Welcome To
STARBASE OKC
Welcome to STARBASE OKC, where curiosity thrives, challenges inspire, and students discover just how exciting learning can be. Located on the Oklahoma City Military Complex, we offer a unique, hands-on STEAM experience that puts real-world problem-solving front and center. By partnering with local schools and military leaders, we create an environment where students build skills, explore new technologies, and discover their strengths.
Through our 25-hour program, 5th graders dive into hands-on STEAM learning that sparks imagination and builds confidence. At STARBASE OKC, students step into the roles of engineers, scientists, and designers. Through robotics, engineering challenges, applied science labs, and computer-aided design (CAD), our cadets learn to test ideas, work together, and push their creativity further than they thought possible.
Our mission is simple: Ignite a passion for learning and open doors to future opportunities. With a dedicated team guiding and supporting every activity, we ensure each lesson is engaging, every challenge is meaningful, and every student feels encouraged to explore their potential and new possibilities.
At STARBASE OKC, we do more than teach STEAM, we bring learning to life!
Contact
Mike Baarlaer
6500 N. Kelley Ave
BLDG MAO80 EDU Center
Oklahoma City, OK 73111
Testimonials
Meet the Staff
Mike Baarlaer
Director
Mike Baarlaer brings three decades of educational experience to his role as Director for StarBase OKC, following a distinguished career teaching 5th grade in Michigan. He is dedicated to shaping engaging, inquiry-driven learning experiences at STARBASE and is committed to fostering an environment where students reach their “ah-ha” moments through meaningful, hands-on exploration. Why does Mike love STARBASE?
“I love watching the students see that ‘ah-ha’ moment when they are learning and having fun understanding scientific principles.”
When he’s not inspiring the next generation of scientists, you’ll find him spending time outdoors with his family, kayaking, hiking, playing tennis or pickle ball, and reading.
Brian Reed
Deputy Director
Brian Reed serves as Deputy Director at STARBASE OKC and has been part of the program for seven years. He began his career at STARBASE as a Program Assistant, advanced to Program Instructor, and now supports the organization through his experience and long-standing involvement in STEAM education.
Throughout his time at STARBASE, Brian has contributed to engaging, hands-on learning experiences that spark curiosity and creativity in students. His background in classroom instruction provides valuable insight into the program’s educational approach and day-to-day operations.
Brian’s passion for learning is reflected in a haiku he wrote about the STARBASE experience:
Knowledge fills young minds
Humanity’s vow renewed
Circle is complete
Olivia Hernandez
Program Instructor
Meet Instructor Olivia Hernandez, call sign “Proton.” Known for bringing energy, joy, and positivity into every STARBASE classroom, Olivia is passionate about creating learning environments where curiosity thrives and students feel empowered.
Outside of work, Olivia finds joy in photography, a passion she’s nurtured for years, and she currently manages the STARBASE OKC Facebook page. She treasures time with her family and friends, loves being outdoors, and often recharges by taking in the beauty of God’s creation. She’s also a proud dog mom and a lover of all fur babies.
At the heart of everything she does is her belief in lifelong learning. Olivia loves showing students that they can achieve anything, that STEAM is for everyone, and that discovering new things should always feel fun, inspiring, and full of wonder.
Michelle Swedlow
Program Instructor
Meet Instructor Michelle Swedlow! Call sign “Photon” a passionate educator who brings science to life with energy, creativity, and real-world experience. Blending her love of physics with hands-on learning and Army-honed discipline, she sparks curiosity and inspires the next generation of critical thinkers. What she loves most about teaching STARBASE:
“Teaching science lets me do what I love most: to excite electrons and young minds. I fuse Physics education, creativity, and Army-honed discipline to make science real and hands-on, to ignite a lifelong love of science, mathematics, exploration, and critical thinking for our next gen kids.”
Dominique Phillips
Program Instructor
With 15 years of experience and a heart fully in it, our newest program instructor Dominique Call sign: Quanta is here to back the education system and help people grow into their best selves. Quanta is deeply committed to supporting the Department of Defense’s mission to ignite a love for STEAM and expand access to opportunities for marginalized communities, ensuring no talent goes untapped.
Her life motto— “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care” sums up the way she lives life with emotional connection and empathy preceding knowledge and achievement in building relationships with the students, families and communities around the world.
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POSH training + Christmas party = the perfect combo 🎄🤍 We loved having our Starbase Oklahoma, Fort Sill group with us today for a little luncheon, games, and holiday fun. Even though we work at different sites, it’s always so refreshing to come together, see familiar faces, and catch up. Moments like these remind us how important connection is, especially during the holidays!
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#HolidayGathering #POSHTeam #TeamTime #HolidayVibes #TogetherIsBetter #SeasonOfConnection
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🎓✨ Congratulations to our amazing Mercy fifth graders who graduated from Ms. Hossen and Ms. Cardenas class on Tuesday, December 16th! You are the final group of the school year, and what a way to finish strong! 💛
This milestone brings our total to 675 incredible students who have gone through our program this year! Each one of you has inspired us with your curiosity, creativity, and enthusiasm for learning. We are so proud of all you’ve accomplished and can’t wait to see the amazing things your futures hold! 🌟
#StarBaseSuccess #STEAMGraduates #FutureLeaders #MercyFifthGrad #InspiringYoungMinds #LearningWithJoy #STEMStars #EndingTheYearStrong
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✨ As we come to the end of our 2025 school year..
We were excited to welcome back on Mercy 5th graders on Monday and Tuesday to complete Day 4 and Day 5 of their STARBASE experience. What a way to wrap things up! 💥🚀
Day 4 had students diving into robotics, coding, building, and problem solving their way through hands on missions. 🤖💡
Day 5 brought the excitement with chemistry as students took on Double Bubble Trouble and watched Elephant Toothpaste come to life. A crowd favorite and the perfect way to end the year with energy and curiosity. 🧪✨
Having Mercy Elementary join us is always a pleasure and a treat. Their students showed up every day with positive attitudes, eager minds, and the confidence to tackle whatever mission we set out for them. 🌟
Thank you for helping us end the 2025 school year on such a high note. 💙
We will pick back up on January 12 ready for more STEAM adventures! 🚀
#starbase #mercyelementary #steameducation #robotics #ChemistryFun #HandsOnLearning #FutureInnovators #CuriousMinds #LearningWithPurpose #endingtheyearstrong
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Celebrating Ms. Lyday and Ms. Wilbanks’ fifth grade class the STEAM-iest way, right in front of our Christmas tree! 🎄✨ These bright minds wrapped up their program and graduated with curiosity, creativity, and plenty of holiday cheer. This crew truly sparked our season and proved they’re ready to launch into whatever comes next. Thank you for continuing to grow with us year after year, we’re so grateful for the partnership. Wishing these students a future that’s merry, bright, and full of innovation!
#STEAMGraduation #HolidayLearning #FifthGradeFun #ChristmasCheer #FutureInnovators #ThankYouTeachers #LearningIsLit #STEMmas 🎄✨
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