Washington, D.C. — Seven of the top-performing interns from the VICEROY MAVEN internship program were honored on Monday, August 4th, 2025, at the Pentagon by senior Department of Defense (DoD) leaders for their significant contributions to national security research and operations in cyber and the electromagnetic spectrum.
The event featured remarks by senior leaders, including:
- The Honorable Emil Michael, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (USD(R&E))
- Mr. Mark Gorak, Director of the Cyber Academic Engagement Office (CAEO) and Principal Director for DoD CIO’s Resources & Analysis
- Dr. Kevin Rudd, Principal Director for Integrated Sensing and Cyber (IS&C)
- Mr. Chester Maciag, VICEROY National Director and Director for Cyber-Spectrum Academic Engagement (CSAEO)
These standout interns, selected from across VICEROY’s network of participating academic institutions, spent their summer embedded at premier military research labs and host sites across the country, including USINDOPACOM, NIWC Pacific, and the Air Force Research Laboratory. There, they applied their skills in real-world settings, supporting ongoing operations, contributing to mission-relevant research, and gaining invaluable insight into the Department’s cyber and spectrum priorities.
“I am proud to stand before a cohort of interns who have demonstrated both the technical acumen we seek in the Department of Defense and the drive to serve something greater than themselves,” said HON Michael. “We need people who understand the operational challenges the Department faces, who can translate research into action, and who are prepared to make an impact from Day One. That’s where VICEROY, and each of you, comes in.” Following his remarks each intern was presented with a VICEROY challenge coin by HON Michael, a symbolic gesture of appreciation and recognition of excellence in service of the national defense mission.
“VICEROY internships are about more than participation, they are about making an impact,” said Mr. Maciag. “Our VICEROY MAVEN interns tackled operational challenges head-on, gained firsthand insight into the DoD mission, and represent our commitment to delivering a combat-capable, mission-ready workforce ready to meet our national security demands. They exemplify what VICEROY is all about.”
As a merit-based initiative within USD(R&E), VICEROY is accelerating workforce readiness by equipping students at participating VICEROY institutions with foundational skills, experiential learning, and direct operational application. 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. Partnerships with academic institutions, DoD internship host sites, organizations like The Pacific Intelligence Initiative (P3I), the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), and AFRL-RI, continue to support VICEROY’s mission to bridge the gap between research and readiness, embedding students and interns into the Department’s R&D enterprise and strengthening the nation’s defense posture through people.
In a supplement response to the engagement, Doug Beck, Director of DIU, expressed, “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.”
Finally, in his parting words to the interns, Mr. Gorak stressed, “Every day you spent at VICEROY, the program and faculty have been building your competitive advantage as part of their curriculum. You now have hands-on experience in real DoD cyber operations that most candidates simply cannot match. Don’t view the end of [this internship] as the end, view it as your launching point into a cyber career that can shape national security for decades to come.”
To our new and current VICEROY Scholars:
Apply for future MAVEN or ENVOY internships to gain real-world DoD experience, contribute directly to national security, and prepare to lead in cyber-spectrum careers across government and critical industry. Contact VICEROY at VICEROY@griffissinstitute.org for more information.
To our stakeholders and academic collaborators:
Thank you for your continued support. Your continued commitment to this initiative enables us to shape the next generation of cyber leaders and innovators.
Learn more about the VICEROY initiative and internship opportunities at:
