OFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING

OFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING

VICEROY MAVEN Interns Recognized by DoD Leadership at the Pentagon

August 4, 2025

VICEROY MAVEN Interns Recognized by DoD Leadership at the Pentagon

August 4, 2025

Washington, D.C. — The Department of Defense (DoD) Monday, August 4th, 2025, honored seven exceptional student interns from the VICEROY MAVEN internship program during an engagement held at the Pentagon. The event celebrated the students’ contributions to national security through operational support, research, and mission-driven learning at DoD host sites across the country.

Hosted by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (USD(R&E)), the engagement featured remarks by Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, HON Emil Michael, Director of the Cyber Academic Engagement Office (CAEO) and Principal Director for DoD CIO's Resources & Analysis, Mr. Mark Gorak, Principal Director for Integrated Sensing and Cyber, Dr. Kevin Rudd, and VICEROY National Director and Director for Cyber-Spectrum Academic Engagement, Mr. Chester Maciag.

VICEROY is a merit-based initiative aligned with Secretary Hegseth’s priorities to restore the warrior ethos, rebuild the military, and reestablish deterrence. It delivers technically skilled, mission-ready leaders equipped to address the Department’s most pressing cyber and electromagnetic spectrum needs. As the DoD looks to strengthen engagement with emerging industry leaders and non-traditional partners, initiatives like VICEROY play a vital role in cultivating talent who understand the operational context and can bridge the divide between innovation and implementation.

“The Department of Defense values bold thinkers. We need people who aren’t afraid to take risks, who move quickly, and who adapt to complexity. These characteristics outline what is needed to support the Warfighter,” said HON Michael. “This next generation of researchers and operators presents a strategic opportunity for the Department and our industry partners. Their fresh perspectives on navigating a digital world and ability to quickly adopt and implement ever-evolving technology provide us an advantage in our mission to modernize our forces.”

The VICEROY MAVEN internship program places students into real-world environments where they support critical research and operations. This year’s interns provided valuable contributions at host sites, including the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, NIWC Pacific, and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).

VICEROY MAVEN Interns Recognized by DoD Leadership at the Pentagon

“These students exemplify VICEROY’s commitment to producing mission-capable talent prepared to meet the Department’s evolving needs,” said Mr. Gorak. “They are not only learning—they are applying their skills in direct support of the Warfighter. This is how we close the gap between academic preparation and operational readiness.”

Launching the initiative in collaboration with the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate (AFRL-RI), VICEROY continues to experience the benefit of AFRL-RI’s pioneering leadership in cyber education, leveraging resources and expertise unique to their organization. Through strategic partnerships with academic institutions, DoD internship host sites, organizations like The Pacific Intelligence Initiative (P3I), the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), and AFRL-RI, VICEROY continues to bridge the gap between research and readiness—embedding interns into the Department’s R&D enterprise and strengthening the nation’s defense posture through people.

In response to the engagement, Doug Beck, Director of DIU, added, “Harnessing the American spirit and building the pipeline of skilled, dual-fluency talent with authentic experience and expertise in both the tech sector and national security is a critical differentiator for the United States. DIU is proud to support the VICEROY program alongside our Defense Department teammates, helping the Department access, grow, train, and retain the best and brightest, and building our defense tech ecosystem so we can meet the strategic imperatives facing the United States, now and in the future.”

As a symbol of gratitude for their service to national security and as recognition for being selected among the top VICEROY MAVEN performers, HON Michael presented each intern with a VICEROY challenge coin.

“I am proud to recognize our future cyber leaders who have chosen to dedicate their talents to defending our nation in the digital domain — a domain that grows more critical and more contested every single day,” said Mr. Maciag. “I can tell you that what you represent—and what you're capable of—is exactly what the Department needs to address one of our most pressing challenges.”

This engagement reflects USD(R&E)’s continued efforts to accelerate technological modernization and expand access to operationally aware, high-caliber talent from across the country. By embedding students into the Department’s research and development enterprise, VICEROY reinforces the importance of urgency, real-world experience, and partnership in building the future force.