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Local Navy veteran presents plan to build county aerospace academy after Arctic Mars analog mission
Summary
Lieutenant Commander Diallo Wallace described a Marine/Mars analog mission and detailed plans for an Engineering and Science Academy in Queen Anne's County to offer pre‑college aerospace and engineering training and industry certifications for students.
Lieutenant Commander (ret.) Diallo Wallace presented to the Queen Anne's County Commissioners on Oct. 14 about a new local education initiative he has founded, the Engineering and Science Academy. Wallace, a recent mission commander of a Mars analog expedition to Devon Island in the Canadian Arctic, said he plans to base hands‑on aerospace training in the county and collaborate with local schools and the county airport.
“I just recently created a company called the Engineering and Science Academy focused on pre‑college youth development to be show ready for engineering,” Wallace said. He described his background — flying helicopters for the U.S. Navy, teaching aerospace engineering at the U.S. Naval Academy, testing spacesuits and being inducted into the Space Camp Hall of Fame — and said the academy would provide industry‑aligned certifications so students are “show ready” for college and careers in engineering and aerospace.
Wallace described his recent mission on Devon Island, an arctic Mars analog site, where his team collected samples, tested operating procedures and used satellite communications to solve navigation and planning constraints. He showed images and said the mission’s data and fieldwork will be used in classroom projects and future student participation on analog missions.
He said near‑term plans include identifying a site in county facilities (he referenced possibilities such as a former middle‑school facility, a Board of Education building or space near the Bay Bridge airport) and acquiring educational equipment including small wind tunnels and flight‑testing infrastructure. “We’re gonna be learning about wind tunnels, wings, airfoils, and also space, orbital mechanics, with a focus on becoming industry certified,” Wallace said.
Commissioners and staff discussed local school partnerships; Wallace was encouraged to connect with the county’s ACE (Architecture, Construction & Engineering) program and career‑technical contacts. Wallace said he hopes to secure sponsorships to take students to Space Camp in Huntsville and to involve local industry partners that could offer internships and mentoring.
No county funding request was made during the presentation. Wallace left printed materials and promised to follow up with staff about potential facility locations, partnerships with local high‑school programs and details of his proposed certifications.
