DEVCOM Soldier Center hosts student employee event

By Jane Benson, DEVCOM Soldier Center Public AffairsAugust 26, 2024

Former student employee becomes US Army chemist
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center, or DEVCOM SC, recently hosted an event for student employees. The event aimed to help student employees get to know DEVCOM SC subject matter experts and other student employees better. The event also provided them with information about DEVCOM SC’s mission and career opportunities. Victoria Ayotte (pictured here) has made the journey from student trainee to full-time employee at DEVCOM SC. Ayotte was previously a DEVCOM SC student trainee while pursuing a degree in Chemistry at Framingham State University. She has since graduated and now works as a chemist at DEVCOM SC. Ayotte says that she gained valuable work experience at DEVCOM SC while she was a student and is excited about her career possibilities. (Photo Credit: US Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

NATICK, Mass. – The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center, or DEVCOM SC, recently hosted an event for student employees. The event aimed to help student employees get to know DEVCOM SC subject matter experts and other student employees better. The event also provided them with information about DEVCOM SC’s mission and career opportunities.

Virginia Rettie, a program analyst in DEVCOM SC’s G-1 Human Resources Office and the lead for the Student Employment and Recent Graduate Program, organized the event.

“The student mixer provided an opportunity for all interns to tour our labs, learn more about our mission, and cultivate friendships among their peers, which instills a sense of community,” said Rettie.

During the event, student employees were given an overview of DEVCOM SC and information about DEVCOM SC’s mission to ensure the nation’s warfighters are protected, optimized and lethal. Students were provided overviews about DEVCOM SC’s Soldier Effectiveness Directorate, Soldier Protection Directorate and Soldier Sustainment Directorate. They also toured some of DEVCOM SC’s worldclass facilities and capabilities, including the Textile Equipment and Prototype Shop, Gut Microbiome Lab, Additive Manufacturing Lab, Combat Feeding, and the Design, Pattern and Prototype Studio.

The student mixer reflected DEVCOM SC’s commitment to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) outreach and to mentoring the next generation of scientists and engineers. The event was also an invaluable opportunity for student employees and DEVCOM SC leadership/subject matter experts to interact and get to know one another better.

“DEVCOM SC’s leadership strives to attract and keep the very best talent by creating a work environment that encourages and fosters creativity, collaboration and work-life balance,” said Douglas Tamilio, director of DEVCOM SC. “STEM outreach is an integral part of our mission, partnering experienced scientists and engineers with students and recent graduates. Mentors increase awareness about the rewarding careers available to the civilian workforce and play a key role in shaping and attracting new talent. In turn, new talent invigorates our already top-notch organization.”

DEVCOM SC is committed to developing a skilled and a diverse workforce.

“The G-1 HR Office utilizes the Student Employment Program as our primary talent pipeline, recruiting accomplished STEM and non-STEM students from across the country to fill internship positions during summer and winter school breaks,” said Rettie. “Our intent is to prepare these capable college students for positions in the workforce upon graduation.”

Rettie explained that “to achieve a robust group of interns, Soldier Center leverages numerous DoD-funded student programs, such as the Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Institutions (HBCU/MI) Summer Research Internship Program, the Army HBCU MI Student Program for Army Research and Knowledge (SPARK) Program, the DoD College Acquisition Internship Program (DCAIP) and the Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholar Program, which attracts a larger and more diverse candidate pool.”

The Student Employment Program benefits both the organization as well as the individual students, including Marcus Williams, a graduate student at Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical (A&M) University. Williams is majoring in Mechanical Engineering.

“What I like most about DEVCOM SC is that it is a very welcoming place to be, and everyone is predicated on helping you achieve your career goals,” said Williams. “I learned that networking with different people who have different backgrounds can open new opportunities that you didn’t know existed.”

He values the real-world experience he is obtaining at DEVCOM SC.

“I think my time at the DEVCOM SC has been a great benefit to my career because I was able to take what I learned in my studies at school and apply it in the real world,” said Williams. “The saying ‘Hard work pays off’ will always reign true.”

Victoria Ayotte has made the journey from student trainee to full-time employee at DEVCOM SC. Ayotte was previously a DEVCOM SC student trainee while pursuing a degree in Chemistry at Framingham State University. She has since graduated and now works as a chemist at DEVCOM SC.

“I gained valuable work experience while I was a student and was able to incorporate that into my studies," said Ayotte. “I was also fortunate enough to be able to apply what I was learning in the classroom to real-life scenarios, which advanced me in my future career. Working at DEVCOM SC has been incredibly beneficial, as I was able to grow as a student and now as an employee. I am continuing to grow and expand my career aspirations and have an amazing support system from my supervisor and coworkers. I am very grateful for all DEVCOM SC has done for me.”

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About DEVCOM Soldier Center: The DEVCOM Soldier Center is committed to discovering, developing, and advancing science and technology solutions that ensure America’s warfighters are optimized, protected and lethal. DEVCOM Soldier Center supports all of the Army's Modernization efforts, with the Soldier Lethality and Synthetic Training Environment Cross Functional Teams being the DEVCOM Soldier Center’s chief areas of focus. The center’s science and engineering expertise are combined with collaborations with industry, DOD and academia to advance Soldier and squad performance. The center supports the Army as it transforms from being adaptive to driving innovation to support a Multi-Domain Operations Capable Force of 2028 and a MDO Ready Force of 2035. DEVCOM Soldier Center is constantly working to strengthen Soldiers’ performance to increase readiness and support for warfighters who are organized, trained, and equipped for prompt and sustainable ground combat.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) outreach and mentoring the next generation of scientists and engineers are also an important part of the mission of DEVCOM Soldier Center. The mentoring of students by Army scientists and engineers benefits the students and their communities. It also increases young people's awareness of potential Army job opportunities and helps provide the Army with potential new talent, helping to fuel innovative ideas that benefit the nation's warfighters and the nation as a whole.

The DEVCOM Soldier Center is part of DEVCOM. The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, known as DEVCOM, is Army Futures Command’s leader and integrator within a global ecosystem of scientific exploration and technological innovation. DEVCOM expertise spans eight major competency areas to provide integrated research, development, analysis and engineering support to the Army and DOD. From rockets to robots, drones to dozers, and aviation to artillery, DEVCOM innovation is at the core of the combat capabilities American Warfighters need to win on the battlefield of the future. For more information, visit devcom.army.mil.