INDIAN HEAD, Md. — The Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division (NSWC IHD) concluded its 2024 summer high school STEM internship, the Naval Energetics Technology Apprenticeship Program (NETAP), on July 26 at the Naval Support Facility Indian Head’s Aquatics Center, continuing its tradition of community outreach and educational development.
This three-week program involved 12 high school students divided into four teams, each constructing an underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV). Amanda Wilmot, NSWC IHD’s STEM Coordinator, highlighted the program’s grand finale—an underwater robotics competition where each team’s ROV navigated a series of obstacle courses, including a simulated underwater minefield-clearing mission.
The scenarios, set in the base swimming pool, are designed to mirror real-world challenges faced by the warfare center’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Department. “This program is an essential bridge between theoretical learning and practical application, preparing these students for real engineering challenges,” Wilmot stated.
NETAP was initiated in 2022 by Dr. Kerry Clark, the command’s Chief Technology Officer. A key component of Clark’s vision was to incorporate previous interns as peer mentors, providing continuity and peer support in the learning process. Angel Lwin, a participant in NETAP 2023 and a recent graduate from North Point High School, returned as a mentor this year. Lwin, who will be pursuing aerospace engineering at the Florida Institute of Technology, emphasized the program’s role in leadership development and practical engineering education.
Support from local educational institutions like Charles County Public Schools has been pivotal. Karena Bennett, a faculty volunteer from McDonough High School, remarked on the unique collaborative and problem-solving skills that the internship fosters. “It’s about more than just building robots; it’s about building scientists who can work as a team and tackle complex problems,” Bennett explained.
The program also benefited from alumni like Brendon Broughton, a 2024 graduate of St. Mary’s Ryken High School, who praised the depth of the engineering education provided by NETAP. Broughton, who is set to study engineering at the University of Alabama, noted the rarity and value of such comprehensive pre-college engineering programs.
As the 2024 session wrapped up, the sentiment among NSWC IHD leadership and participants was overwhelmingly positive. Dr. Clark expressed satisfaction with the program’s progress, stating, “We’re beginning to see the results of our efforts as former participants advance in their educational and professional journeys, returning to inspire and guide new students.”
This successful iteration of NETAP not only highlighted the ongoing commitment of NSWC IHD to STEM education but also reinforced the importance of hands-on learning experiences in preparing the next generation of scientists and engineers.
