Military

An inside look: Interning with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 18:56:45 +0000

An inside look: Interning with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 09/03/2020 - 12:56

Kyle McDonnell

Before his internship with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, mechanical engineering student Kyle McDonnell didn't know cost engineering was an engineering career path. He said his internship gave him a taste of what working at the Corp would be like and a taste of the construction field as well.

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Honoring Duane Chesley as students receive gift of education

Anonymous — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 18:41:00 +0000

Honoring Duane Chesley as students receive gift of education Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 08/28/2020 - 12:41

Duane Chesley (MechEngr’58) valued education because of how it impacted his life, taking him from humble beginnings on a farm in Nebraska to full colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves. At CU Boulder, he endowed a scholarship and established an earn-learn apprenticeship to support mechanical engineering students.

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Mains and Schlafmann earn fellowships in competitive Department of Defense research and engineering program

Anonymous — Wed, 26 Aug 2020 14:29:47 +0000

Mains and Schlafmann earn fellowships in competitive Department of Defense research and engineering program Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 08/26/2020 - 08:29

Jonathan Raab

Graduate students Kathryn Mains and Kyle Schlafmann have earned fellowships in the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship Program, a prestigious, national security-focused initiative.

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CU student accepted to competitive Navy nuclear program

Anonymous — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 23:04:37 +0000

CU student accepted to competitive Navy nuclear program Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 02/27/2020 - 16:04

Emily Adams

Devin Lindsey, left, and three other students chat with U.S. Navy Commander Robert “Mac” McFarlin during his visit to CU Engineering.

When Devin Lindsey came to CU Boulder as an environmental engineering major three years ago, he didn’t expect to be leaving as a nuclear reactor engineer for the U.S. Navy.

Lindsey, a junior from Littleton, Colorado, was recently accepted to the highly competitive Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate program, or NUPOC for short. He’s the third approved candidate from the College of Engineering and Applied Science in the past two years.

NUPOC provides qualified students a direct pipeline into service as Navy officers, with salary and benefits for up to two-and-a-half years while they’re completing their degrees. After graduation, participants can serve at sea on nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers or on land as nuclear instructors and engineers.

While many who apply for the NUPOC program have been involved in ROTC, it was purely by chance that Lindsey learned about it.

Last year, he was helping to set up a tabling event for Engineers in Action in the Engineering Center lobby. A team of Navy recruiters was vacating the table, and Lindsey ended up chatting with them and taking a flyer for NUPOC.

He said he’s always been interested in nuclear power, and would often check out the latest news on particle physics or next-generation reactors. He also took a course on radiation when he studied abroad last semester in Singapore.

“It’s such a big idea, but there’s so much bias around it,” Lindsey said. “As an environmental engineer, you can definitely see where it would have a place in future power grids.”

After speaking with family friends who’d served in the military and talking to his family about his grandfather’s service, he decided to take the leap.

The application process was very rigorous, including lots of paperwork, technical interviews and a multi-day visit to Washington, D.C., for in-person interviews, but Lindsey said he actually ended up enjoying it.

“It was the first real-world opportunity to put all of these things I’ve learned to the test,” he said.

After he graduates next spring, Lindsey will commission as an officer. He’ll head back to D.C. for officer development training, reactor engineering school and tours of Navy nuclear facilities before taking his post at a Navy nuclear base. He’ll serve for five years before getting the opportunity to either stay on in a civilian capacity or start a new adventure.

“It’s not what I came to college thinking I was going to do, but with nuclear there’s so much left to learn about it,” Lindsey said. “I’m really excited.”

When Devin Lindsey came to CU Boulder as an environmental engineering major three years ago, he didn’t expect to be leaving as a nuclear reactor engineer for the U.S. Navy.

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Into the Wild Blue Yonder: Air Force Office of Scientific Research leaders visit CU Boulder

Anonymous — Tue, 21 Jan 2020 23:28:07 +0000

Into the Wild Blue Yonder: Air Force Office of Scientific Research leaders visit CU Boulder Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 01/21/2020 - 16:28

From left, Assistant Professor Xudong Chen, Col. Michelle Ewy, Assistant Professor Taylor Barton and Col. Jason Mello gather on campus. Chen and Barton are part of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research's Young Investigator Program.

