U.S. Navy veteran Sierra Juliano has her heart set on working for the (NTSB), so she was thrilled to be one of four Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University students chosen to intern this summer at the federal agency.

“This internship has been a dream come true,” said Juliano, a senior pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Human Factors. “I have gained so much hands-on experience and have interacted with all the different offices within the NTSB to learn how each person contributes during an investigation.”

Juliano, who is from Montana, interned in the Air Carrier and Space Investigations Division at NTSB’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Four Embry‑Riddle students interned at the NTSB this summer, filling roles that are valuable to both the students and the organization, according to Robert Sumwalt, executive director of the university’s and former NTSB chairman. He said he was glad to have Embry‑Riddle interns when he was at the NTSB, even hiring one intern to work full-time in the Office of the Chairman.

“The NTSB benefitted from having these bright young minds, and hopefully, the students found the program to be a valuable learning experience, said Sumwalt. “Now that I’m at Embry‑Riddle, I’m very appreciative that NTSB continues to offer this internship opportunity to our students.”

The Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace Safety also provided a $5,000 stipend to support each NTSB intern.

“Without this stipend, one student remarked that she could not have taken advantage of this internship opportunity,” said Sumwalt.

Cross-Industry Exposure

This summer’s four NTSB interns, all from the , are studying a variety of majors, from  and to and .

For Matthew Chin, who is pursuing his , interning at the NTSB has shown him how the agency can use data to guide decision-making and strategic planning in making safety recommendations.

“I am passionate about blending my interests in data science and aviation safety,” said Chin, a U.S. Navy veteran from Miami who interned in the agency’s Office of Research and Engineering, Safety Research Division. “The internship at NTSB will help me think more critically.”

Natasha Mahadeo is a senior Aviation Maintenance Science major with a concentration in accident investigation and aviation safety. The Newark, New Jersey, native spent the summer working in the Air Carrier and Space Flight Investigations division at NTSB headquarters in Washington, D.C.

“With the NTSB being the most well-known and influential accident investigation agency in the country, it felt like the smartest place to intern and get to see the things I learned in school being used in real life,” said Mahadeo.

After gaining industry experience, she hopes to eventually work as an NTSB investigator.

“I've learned so many incredible things while I've been here — about leadership and the inner workings of investigations,” said Mahadeo. “This internship has shown me nearly every aspect of accident investigation.”

Unlike the other three interns, all of whom were based in Washington, D.C., Jacob Wells, a senior majoring in Uncrewed Aircraft Systems, interned at the NTSB’s Office of Aviation Safety - Western Pacific Region, located in the Seattle, Washington area.

“This was a great opportunity to observe the NTSB and, ultimately, it shifted my career priorities to a focus on aviation safety,” said Wells, who is from Crockett, Texas. “The weight that NTSB experience holds will help kickstart my career. The NTSB is the gold standard when discussing safety.”

Transformative Experience

Shyan Khalil, who was an NTSB intern last summer, knows how much of an impact an internship at the agency can have.

“I love the process of accident investigation: uncovering what happened, putting together pieces of a puzzle and offering solutions for a safer future,” said Khalil, who worked in the NTSB’s Occupational Safety and Health Division in Washington, D.C.

Khalil also served as the student moderator interviewing the Honorable Jennifer Homendy, chair of the NTSB, for Embry‑Riddle’s 2024 Presidential Speaker Series this past February.

A senior majoring in Aerospace and Occupational Safety, Khalil was able to conduct a wreckage examination during her NTSB internship and then apply the accident investigation skills and knowledge learned in the classroom to a real-world scenario.

“I also learned the importance of networking and how to effectively work as a team,” said Khalil, who is from Montville, New Jersey.

These are skills she has been able to use at her current internship in American Airlines’ flight safety division in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas.

“Working with the NTSB was always a long-term goal of mine, and I never expected to accomplish it so quickly,” said Khalil. “My NTSB internship showed me that your goals are never too far out of your reach.”

Learn more about Khalil’s internship experience and advice for incoming students.