Dr. Brody, Mr. Duncan, Ladies and Gentlemen, Good Afternoon:

I am Marty Martinez, a student in the Part Time Engineering Programs at Johns Hopkins University. I am a retired Naval Officer with 22 years of prior military service and I am currently working as the Director of Science and Engineering Services at JUPITER Corporation, a Wheaton, MD based consulting firm.

I would like to take a moment to put my current situation in the proper perspective. My present job position typically requires 50 to 60 hours per week of my time. In addition to being involved in the day to day management of 35 scientists and engineers, and performing my corporate and departmental duties I personally manage a couple of the firm's major projects.

I am happily married and my wife Julie and I are the proud parents of three fine, but very active young men ages 13, 18, and 24. The oldest, a recent graduate of Virginia Tech has finally decided to leave our household and go off on his own. However, it seems to me that contrary to my expectations my list of things to do continues to grow. My point being, that I have very limited free time during the typical week.

My current position with JUPITER Corporation, which I have been in for the past year, required a multidisciplinary manager with experience in both the nuclear and environmental areas. Although my Navy experience had prepared me for the former, I quickly realized that I would need to pursue some sort of formal education in the environmental discipline to be eligible for such a position. After looking at most of the possible options I found at Johns Hopkins University a very convenient, practical and diverse environmental management masters program that certainly satisfied my needs and appeared to be compatible with my schedule.

I have been enrolled in what some students refer to as the extended Part Time Engineering Program for the last three years and hope to complete my degree requirements next year. With the exception of one course, that I have taken at the Applied Physics Laboratory all of my course work has been completed here at the Montgomery County Center. I honestly do not believe that the Homewood Campus in Baltimore would have presented a viable option in my situation. And as such, seeking a reputable degree from John Hopkins University would not have been possible.

Regarding the Program, I have been extremely impressed with the quality of instruction being offered. Just recently I hired a young environmental engineer who graduated from Johns Hopkins University this past summer. I consider this opportunity as one of the benefits of being a long-term student.

In closing, I would like to offer a special thank you to Dr. Alavi and his staff for putting together such a fine environmental science, engineering and management program and to Johns Hopkins University and its Montgomery County Center for really making it possible for me to achieve this very difficult and rewarding goal in my life.

Thank you very much.