Leaders from the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research visited CU Boulder last week to learn about new research initiatives happening on campus and meet CU researchers working on Air Force-related projects.

Visiting from Arlington, Virginia, were Col. Michelle Ewy, acting director of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, and Col. Jason Mello, chief of the office’s Science and Engineering Division.

The office works to expand the horizon of scientific knowledge by investing in relevant scientific areas that allow the Air Force “control and maximum utilization of air, space and cyberspace.”

It’s an area of growing importance for CU Boulder and the College of Engineering and Applied Science, as the campus looks to expand its research impact in the national security sector.

Currently, about 20 percent of the college’s research funding, or roughly $22 million, involves national defense, and about a third of that is funded by the Air Force, said Bill Doe, research development manager for Engineering and Applied Science.

The college also is home to numerous Air Force ROTC cadets and student-veterans, as well as two active-duty Air Force officers currently working toward their PhDs in aerospace engineering, Doe said.

The representatives also met with Assistant Professors Taylor Barton and Xudong Chen of the Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering, who are part of the AFOSR Young Investigator Program. The program fosters creative, basic research in science and engineering with the goal of enhancing the early career development of outstanding young investigators.

t’s an area of growing importance for CU Boulder and the College of Engineering and Applied Science, as the campus looks to expand its research impact in the national security sector.

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Fresh start at CU Boulder leads to a lifetime of success for World War II veteran

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 17:40:51 +0000

Fresh start at CU Boulder leads to a lifetime of success for World War II veteran Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 01/09/2020 - 10:40

Oksana Schuppan

CU Boulder gave World War II veteran Bill Jann (MechEngr’49) a fresh start after he returned from combat. He went on to work on the Pershing Weapon System during the Cold War.

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Vets2STEM career expo connects veterans to national labs

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Oct 2019 21:35:06 +0000

Vets2STEM career expo connects veterans to national labs Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 10/24/2019 - 15:35

Matthew Goodman

CU Boulder is co-hosting a unique opportunity for military veterans on Nov. 8. Vets2STEM is a career expo hosted at the Colorado School of Mines in partnership with Mines and Colorado State University. The event is open to all Colorado veteran students.

Vets2STEM will introduce veterans to employment opportunities available at national defense and energy laboratories. It will also be a great chance to learn about the programs available at all three universities that can serve as pipelines into those STEM careers. These programs, which are varied at each institution, focus on technical skills that are well suited to the national labs.

Nine of the national labs will be in attendance on Nov. 8. The event will include special guest speakers, veteran panels, tech demonstrations and lab exhibits.

This is a rare opportunity for veterans to get acquainted with the long-term benefits of working at one of the 17 Department of Energy labs spread across the nation. Colorado is home to over 400,000 Veterans, one national lab, and many defense contractors, all of which allow Colorado to play an important role in filling current and future employment needs. 92% of the Department of Energy occupation codes are technical, while 62% combine some level of STEM training. Our veterans are strongly positioned to fill jobs within these labs. Programs in engineering, advanced manufacturing, circuitry, welding, advanced technology, etc. are all key to said lab positions.

Bill Doe, research development manager in the College of Engineering and Applied Science and an Army engineer veteran, said the energy sector – particularly renewable energy – is a career field that fits very well with skills people acquire in the military. ”Renewables are on the rise within the military sector, both operationally and at military installations,” he said. “As such, many veterans already have hands-on experience with these technologies and understand their importance to long-term energy security for the nation. The solar and wind energy sectors have been very supportive of hiring veterans.”

The importance of connecting the veteran community to these national labs will continue to grow as national labs look to fill thousands of high-wage STEM positions over the next five years.

Attendees are highly encouraged to bring their resume. The event is free, and lunch and a T-shirt will be provided.

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Navy visit to college highlights growing partnership around students

Anonymous — Fri, 13 Sep 2019 18:19:48 +0000

Navy visit to college highlights growing partnership around students Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 09/13/2019 - 12:19

Josh Rhoten

Senior U.S. Navy officers visited the CU Boulder College of Engineering and Applied Science Thursday, highlighting a growing partnership that’s driving student success, leadership opportunities and career pathways.

