Strategic deterrence interns brief JEMSO projects at STRATCOM HQ

“Simply entering USSTRATCOM’s Command and Control Facility is an opportunity offered to few people. Knowing this, being able to give a briefing there was very exciting. The audience had an impressive and diverse set of professional backgrounds, which made preparing effectively a rewarding challenge.” — Eddie Morrissette, senior, mechanical engineering, UNL

“I learned that academia and research are far more collaborative than I anticipated. Many people work together across projects, labs and universities. This is closely related to another lesson that I learned: most problems already have solutions. Even complex, novel problems are often solved by combining existing ideas. While I already intended on pursuing a graduate degree and a career that applies engineering to national defense, this internship has made me more prepared and eager for both.” — Eddie Morrissette, senior, mechanical engineering, UNL

“The work I did this summer gave me the ability and the responsibility to showcase my interests and strengths while working with a team and designing a project from a brief description to a final output of a valid, successful procedure that can be built upon for the future. It was an eye-opening experience to talk to people with a military, business and company mindset — to get a different viewpoint from our scholastic view of concepts and implementation of designs and ideas.” — Nathan Meyer, graduate student, telecommunications engineering, UNL

“I am proud of my work because we were able to apply engineering principles to national security applications. Further development of our research could lead to technology that could help America achieve its strategic, operational and tactical objectives in today’s ever-more dangerous world. This experience provided me with crucial information on JEMSO that will be useful in my career in the Air Force as a Commissioned Officer.” — Ben Taylor, senior, aerospace engineering, Colorado-Boulder, Air Force ROTC

Interns at the Strategic Air Command Museum. "I have learned that without a dedicated strategy and effort towards sharing what you created with the world, your project will not meet its original goal. Only once your customers fully understand what you have done will your efforts produce the results you set out to achieve." — Ben Taylor, senior, aerospace engineering, Colorado-Boulder, Air Force ROTC

Outdoor testing in action. "My team conducted several outdoor experiments focused on emitter localization. A major accomplishment was successfully developing a solution to precisely synchronize our receivers, which significantly improved the quality of data needed for accurate localization. We also expanded the range of our experiments from 100 ft to 300 ft. This larger setup not only enhances the accuracy of our algorithms but also better simulates real-world conditions for our project." — Thy Tran, senior, electrical engineering, math, physical phenomena, UNL

Robert Garcia at a computer at NSRI HQ. "After the successful brief at STRATCOM, Robert and I have been preparing a paper for NSRI to share our work done this summer. This entire summer has been an enlightened experience for my graduate career, and NSRI scheduling time for us to write our paper is extremely helpful." — Nathan Meyer, graduate student, telecommunications engineering, UNL

NSRI interns meeting in workspace at insitute's HQ. “I’ve not only advanced my technical skills—particularly in UI integration and signal processing—but I’ve also deepened my appreciation for clear communication and teamwork. Being mindful of group dynamics and project direction has taught me the value of adaptability, proactive communication and continuous reflection.” — Jennifer Thames, senior, math & physics, Anges Scott College, GA, Army ROTC

Interns at College World Series game. "One key takeaway I’ve gained from my time at NSRI is the importance of not only checking in on the technical progress of a project but also on the well-being and clarity of team members. As projects develop, small changes in scope or direction can have significant ripple effects. Ensuring everyone is aligned, both technically and personally, has been crucial to maintaining momentum and collaboration.” — Jennifer Thames, senior, math & physics, Anges Scott College, GA, Army ROTC