ADELPHI, Md. -- For many, government accounting might seem like a maze of numbers and spreadsheets. But for Shelby Jaye Barnes, a sophomore accounting major at North Carolina A&T State University, a summer internship at the Army’s fundamental research laboratory revealed to her that financial data is directly linked to supporting our Soldiers.
Barnes spent her summer serving as a business intern within the Financial Management and Acquisition Division of the Research Business Directorate at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, known as DEVCOM, Army Research Laboratory. As one of 250 summer student interns, she is the first intern selected through the Educational Outreach Summer Program who interned in a business discipline.
Her work focused on government financial management and accounting—a field she found vastly different from her corporate-heavy academic coursework.
“Government accounting and financial management is a much different and more complex operation,” Barnes said. “Throughout my internship, my focus has been on conducting reconciliations of planned versus actual expenses on various funding streams. This work provides a detailed understanding of the financial health and solvency of programs, as well as helping to inform future plans.”
Beyond tracking expenses, Barnes assisted with budget planning for Fiscal Year 2027, offering her a front-row seat to how the Department of War prioritizes, resources and transitions defense technologies.
Her biggest technical breakthrough came when she merged her accounting background with modern technology. Barnes leveraged PowerBI and artificial intelligence to design a custom analytical dashboard for DEVCOM ARL leadership, transforming complex financial tables into dynamic visual tools.
“This was a pivotal moment because it transformed complex financial data into clear, dynamic visualizations,” Barnes said. “This allowed leaders to see investment trends at a glance, which helps them to make more strategic and data-driven decisions about their current and future programs. It was incredibly exciting to provide a tool that had such a direct impact.”
Working in a military laboratory brought a powerful realization for Barnes, who has friends and family serving in the armed forces. She quickly saw how strategic budgeting ensures that vital tools and technologies reach Soldiers on schedule.
“The most surprising aspect was seeing the direct connection between financial execution and the safety of our Soldiers,” Barnes said. “It became clear that every role, no matter how far from the front line, is part of one team working to ensure our Soldiers are safe and our country is secure. It was a heartfelt experience to see that connection firsthand.”
Barnes credits much of her professional growth this summer to her ARL mentor, DaShana Adhanom, whom she describes as a one-of-a-kind leader. Under Adhanom’s guidance, Barnes learned how to translate dense business research into compelling narratives tailored for executive leadership.
“She models the kind of leader I hope to become,” Barnes said. “Her work ethic, integrity and the way she treats everyone on the team serves as a blueprint for professional excellence.”
For Adhanom, she was very grateful for the opportunity to mentor Shelby this summer, particularly as the lab has not historically hosted interns in the business domain.
“It was important to me that Shelby work on meaningful projects that gave her first-hand experience of how her skills and interests in finance, AI and business intelligence directly enables the research and helps ARL achieve its mission,” Adhanom said. “Shelby is extremely sharp, driven and has the critical skills and adaptability we need for the next generation of Army financial management professionals.”
The internship has solidified Barnes' future career goals. She plans to pursue roles that prioritize responsible stewardship and data transparency.
“As an intern, I saw that honest financial reporting is exactly what allows leadership to make the right decisions for the Army,” Barnes said. “Moving forward, my goal is to build a career where I use data to be a careful steward of resources, ensuring that every dollar is used ethically and effectively.”
For students considering applying to an ARL internship in the future, Barnes emphasizes the value of bringing a unique perspective to the table—regardless of their field of study.
“Never be afraid to put yourself out there, regardless of your major,” Barnes said. “Diverse perspectives are essential, and everyone can contribute meaningfully to the mission. Always put your best foot forward, recognize the critical importance of teamwork, and above all, be coachable.”
For further information on internships at ARL, please visit https://arl.devcom.army.mil/careers/students/.
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DEVCOM ARL is the Army’s sole fundamental research laboratory serving as the nexus of science between the military, academia and industry. Operating under U.S. Army Futures and Concepts Command and the U.S. Army Transformation and Training Command, ARL executes globally recognized research to accelerate delivery of war-winning, disruptive technologies for tomorrow’s Army.
For information, visit the Army Research Laboratory website.
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