Dean Bobby Braun welcomed Vice Admiral John B. Nowell Jr. and Rear Admiral Brendan R. McLane to campus with tours of the new Aerospace Engineering Sciences building and the Engineering Center.

The pair are visiting the Rocky Mountain region to see firsthand how the Navy has transformed its recruiting process and to meet with sailors involved in talent acquisition. CU Boulder and the college play a role in that process, as the Navy is interested in developing young leaders in close partnership with universities that produce high-quality science, technology, engineering and math students.

U.S. Navy Vice Admiral John B. Nowell Jr. and CU Boulder alumnus, astronaut and Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences Scholar in Residence Jim Voss talk during the visit. CEAS/ Josh Rhoten

Both officers and their staff also met with faculty and students during the visit, including those in the university’s Naval ROTC program – a significant driver and example of that type of partnership between the two organizations.

“It was great opportunity to visit the University of Colorado to meet with ROTC midshipmen and see the campus. I’m impressed by the work being done by CU students in the field of engineering and applied science. Our partnership with the University of Colorado is a strong one, and I look forward to seeing our midshipmen become the Navy’s future leaders,” Nowell said.

Nowell assumed duties as the Navy’s 59th chief of naval personnel in the spring, serving concurrently as the deputy chief of naval operations. He is responsible for planning and organizing all manpower, personnel, training and education resources for the U.S. Navy and leads more than 26,000 professionals in the recruiting, talent management, training and development of Navy personnel. His responsibilities include overseeing Navy Recruiting Command, Navy Personnel Command and Naval Education and Training Command.

McLane is the commander of the Navy Recruiting Command. He previously served at the U.S. Naval Academy and was deployed to Iraq with the U.S. Army’s 354th Civil Affairs Brigade. He most recently served as the chief of staff for the Surface Forces Pacific. McLane visited the college and dean in 2018 as well.

William Doe, a college staff member and adviser for the campus Society of American Military Engineers chapter, said the visit pairs well with a number of other efforts by the college to engage with veteran and ROTC student groups on campus.

“There is a high demand for technically competent officers in all of the military branches – especially from the STEM disciplines,” said Doe, an Army veteran. “That’s because future conflicts in this technical age will heavily use artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and autonomous systems, among other engineering disciplines.”

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College graduates six new Navy officers

Anonymous — Mon, 13 May 2019 17:42:32 +0000

College graduates six new Navy officers Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 05/13/2019 - 11:42

Bill Doe

It was a proud moment for students, families, faculty, staff and the College of Engineering and Applied Science on May 10 when six recent college graduates were commissioned into the United States Navy as brand new ensigns.

Of the 12 commissioned CU Boulder graduates from this year’s Navy ROTC class, half were students in Engineering and Applied Science – an unprecedented representation. Four men and two women were commissioned, and all of them will now enter into active duty in various capacities to serve the nation.

Ensign Gemma Nowak renders her first handshake and challenge coin exchange as a new Navy officer.

The new Navy ensigns, with their majors and specific areas of assignment are:

Ensign William Benson, Mechanical Engineering – Naval aviation
Ensign Jeremy Fie, Aerospace Engineering – Nuclear submarines
Ensign Michael Hardy, Mechanical Engineering – Nuclear submarines
Ensign Mackenzie Kirschner, Architectural Engineering – Naval aviation
Ensign Andrew Lapham, Mechanical Engineering – Navy special warfare
Ensign Gemma Nowak, Mechanical Engineering – Naval aviation

The college actively supports our ROTC students from the Navy, Army and Air Force. Approximately 30 NROTC cadets are currently enrolled in engineering programs. Additionally, several students are pursuing Navy career opportunities through the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate program.

Six recent graduates in Engineering and Applied Science were commissioned into the United States Navy as brand new ensigns, and all of them will now enter into active duty in various capacities to serve the nation.

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Two CU Engineers to serve as officers in Navy’s submarine force

Anonymous — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Two CU Engineers to serve as officers in Navy’s submarine force Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 02/14/2019 - 17:00

Kellen Short

The U.S. Navy seeks only the best and brightest for its Nuclear Propulsion Officer candidates—and two CU Engineers just made the cut.

