Internship Wrap-up: A Summer of Innovation, Learning, and Lasting Impact
This summer marked an exciting milestone at Astrion, we successfully launched our very first internship program, The Explorers. Over the course of 10 weeks, our interns rolled up their sleeves, tackled real-world projects, and contributed in ways that made a meaningful impact across the company. As the summer ended, we took the time to celebrate their accomplishments, reflect on the value of the program, and look ahead to what’s next.
Tackling Real-World Challenges: The Case Study
The festivities started with an Intern Case Study Challenge. Eleven interns teamed up to solve a business challenge faced by a fictional company, Acme. Their task: help Acme remain competitive and compliant while attracting cleared, qualified professionals for technical roles in its rapidly growing Andromeda program.
The challenge was tough, vacancies were taking 60–90 days to fill, customer satisfaction was slipping, and the stakes were high. Acting as “strategy cells,” each team developed recommendations and delivered executive-level presentations.
- Group 1: Victoria Fotia, Natan Winter, Nicholas Mancini & Matias Camp
- Group 2: Parker Stewart, Alexandyr Card, and Bipin Dhakal
- Group 3: Michael Black, Eric Bullard, Kaia Wolfe, and Ashley Wilson
After three impressive presentations, Group 2 took home the win—and a $5,000 prize—thanks to their innovative recruiting strategies. They proposed leveraging AI-powered web crawlers, refining internal mobility pipelines, and strengthening retention through culture and community partnerships. Their fresh thinking demonstrated exactly why intern perspectives are so valuable.
Intern Impact
Throughout their internship, our interns made their mark. Each one was assigned meaningful projects that directly supported Astrion’s mission, whether that meant streamlining processes, contributing to major contracts, or injecting fresh ideas into ongoing work.
Supervisors across departments praised the program for not only the extra support but also the unique energy interns bring. Their curiosity, creativity, and eagerness to learn often sparked new ways of thinking.
This program wasn’t just about training interns—it was about shaping the future of Astrion.
Intern Recognition
The festivities ended with a special farewell event at a Trash Pandas baseball game in Huntsville. Interns, along with the leadership team and other colleagues, joined the celebration. The evening was more than just a baseball game, it was a chance for interns to network, connect with leadership, and celebrate the success of Astrion’s inaugural program.
A highlight of the night? One of our own interns had the honor of throwing out the first pitch! Jacob Walker, a senior at Auburn University studying software engineering, worked on the ADD division under the IF/RCO contract as a software intern. His contributions, like so many others, advanced our mission and demonstrated the high caliber of talent in our program.
Beyond Summer: Interns Who Stay
Even though summer has ended, the story doesn’t stop here. We’re proud to share that 30 interns will continue with Astrion throughout the school year, extending their learning while continuing to support mission-critical work. This continuity underscores the strength of the program as both a talent pipeline and a growth opportunity.
Looking Ahead
Astrion’s Explorer internship program was more than a summer experience, it was a launchpad for the next generation of innovators, engineers, and leaders. By investing in interns today, we’re strengthening our talent pipeline and building a foundation for the future.
We’re proud of every intern who joined us this summer and excited to see the long-term impact of their contributions. One thing is clear: this is just the beginning.
The 2026 Summer Explorer Internship Program will kick off in late May/early June.
