Biosystems engineering student Akira Jones is in the midst of a project-based summer internship at the Army Geospatial Center in Alexandria, Virginia. Using satellite and geospatial data, she helps predict snowmelt throughout Alaska.

"Using Google Earth Engine's Sentinel-1 SAR dataset, I comb through each desired location and gather backscatter values at different polarizations with the end goal of visualizing how these values change over time with graphs," said Jones, a senior. "This data can improve hydrological forecasting efforts; people can have a better understanding of when these areas will have access to water, which would further aid in any water-related decision-making processes. We can also use these results to see how these locations are affected by climate change."

Jones earned her internship with the U.S. Army by participating in the University of Arizona’s Defense Civilian Training Corps program. The UA is one of four universities chosen last summer to host the program, also known as DCTC, in partnership with the U.S.  Department of Defense. The ROTC-like program is designed to prepare college students for civilian careers in the Department of Defense acquisition workforce, which includes developing, acquiring, implementing and sustaining new systems, technologies, supplies and services to support national defense.

The UA was chosen alongside Purdue University, Virginia Tech, and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University to host the pilot program. In addition to the project-based summer internships, DCTC provides participating students with full tuition, fees reimbursement, a $2,000 monthly stipend and employment with the Department of Defense upon graduation. 

Larry Head, professor of systems and industrial engineering and principal investigator of the DCTC pilot program at Arizona, said Jones and the rest of the inaugural DCTC cohort are an inspiring group of students entirely responsible for their own successes due to their "propensity for service, innovation, leadership and diversity of disciplines."

Jones and 18 other members of UA program will share their stories at the DCTC Scholar Showcase, which takes place July 30-31 at The National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The showcase will bring together DCTC scholars from all four pilot universities, as well as members of school leadership, Department of Defense partners and other guests. The students will present results from their summer internship projects while Department of Defense partners and other guests will share insights into their organizations and discuss employment opportunities.

In addition to meeting the rest of her own cohort, Jones will travel to D.C. alongside almost two dozen members of the UA's recently recruited Cohort '26, including her younger sister, Alana Jones. 

Alana studies business management in the Eller College of Management. She was introduced to the DCTC program by her older sister and applied after learning that students from a variety of academic backgrounds are eligible to participate in the multidisciplinary program.