July 2, 2009
LAS VEGAS -- Northrop Grumman Corporation-led (NYSE:NOC) joint venture National Security Technologies (NSTec) LLC recently hosted two U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen in conjunction with the academy's service internship program. NSTec operates and manages the Nevada Test Site for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).
Midshipman Tyler Sordelet and Midshipman Justin Kramer are seniors at the Naval Academy and are pursuing careers in mechanical engineering. They participated in nuclear detection research with one of the leading experts in the field, Dr. E. Chris Hagen, a principal scientist at NSTec. During their month-long internship, the midshipmen worked with a Dense Plasma Focus Fusion Source -- a research article constructed by NSTec that simulates special nuclear material -- both for detection and characterization. The midshipman's research focused on the design and construction of test equipment that accommodates an advanced Dense Plasma Focus source assembly.
"The U.S. Naval Academy and NSTec set up this internship program so the midshipmen can have a greater appreciation and understanding of nuclear technology," said Martin Nelson, Ph.D., a mechanical engineering professor at the U.S. Naval Academy. "This reinforces what they've learned in the classroom and brings it to life."
"This program provides the Navy midshipmen with hands-on experience with the design, development, testing and evaluation of cutting edge nuclear detection capabilities," said Dr. Hagen. "We are proud to support this prestigious collaborative research program with the U.S. Naval Academy, and look forward to exploring new opportunities in the future."
"We had the theoretical knowledge but not the hands-on experience until this internship," said Kramer. "This allowed us to take what we learned in the classroom and see its practical applications for the Navy and Marine Corps."
NSTec has invested more than $1 million in education grants and focused science and engineering support. This includes $19,000 for the Department of Homeland Security Scholars and Fellows and the U.S. Naval
and Air Force Academies to support summer internships. Since the inception of the Naval Academy internship program at NSTec, eight midshipmen have completed internships.
"Our goal for the internship program is to provide a challenging real-world experience for these future leaders of our armed forces, while also enlightening them on other governmental agencies that they will work with throughout their military careers," said Von Sudderth of NSTec.
Additionally, Northrop Grumman has also supported Trident Scholars, a program that allows midshipmen to participate in independent study and research during their senior year.
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