Making the Connection: Federal Government Agencies & Cooperative Education Programs

1. ASEE Conference for Industry & Education Collaboration January 25, 2006 San Antonio, Tx Bryan Dansberry, Assistant Professor Lou Trent, Assistant Director & Associate Professor Division of Professional Practice University of Cincinnati University of Cincinnati P.O. Box 210115 Cincinnati, OH 45221-0115 E-mail: bryan.dansberry@uc.edu or louis.trent@uc.edu Making the Connection: Federal Government Agencies & Cooperative Education Programs

2. Dustin Ochoa, AsE ’05 NASA-Johnson Space Center Outline • Background of Speakers • An abridged tour of Gov’t Co-op • Do’s and Don’ts of making the connection • Security Clearances • Debate, discussion, and monologues…..

3. Background: Bryan • Co-op Student (AsE Class of ’87) • Co-op Supervisor • Co-op Faculty (2002 - ????) Transonic Dynamics Tunnel NASA-Langley

4. Defense Contract Management Agency Background: Lou • Intern in Counseling Psychology. • Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. • Professional Practice Advisor, 1978. • Mainly work with Mechanical Engineers. • Worked with federal agencies for 27+ years.

5. Gov’t Co-op Programs: The Grand Tour • NASA - Johnson • Redstone Arsenal • Naval Research Labs • Website Tour • DOE Kyle Blakley, CE ’08 Butler County Engineer’s Office

6. Gov’t Co-op Programs: Johnson Space Center • JSC’s largest student employment program • Average about 160 students/year • Cover a wide range of majors • #1 Source of New Hires JSC Fall ’05 Co-op Group Photo

7. Gov’t Co-op Programs: Johnson Space Center • Centrally Operated Program • Very Organized • Social Activities • Students rotate departments Co-op students acquiring experimental data to determine maximum rate of hotdog consumption

8. Gov’t Co-op Programs: Johnson Space Center “During his first work term at NASA, Joshua Hunter from Georgia Tech, modified and prepared for use a device known as the Multiple User Cooling Unit (MUCU) for astronauts’ space suits. Hunter’s design was based on an initial prototype created by another student employee—Garret Fitzpatrick from the University of Wisconsin. The MUCU, now in use, keeps astronauts comfortable when they are outside the shuttle simulator at Johnson Space Center. “- Debbie Pierson, GA. Tech. “Thilini Rangedera, an aerospace engineering co-op from Georgia Tech, has made great contributions to the International Space Station Training Group. She is the first co-op student to become certified to teach two electrical power systems lessons to flight controllers as part of their preparation for an upcoming Space Station mission. She accomplished this goal during a four-month co-op tour.” - Robert P. Musgrove, NASA JSC

9. Gov’t Co-op Programs: Other NASA Centers Ames Research Center Dryden Flight Research Center Glenn Research Center Goddard Space Flight Center Jet Propulsion Laboratory Kennedy Space Center Langley Research Center Marshall Space Flight Center Stennis Space Center At many NASA centers co-op students rotate thru wind-tunnel facilities where they learn classic mime techniques such as “Walking against the wind.”

10. Gov’t Co-op Programs: Other NASA Centers

11. Gov’t Co-op Programs: Other NASA Centers

12. Gov’t Co-op Programs: Redstone Arsenal

13. Gov’t Co-op Programs: Redstone Arsenal

14. Gov’t Co-op Programs: Redstone Arsenal

15. Gov’t Co-op Programs: U.S. Army

16. Gov’t Co-op Programs: Don’t expect to get rich!

17. Gov’t Co-op Programs: Naval Research Labs

18. Gov’t Co-op Programs: Naval Research Labs

19. NAVAL RESEARCH LAB Naval Research Lab’s Spacecraft Engineering DepartmentOverview for Co-Ops & Expecting Graduates

20. Outline • Organization • History • Mission Statement and Implications • Environment & Culture • Types of Work • Facilities • Hiring Facts • Interviews

21. Organization Naval Research Lab - NRL You Would Work Here Naval Center for Space Technology (Code 8000: 1 of 8 Divisions in NRL) Space Systems Development Department (Code 8100) Spacecraft Engineering Department (Code 8200)

22. History: Timeline & Firsts 84 Satellites Launched Great Space History and Experience at NRL

23. Mission Statement & Implications Mission Driven…NOT Profit Driven

24. Environment & Culture • Relatively Close Knit Group : SED (8200) about 125 People • Will Not Get Lost in a Large Organization • Management is On a First Name Basis • Low Structure…“Nuts Running Loose” • Management & Admin Support per Employee is Relatively Low • Fosters Creativity & Flexibility • Provides Tremendous Opportunities to Succeed • Judged on Capability Not Rank - Often Receive Jobs and Responsibilities Well Above Your Rank • However Requires Additional, Pro-Active Effort to Not be Left Behind • Matrix Organization so Inherent Conflict: 2 Bosses- Formal & Project Boss • Value “Showing Not Telling” • Emphasis on Technical Understanding & Ability to Get the Job Done • We are “Engineers of Research”, not the “Ponderers of Research” Personality is Important, Some Thrive in This Environment, Others Do Not

25. Types of Work • Mission Design • Spacecraft Design, Integration, & Test • Structures • Mechanisms • Cmd Tlm & Data Handling • Thermal • Guidance, Nav, and Control • Power • RF Comms • Flight & Ground Software • Propulsion • Integration & Test • Payloads: Imaging, RF, Comms, etc. • Launch Vehicle Interfacing & Ops • Ground Station & Flight Operations • Orbitology & Mission Planning • Technology Development

26. Facilities • State-of-the-Art Design & Testing Facilities • Mediocre Personal Facilities: Emphasis is on Functional, Not Nice • No Nice Lobby Entrance, Furniture is Hit or Miss, etc.

