Through internships, USF Institute of Applied Engineering opens direct pathway to defense careers

By Paul Guzzo, University Communications and Marketing

Jean Alvarez wanted to connect his bachelor's degree in business analytics and information systems to a larger mission tied to service and national purpose.

"I felt like my work should contribute to something greater than myself," said the recent University of South Florida graduate.

Briana Bondurant was inspired to follow in the footsteps of her father, who served in the military after 9/11 and later worked for the National Security Agency.

"I grew up watching him study cybersecurity," said Bondurant, who recently earned her degree from USF's Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing. "I wanted to be like him."

Both had the drive, but breaking into those fields requires experience and connections.

"I wasn't sure where those would come from," Alvarez said.

That's where the USF Institute of Applied Engineering's internship program - now accepting applications - came in, helping provide both. The IAE supports the Department of Defense and other federal and private agencies by managing engineering and technology projects, which range from data systems and artificial intelligence tools to cybersecurity and applied research.

"We give USF students a direct path so that when they graduate, they not only have experience relevant to the United States Department of Defense, but hands-on DoD experience and a security clearance when necessary," said Taylor Johnston, chief operating officer of the IAE. "They can wear their cap and gown one day and step into a DoD-controlled environment the next - with a good salary."

Alvarez now works as a data scientist for Clarity, a private contractor supporting U.S. Special Operations Command, headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa.

Bondurant stepped into a full-time role as an associate analyst with CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity firm that protects organizations from cyber threats.

"I had two internships through the institute," Bondurant said. "Both deserve credit for helping me break into this competitive career."

The Institute of Applied Engineering

With a staff of about 45 - including 25 engineers - the Institute of Applied Engineering manages roughly $170 million in active contracts with partners such as U.S. Special Operations Command and the U.S. Army, which signed a five-year research agreement last year.

"Our impact extends across Tampa Bay, positioning the region as a growing hub for national security and advanced engineering," Johnston said. "With major military leadership concentrated locally, the institute helps anchor that ecosystem. We are a key cog in bringing the region to national prominence."

The internship program creates a direct pathway from classroom to career by embedding students in partner projects, allowing them to build experience, learn government systems and prepare for long-term careers.

"I'm looking for an intern who brings in-depth, practical knowledge to our partners," Johnston said. "We want to employ students who can show up on day one with a dedicated, creative, and willing-to-learn mindset."

Third-year electrical engineering major and IAE intern Ryan Cartagena is working on one of the projects included in the Army contract. The Air Force ROTC cadet is helping build an experimental training device that allows soldiers to identify adversaries through electromagnetic signals.

"I was recommended for this position by a leader in ROTC. My interest has grown a lot from actually working in the labs," Cartagena said. "I've been on the hardware side and the coding. There are a lot of resources and a lot of help - it's always there."

The internships

Over the last six years, the institute has filled more than 850 internships in-house and at customer sites.

The institute placed Alvarez as a data analytics intern within U.S. Special Operations Command's financial division, where he built systems and automated processes before moving into application development and later developing AI tools and data systems within SOCOM's Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office.

"I was surrounded by professionals who had spent their careers in defense work," Alvarez said. "At times, I wondered if this was all real. I couldn't believe I was there and being trusted to perform that work."

Officials at U.S. Special Operations Command say the program is equally valuable for mentors

"As mentors in the IAE Internship Program, U.S. Special Operations Command has found the experience to be mutually beneficial," said Shanell Blackshear, director of accounting (GS-15) for Special Operations Financial Management at U.S. Special Operations Command.

The experience also opened doors. Through his work at SOCOM, Alvarez built connections across the defense contracting world that ultimately led to his full-time role.

"You end up meeting a lot of people from different companies," he said. "That's kind of how my name got out there."

The institute first helped Bondurant land an internship with Accenture Federal Services, a consulting firm that provides technology and cybersecurity services to U.S. government agencies. There, she worked on computer vision and AI projects, training models to analyze images and video, including object tracking.

She later interned with the institute itself, working in its cyber lab to build and test complex network environments that simulate real-world cybersecurity scenarios.

"I had hands-on experience and the confidence to discuss the technologies," Bondurant said. "My work in both places helped me ace my interviews."

Workforce Development

But the internships aren't just for those solely interested in national security.

Cristian Hernandez, who recently earned a bachelor's degree in computer science from USF, said he would consider that path but is more focused on "moving up the ladder of the software engineering world."

The institute supports that trajectory as well.

Hernandez interns directly with the institute, developing a full-stack application designed to improve communication among autonomous systems, including robots, and helping prepare it for a demonstration tied to government research.

"I have learned a lot of tools and how to communicate with other engineers and solve problems," he said.

He will continue to intern there throughout the summer, applying those skills to real-world projects tied to government research.

"Every day, I continue to improve my skills as a developer," Hernandez said. "This is a great opportunity for wherever my career takes me, whether that's national security or something else. The internship and now this job have prepared me for whatever comes next."

Apply for an internship with the USF Institute of Applied Engineering