For over a decade, Todd Ensign has played a central role in growing robotics education across West Virginia. As Program Manager of the NASA Katherine Johnson Independent Verification & Validation (IV&V) Facility’s Education Resource Center (ERC), he has led efforts that have expanded REC Foundation programs from a single VEX V5RC event with 25 teams to more than 450 teams and 60 events statewide in the 2023–2024 season.
A key focus of Ensign’s work has been improving access to STEM opportunities for all students. He has established partnerships with a wide range of youth-serving organizations, including 4-H, the Scouts, the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, and the Black Diamond Girl Scout Council. He also collaborates with KVC West Virginia, First Star Academy, and the Middle College at Fairmont State University to support youth in and transitioning from foster care. In coordination with the West Virginia Department of Education, he implemented a program using VEX IQ robotics to engage students in schools of diversion and transition.
Ensign has prioritized connecting students with higher education by organizing events on seven college and university campuses, while additional institutions have supported robotics through volunteerism, camps, and training. His work has helped integrate STEM learning with postsecondary engagement across the state.
He also led a successful multi-year effort to have robotics formally sanctioned by the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission. This recognition provides robotics programs with the same status as other extracurricular activities, granting coaches greater access to resources and institutional support.
Throughout the pandemic, Ensign and his team maintained student engagement through virtual training, workshops, and remote competitions. He was also an early advocate for the Aerial Drone Competition and has coordinated events in partnership with the NASA Robotics Alliance Project and the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, including hosting the Dragonfly Championships.
A consistent theme in Ensign’s work is his ability to build and sustain strong volunteer networks. He has developed a dedicated team of educators, AmeriCorps members, alumni, and parents who regularly support events across the state. Many of these volunteers continue their involvement at regional and national levels, contributing to a culture of excellence and continuity within the West Virginia robotics community.
