Juan Alvarez ’27 knew he wanted to continue learning about his major, computer science, after studying air quality with a NASA fellowship. So he signed up for a summer internship with the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Corona Division, in Norco, which let students explore what a career in government could be like.
Alvarez deployed artificial intelligence on two different projects: automating documents for purchasing items and an automated weapons scoring system for the bullet holes in Navy soldiers’ training targets. Though he was initially nervous, especially because the base used a different coding language than the one Alvarez was familiar with, the internship structure put him at ease.
“Once I got into the workspace with the other interns and my mentors, everything became smoother and more interactive, and I was able to integrate what I learned at school and contribute to the work,” Alvarez said.
With mentorship support readily available, Alvarez said everyone on the Navy base was open to helping each other as a team. That camaraderie was also a highlight for Oswen Martinez ’26. A double major in computer science and physics, he found it easy to ask questions and enjoyed how people likewise reached out for his assistance.
“They really try to get me involved,” Martinez said.
Martinez said he learned many useful skills outside of his major that will help him in his future career. Meanwhile, Alvarez is interested in applying for the Department of Defense's SMART Scholarship Program, which offers recipients tuition and hands-on experience at government facilities after graduation.
“This internship was a very good experience to see how your work actually impacts the real world,” Alvarez said.
To learn more about research and internship opportunities with the Navy, reach out to Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy Jordan Hanson.
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