanding organization that has afforded me many
opportunities. Currently I am a 1st Lieutenant stationed at F.E. Warren AFB where I am a Missile
Combat Crew Commander.”
1LT Joseph S. Reynolds, US Air Force
“Over the last four years, Shades of Blue has given me the motivation, mentoring, and
networking resources that helped me attain a career in the aviation and aerospace industry
with Jeppesen Boeing.”
Douglas Brown, Global Tech Support
“Shades of Blue aided me in securing that first internship with Lockheed Martin. I will be joining
the aerospace industry as a full-time employee!”
Corinne E. Gatto, Jet Propulsion Lab Engineer Brochure Design: Jenika Enoch
Multimedia Graphic Design
Pickens Technical College
A STEM Organization
Serving 250,000 Students
by 2017
“Shades of Blue helped me to establish
contact with members of the industry,
academia, and the military involved in
the aviation and aerospace industries.
I am currently a Naval Aviator,
F/A-18 Hornet Pilot and
Test Pilot applying for
the Astronaut
Candidate Program.”
Lt. Victor J. Glover,
US Navy

2. Directors
Willie Daniels, President
United Airlines
Bob Adams, Vice President
Adams McClure Printing, Co.
(Ret)
Vickie Jones, Treasurer
Wells Fargo
Stef Petryszyn, Chair
Raytheon (Ret.)
Adrian Miller
Colorado Council of Churches
Andre Lanier
Cherry Creek School District (Ret)
Branden Graves
Flight Instructor
Charles Johnson
Cessna (Ret)
Donell Smith
United Airlines
Ed Dwight, Jr.
Sculptor
Gary Coulter
National Museum WWII Aviation
Gerri Gomez Howard
Gomez Howard Group
Gwendolyn Mami
Metropolitan State University
Maj. Gen. Craig Hackett
US Army (Ret)
Mina McCullom
Synenergy LLC
Ralph Dergance
Lockheed Martin (Ret)
Gino Cherry
Boeing
Gloria Nelson
Colorado MESA (Ret)
Jenna Lin
Math Pioneers
John Holmes
Boeing
Maj. Gen. John Philips
US Air Force (Ret)
Robert Meyer
PAA/UAL (Ret)
Roger Gibson
United Airlines
Vanessa Blacknail Jamison
FAA
Arthur Bushell
Douglas Infiesto
Shades of Blue is designed to:
Promote the achievement and learning
standards in STEM education
Inspire students to pursue STEM careers
Expose students to the opportunities
emcompassing STEM
Show application of STEM education in real
world activities
Today’syouthis
tomorrow’sanswer
Our Visionaries and Partners
Space Foundation. Challenger Learning Center of Colorado. Empowering Parents with
Educational Choices. Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. US Air Force Academy. US Naval Academy.
US Military Academy at West Point. Colorado Mathematics, Engineering, and Science
Achievement. Colorado Department of Transportation (Aeronautical Division). Boeing.
BROE Companies. Jeppesen. Futron Corportation. The Ridge at Castle Pines North. Wings
Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum. Raytheon. Colorado Springs Rocket Society.
ATK Launch Systems. Metropolitan State University of Denver. University of Colorado at
Boulder. SECME, Georgia Institute of Technology. Lockheed Martin. National Center
for Atmospheric Research (NCAR/UCAR). United Launch Alliance (ULA). United Airlines
Training Center. Interactive Science Programs (ISP). Young Eagles. Aurora Public Schools.
Denver Public Schools. Littleton Public Schools. Wheat Ridge Public Schools.
Our Mission
Shades of Blue (SHADES) is a non-profit educational organization that focuses on
mentoring, counseling, and arranging employment referrals for young students who
wish to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) with
a focus in aviation and aerospace (A/A).
SHADES is committed to fostering careers in STEM for all students. The able body of
organization members provides a professional support system of mentoring and
job placement to maximize the probability of success for students who pursue a
career in STEM. To achieve its goal, SHADES has developed a system to identify and
track students from elementary school through college. In addition, partnerships
and relationships have been developed within the STEM industry and educational
communities to provide graduates with potential future employment opportunities.
SHADES conducts an annual fundraising event. This hallmark activity, in addition
to direct funding from various business organizations within and outside the STEM
community, permits financial contribution to activities that support the educational
and inspirational goals of the organization. A highlight of the event is recognition
of corporation and individuals that have made an outstanding contribution and/
or support of STEM. In addition, recognition is given to students at various levels who
have been supported by SHADES and who are in the process of deriving career
success in STEM. The Raytheon Company has started a scholarship fund to offer
financial assistance to those who are inspired and committed to further education
in STEM.
SHADES participates in programs such as Aviation Continuing Education (ACE)
camps and engineering programs such as MATHSTRONAUTS, a math and science
day camp. SHADES volunteers participate as mentors and educators. The
organization is also involved with visionaries and partners to allow a shared use of
facilities, materials, and educational programs as well as mentorship.
www.ourshadesofblue.org