Internship Overview
During Summer 2025, I served as an Air Traffic Control (ATC) Engineering Intern at NIWC Atlantic in Charleston, SC. With an active Secret Security Clearance, I contributed to mission-critical projects designed to enhance airfield safety, communications, and system reliability for military operations. I was awarded a stipend through the South Carolina Internship Program (SCIP), recognizing my work in a high-demand engineering field.
Final Internship Presentation
My final PowerPoint presentation summarizing my internship experience will be added here upon completion.
Airfield Lighting Control System (AFLCS) – Lightboard
I worked extensively with the AFLCS lightboard, essential for simulating and testing military airstrip landing lights. My responsibilities included restoring damaged hardware, studying technical schematics, performing hardware diagnostics, soldering components, and verifying system functionality.
Radio Systems – Tuning and Testing
My role involved tuning and testing CM-350 radio transmitters and receivers using the CMA180 test set. This process ensured precise frequency alignment crucial for reliable real-time military aircraft communications.
EPROM Chips Programming – Enhanced Terminal Voice System (ETVS)
I programmed and reprogrammed EPROM chips for the ETVS, a critical communication system used in military air operations. This included embedded system diagnostics, multimeter testing, soldering, and detailed hardware integration.
Additional Contributions
- AirportDB Management System: Developed user guides for managing airport procedures, NOTAMs, and oversight reporting to streamline operations.
- Outlook Ribbon Setup Guide: Created instructional resources to optimize internal communication and task management efficiency for NIWC engineers.
Reflections & Impact
This internship provided unparalleled hands-on experience in critical military communication and safety systems. I enhanced my skills in hardware diagnostics, embedded systems, secure communications, and technical documentation. The opportunity reinforced my dedication to contributing to mission-driven, secure engineering solutions for defense operations.