WC Missouri News

High school students, graduates, college students, and Air Force ROTC members expanded their STEM studies through summer internships with the 509th Maintenance Group's research and engineering shop at Whiteman Air Force Base.

The interns collaborated in specialized teams to assist the 509th MXG RE in developing tools and machinery for specific mission needs while gaining insights into active-duty military life.

“I’ve learned a lot in terms of the stuff we’ve done while interning in the STEM field,” said U.S. Air Force Cadet Varun Potlury. “It’s definitely been an enlightening experience I’d say.”

1st Lt. Ian Roberts, 509th MXG RE software engineer, explained that interns were divided into three groups based on their skills and fields of study, each working on different projects for the base.

“We all have our main projects that we work on, but some days you are just kind of waiting on prints,” said Brayden Kulpa, a Warrensburg High School student. “So sometimes you’ll have projects that are offered to us and then we’ll just jump on whatever opportunity they give us.”

Projects included reverse-engineering a fuel pump for the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, enhancing technical data collection for MXG, and developing tools for 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chiefs to aid in towing aircraft.

“I highly recommended it to pretty much anyone who’s old enough to do it,” said Drew Fundaburg, a Warrensburg High School student. “It’s beneficial to you and from what I’ve seen, it’s beneficial to the people around here.”

Interns also participated in various programs and activities at Whiteman AFB.

“Being able to be a part of the STEM Fest was stressful, but it was also cool to be able to actually help and see that so many people were interested,” said Rochelle Elkes, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology student.

As the school year begins and the MXG RE program concludes, interns can leverage their new skills and knowledge for future careers in STEM or potentially within the Air Force.