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Nine years of interns reaching for the stars

Since 2014, innovative teams at Booz Allen have developed de-icing technology for unmanned aerial vehicles, drones that use machine intelligence to help warfighters, and high-tech navigation systems for people who are blind. They’ve created diagnostic tools to help communities fight opioid addiction and have combatted human trafficking, using technology that detects heartbeats in shipping containers. 

What’s more, all of the team members were still in college at the time, brought together for Booz Allen’s Summer Games Internship Program.

“We know good ideas can come from anyone, no matter their level of experience.”

- Tom Downs, who leads Booz Allen’s Talent Acquisition Pipeline Programs, including Summer Games

Highlights follow from this year’s winning project, Booz Allen’s groundbreaking paid internship program, and what both participants and the firm’s space business are taking away from the 2023 challenge.

Bringing Data and a Familiar Touch to Satellite Simulations

From Honolulu to Huntsville, 32 teams competed to win the fabled Challenge Cup in this year’s Summer Games. Team SteamSAT, the 2023 winner, worked from Booz Allen’s El Segundo, California, office, which focuses on augmented and virtual reality; cloud security; positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT); and the rapid prototyping of digital communications systems. The team of four interns was led by Booz Allen mentors Jesus Salas and Josh Callsen.  

MockSat, a mockup of a deployed satellite system, is one of these systems. Booz Allen’s team in El Segundo uses MockSat to develop prototypes, train staff, and conduct demos and assessments without putting critical assets at risk.

SteamSAT’s project makes the navigation of MockSat’s testbed more interactive.

“We wrote software in a configurable and modular way so the testbed will support commercially available consoles from the gaming world,” says Miya Reese, who’s studying computer science at California Polytechnic State University.

“This means that teams using MockSat for prototyping, training, and cybersecurity assessments will be able to use familiar, game pad-style controllers with haptic (touch-based) feedback and gyro motion control,” says Aakash Koduru, who’s studying applied mathematics and computer science at Swarthmore College.

“This technology also allows teams to gather data from multiple inputs, triggers, and sensors,” says Jesus Salas, a cyber threat specialist who led and mentored the El Segundo team.

Because the testbed features both hardware and software, Jesus explains, MockSat is a step up from digital twin solutions—technically realistic replications of objects, processes, or systems directly connected to their physical counterparts through data and information feeds.

Ten Weeks of Collaboration and Innovation

The Summer Games runs like a real-world startup accelerator. Over the course of 10 weeks, teams ideate, develop, and pitch a prototype solution to a panel of Booz Allen judges.

It’s an intensive, hands-on project from start to finish, and participants use techniques like design thinking, agile development, and rapid prototyping to bring their ideas to life.

“What makes the Summer Games so exciting for interns is that they get to contribute to real solutions for our clients,” says Tom. “Their ideas are welcomed with open arms, and many have led to real-world impact over the years. Everyone benefits from the program: the interns, our clients, Booz Allen as a business, and the people who these solutions help.”

The projects themselves are only one aspect of the Summer Games experience. Throughout the program, interns have access to training and mentorship opportunities, educational sessions, and networking events. They also have opportunities to give back through the firm’s community service projects and join Booz Allen’s Business Resource Groups (BRG) and other employee networks.

Learning, Connecting, and Making a Real-World Impact

Thousands of students apply to the Summer Games each year. Cross-functional collaboration is one reason why. On team SteamSAT, for example, the two computer science interns focused on software development. The other two, who are studying materials science and cyber intelligence, handled research, requirements gathering, analysis, and project management.

“We could focus on our strengths and learn from each other,” says Bailey Riddel-Peck, who’s studying intelligence and cyber operations at the University of Southern California. “It was a great opportunity to meet people from a wide variety of backgrounds and majors, along with mentors and subject matter experts from across Booz Allen.”

“It was exciting to see the project come to life from start to finish, then know that what we worked on will be put to use in real-world satellite and space simulations,” says Jeanelle Wu, who’s studying material science engineering at Ohio State University.

Booz Allen's leadership shares Jeanelle’s enthusiasm. “We’re thrilled to see the Challenge Cup trophy on display at our office every day,” says Jeffrey Johnson, program manager and one of the senior leaders of the El Segundo office. “It’s a great reminder of team SteamSAT’s hard work and their valuable contributions to MockSat and our aerospace business.”

“Many of Booz Allen’s biggest thinkers got their start in our Summer Games Internship Program—it’s a training ground where interns have the opportunity to become leaders,” adds Jeffrey.