This is the first of four invited papers prepared for the special panel session of the ASEE-National Collaborative Task Force for Engineering Graduate Education Reform. This paper presents an overview of the initiative. The paper reaffirms the National Collaborative strategy that the present and future industrial strength of U.S. technology for economic prosperity and national security is ultimately reflected in the strength and innovative capacity of the nation's engineering infrastructure in

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... ndustry for technology development and innovation. This strength must be sustained by a strong U.S. system of professional graduate engineering education directly relevant to the growth needs of the U.S. engineering workforce in industry which is the primary mainstay of our competitiveness as a nation.