27. Hiring Facts • Co-oping is a Great Benefit to Both NRL & the Student • NRL can Train and Evaluate Student • Student can Learn, Evaluate NRL, and Sort Out Personal Job Preferences and Expectations • Procedurally, Allows an Immediate Hiring Decision Upon Graduation • Summer Internships • Will Consider but Generally Not Worth the Time from an NRL Administrative Point-of View • Non-Coop Graduates • Must Openly Advertise & Compete for Job • Personnel Division Selects Applicants, Not SED (8200) • Usually Hard to have a Stand-Out Resume Straight Out of School • Generally (NOT Always) Hire Through Another Company Until You Gain Enough Experience to “Stand-Out” in an Open Competition

28. Gov’t Co-op Programs: Dept. of Energy

29. Gov’t Co-op Programs: Dept. of Energy

30. Gov’t Co-op Programs: Dept. of Energy

32. Department of Commerce Internship for Postsecondary Students • Department of Energy Special Emphasis Program • DOE Community College Institute at Oak Ridge National Laboratory- • DOE Faculty and Student Teams Program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory- • DOE Pre-Service Teacher Internships at Oak Ridge National Laboratory- • DOE Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships at Oak Ridge National Laboratory- • Energy Student Achievement Program- • Environmental Management Participation for the U.S. Army Environmental Center- • Federal Aviation Administration Asian American/Pacific Islander and Native American/Alaskan Native Internship Program- • Fusion Energy Sciences Fellowship Program- • Global Change Education Program- • Great Lakes Colleges Association/Associated Colleges of the Midwest Oak Ridge Science Semester- • Higher Education Research Experiences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory for Students- • Internship at the Office of Water- • Laboratory Technology Program- • National Energy Technology Laboratory Professional Internship Program-

33. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Student Research Participation- • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions • Nuclear Regulatory Commission Historically Black Colleges and Universities Student Research Participation- • Oak Ridge National Laboratory Undergraduate Student Cooperative Education Program- • Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Scholarship Program- • Research Participation at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Counterterrorism/Forensic Science Research Unit- • Research Participation at the U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center- • Research Participation at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense- • Research Participation at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory- • Research Participation Program at the U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine- Savannah River Site Professional Internship Program- • Student Research Participation at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention- • Student Research Participation at the National Center for Toxicological Research- • U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC)- • U.S. Department of Homeland Security Scholarship and Fellowship Program-

34. Oak Ridge National Laboratory Undergraduate Student Cooperative Education Program-

35. Oak Ridge National Laboratory Undergraduate Student Cooperative Education Program-

36. Gov’t Co-op Programs: Dept. of Energy

37. Gov’t Co-op Programs: science.gov

39. Working Effectively With Federal Agencies Christopher Hummer, AsE ’08 Received Engineer of the Quarter Award Aeronautical Systems Center

40. Do’s & Don’ts: Basic Understanding • U.S. Citizenship • No Felonies (may vary) Zack Norman, Graphic Des. ‘06 National Park Service

41. Do’s & Don’ts: Good Practices • Timing • Web applications • Tailor resume/experience • Know your employer Andrew Sampson EE ’06 Kennedy Space Center

42. Do’s & Don’ts: Timing The Simple Hiring Process • Refer credentials 2.5 months before hiring date • Credentials screened • Offers extended • Student responds Robin Ventura AsE ‘06 NASA Langley Research Center

43. Do’s & Don’ts: Timing More Complex Hiring Process • Students apply on-line • Student notifies university to send transcript & letter of eligibility • University sends transcript & letter • Student gets letter from agency • Student responds • Panel of managers review applications • Hiring decisions made – phone interviews • Unofficial co-op offer extended • Student responds • Background information gathered • Official offer extended • Student responds

44. Do’s & Don’ts: Security Clearance • Vary from agency to agency • Types • Timing Ryan Stobbs ME ’07 Nevada Automotive Test Center

45. Do’s & Don’ts: Good Practices • Timing • Web applications • Tailor resume/experience • Know your employer Robin Ventura AsE ‘06 NASA Langley Research Center

46. Do’s & Don’ts: Not So Good Practices • No citizenship/criminal record • Bad timing • Forget Follow-up • Students applying who have money issues • Stop sending referrals

47. Do’s & Don’ts: Knowing Your Employer Things to Consider • Requirements for employment • Program resources • Employment structure/process • Institutional purpose – benefits to supervisor • Employer “quirks” Boyu Wang BME ‘07 Biomedical Ultrasound Lab

48. Do’s & Don’ts: Secret’s of My Success General Comments • Contact as close to the hiring manager level as possible • Make use of alumni contacts • Cruise the internet • Talk to Professors • Attend technical conferences • Site visits (student tours?)

49. Co-op 1906 - 2006 Debate and Discussion Lou Trent, Assistant Director & Associate Professor Louis.trent@uc.edu Bryan Dansberry, Assistant Professor Bryan.dansberry@uc.edu University of Cincinnati Division of Professional Practice P.O. Box 210115 Cincinnati, OH 45221-0115