Where are you from, and what sparked your interest in STEM and, ultimately, your decision to apply for the Department of War SMART Scholarship?
I am from Laurel, Maryland. I have always been interested in STEM, and science and engineering have always been my strengths. From a young age, I participated in science fairs, LEGO robotics, engineering summer camps, science museums, and engineering demonstrations. I applied for the SMART scholarship because of its opportunity to contribute to the defense field, gain relevant experience, and complete my degree requirements. Growing up in Maryland, I got to witness the dedication of the federal workforce. Their commitment to serving their country gave me an appreciation for contributing to national security through STEM, and I believe the SMART scholarship is the best way to accomplish this.
Tell me about your educational journey. What are you studying (university & major), and was there a specific class, project, or mentor that solidified your passion for your field?
I am studying mechanical engineering with a focus on high-performance vehicles at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. Throughout my elementary and high school journey, I enjoyed classes that featured coding and hands-on building projects. Being able to take engineering classes that gave the full view of the engineering design process, provided Computer-Aided Design, or CAD, gave me a true appreciation for engineering work.
What are some things that have surprised you, maybe a challenge you didn't expect, or an aspect of the Army's engineering and testing mission that you found uniquely interesting?
This past year has brought big changes for the Army and ATEC, and it is an exciting time to come on board. There is a big push for rapid improvement and streamlining processes, which, in addition to the regular work of ATEC, presents a challenge that requires some ingenuity and creativity to address. During my internship, my team was collaborating on how to optimize ATEC’s operations. It was very interesting to hear all of the ideas being presented and truly rewarding to be able to participate fully in the discussions.
Can you describe a specific project or task you've worked on at ATEC that you're particularly proud of? What was your role, and what did you learn from it about real-world engineering or test & evaluation?
A project I am very proud of is an ATEC AI onboarding assistant I created with my fellow SMART scholar Braden Hudgins as part of the 2025 ATEC AI Challenge. We used the Army Vantage platform’s AI tools to create an AI assistant that answers questions for new members of the ATEC team. The goal was to use AI to centralize and package information pulled from many onboarding resources into a user-friendly tool that answers questions accurately and quickly to help new team members. While experimenting with the software tools, collecting documentation, and beta-testing with full-time ATEC civilians and active duty military members, we learned a lot about AI, ATEC, and application design.
Our entry to the challenge received an honorable mention in the competition and sparked interest for developing other AI assistants for different systems throughout our directorate. I was also very proud of the summary presentation we gave to our directorate that explained our process, plus included a live demonstration of the assistant. This project was a great exercise in AI, design, problem-solving, teamwork, presentation, time management, and testing skills.
How has your academic training prepared you for your work at ATEC, and conversely, how has your hands-on ATEC experience informed your approach to your studies?
On top of my engineering background, my academic training has prepared me especially for the language and communication skills. There is a lot to read and write while working at ATEC, and clear comprehension and communication skills are a must. During high school, I was president of my school’s National English Honor Society chapter and took advanced placement English courses. Recently, in college, I’ve had to prepare lab reports, visual presentations, and documentations that prepared me for the work I will do at ATEC. My experience at ATEC has helped inform many aspects of my professional and work life that have carried over to my classes. Due to my internship, I now pay more attention to how engineering design affects all areas, including manufacturing, fielding, maintenance, and operations.
Looking ahead to your post-graduation career with ATEC, what are you most excited about? Is there a specific technology, problem set, or mission area you're eager to contribute to?
I am very excited about working with the modernization efforts both internally at ATEC and with the Army’s capabilities, which test and evaluation directly influences. As part of the new crop of ATEC team members, I am excited to contribute to these efforts with the help of the experienced ATEC members who have a wealth of knowledge about the Army, ATEC, and the test and evaluation mission.
To learn more about the SMART Scholarship program, including how to apply, visit https://www.smartscholarship.org.
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