The competitive program, NUPOC for short, provides qualified students a direct pipeline into service as Navy officers, with salary and benefits for up to two-and-a-half years while they’re completing their degrees. After graduation, participants can serve at sea on nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers or on land as nuclear instructors and engineers.

Timothy Barentine (EngrPhys'18) of Cascade, Colorado, and Joseph Crawford of Durango, Colorado, who will graduate in May with a degree in environmental engineering, were selected for the program in January and December, respectively.

The application process is rigorous and typically takes several months, including security clearances and medical reviews. It concludes with technical interviews and a meeting with four-star Adm. James Caldwell in Washington, D.C., a process Barentine called “the fastest two-to-five minutes of my life.”

Read about the NUPOC Program requirements

Be a U.S. citizen
Meet the physical standards of the Navy
Age 19-29 or possibly older, depending on type of service
Graduate or student of an accredited U.S. college or university
- Completed one year of calculus
- Completed one year of calculus-based physics
- Have a competitive GPA

Contact Bill Doe to learn more.

The selection process is a preview to the challenging role ahead. Officer candidates undergo intensive classroom and hands-on instruction in nuclear propulsion—much of the curriculum is classified—as well as training in leadership.

After joining the Navy, candidates are required to serve at least five years in active duty and eight years total. They’ll be responsible for some of the world’s most technologically advanced equipment, including $1.5 billion vessels.

Timothy Barentine meets with Dean Bobby Braun.

Barentine, who will serve on a nuclear submarine, said he was motivated to apply based on his interest in nuclear power plants and on the lifestyle and missions of submariners. While a CU student, he was part of the Society of Physics Students and the Global Engineering Residential Academic Program. He also conducted research on sensor development for high-energy particle physics with physics Professors John Cumalat and Stephen Wagner.

After graduating in May, Crawford will train to become a NUPOC instructor, teaching future enlisted and commissioned personnel the theory behind nuclear propulsion. Students study mathematics, physics, thermodynamics and more to prepare for their roles.

The application process emphasizes not just academic abilities but also extracurricular interests and leadership potential. Crawford, for his part, enjoys trail running, ping pong and bowling, and for the last year and a half has been learning to play the pipe organ.

“The most exciting aspect about being commissioned is the fact that I will be challenged in a way that will help me to grow and develop physically and mentally, and being able to obtain that experience while serving my country,” Crawford said. “Also, I look forward to being able to apply the skill sets and knowledge that I have obtained in my five years as an engineering student and teacher in a manner that prepares other people in the Navy for their positions of service.”

Barentine and Crawford likely won’t be the last candidates from CU Boulder accepted to the program. A third student is currently in the application process, and the college is seeking ways to bridge deeper connections with the armed forces.

Joseph Crawford shakes hands with Dean Bobby Braun.

More than 1,200 veterans or their dependents are currently enrolled at CU Boulder, which was named the No. 36 best public university for veterans in 2019 by U.S. News & World Report.

The College of Engineering and Applied Science also hosted 30 science and technology advisors in spring 2017 to showcase how CU Engineering’s research efforts are supporting national security needs. The Department of Defense funds about $20 million in research annually across the college.

A student chapter of SAME, the Society of American Military Engineers, launched last spring, and CU Engineering offers courses in cybersecurity and policy aimed at active military.

Bill Doe, a veteran and research development manager in the College of Engineering and Applied Science, serves as a liaison for NUPOC and advocates for student-veterans. He traveled last fall to San Diego, California, to tour a fast-attack submarine and learn about the NUPOC program.

"They've actively selected our college as one of the places where they want to offer opportunities to our students, so I think we'll see more of them coming here and recruiting," Doe said. "There are some really great opportunities for our students to find careers in military or public service to support national defense."

The U.S. Navy seeks only the best and brightest for its Nuclear Propulsion Officer candidates—and two CU Engineers just made the cut. The competitive program, NUPOC for short, provides qualified students a direct pipeline into service as Navy officers, with salary and benefits for up to two-and-a-half years while they’re completing their degrees.

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