After experiencing NSIN’s Capstone program and X-Force Fellowship, Rachel Johns discusses the impact these programs have had on her future.

X-Force Fellowship and NSIN Capstone alumna and SMART Scholar recipient, Rachel Johns, joins NSIN for a Q&A to discuss her time in the program and her experience working with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) in the summer of 2024.

Q&A

Name: Rachel Johns

Organization & Position: Image Analyst at National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)

Location: St. Louis, MO

Accomplishments: Awarded the U.S. Department of Defense’s Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship, which pays for tuition, provides a stipend, internship opportunities and employment after graduation and named as one of St. Louis Inno's 'Inno Under 25' Award Receipents.

NSIN: What led you down the path to explore working in defense innovation?

Johns: I was pursuing my degree in earth science with a focus in geospatial science at Washington University in St. Louis and I have always loved the idea of creative problem solving to help people. I feel like defense innovation is a natural fit for that.

I think what really started me down to defense innovation was in my sophomore year when I started getting serious and thinking about internships near me. I knew of NGA and my family members recommended I look into what was once called defense mapping. NGA promoted the SMART scholarship on their website and that was what I looked into initially.

I really enjoy tackling real world problems that have real impacts where the ways [you can engage in] problem solving aren’t limited. Ultimately, I would love to work in natural disaster management using remotely sensed data. I believe that the DoD mission of serving the people of our country aligns with that in a slightly different way than most people would imagine.

NSIN: How did you become involved with NSIN?

Johns: I was applying to the SMART scholarship the fall of my sophomore year of college. Mike Seper, Regional Engagement Principal, Missouri, teaches a course at Washington University in St. Louis, and was introduced to me through my professor who I was doing research for [as part of my work in the NSIN Capstone program]. Mike told me that the X-Force fellowship would be a good fit for me to introduce me to the DoD infrastructure.

NSIN: What was your experience as a Fellow like? What did you work on and what did you learn?

Johns: I worked on a team of four students. Our problem set was focused on creating a critical minerals and acquisition tool for policy makers and decision makers. I brought my experience in geoscience and GIS (geographic information system) to the table, and essentially created a very preliminary interactive, Excel-based product that helps policy makers determine where and how to gain access to desired critical minerals using USGS (United States Geological Survey) data that is publicly available. It was pitched to us by our project lead, and our work made a major impact on how the [Picatinny Arsenal] approaches problems of acquiring critical minerals.

We learned a lot about the mining process and determined what mines are producing which minerals, and how we may need to access and account for each step of the process.

NSIN: What role did X-Force play in your development as you prepared to enter the workforce?

Johns: I learned a lot of soft skills in the X-Force Fellowship – which has been critical to my success in my current internship with NGA – including understanding the government frameworks, collaborating effectively, navigating disagreements, and using open resources or data you are able to find on the internet. I also feel much more confident in my public speaking skills, after getting to present to those high up in the arsenal who saw me as an equal in our research.

The X-Force Fellowship is a great introduction and non-intimidating way to start working with the Department of Defense. X-Force did a great job making sure I was comfortable with and able to grasp the complex issues in the DoD.

NSIN: Who was your biggest mentor during the X-Force Fellowship? Tell me about a time they made a difference for you.

Johns: Absolutely. Jason Combs, the Rocky Mountain Regional Director, was a great mentor and struck a great balance between being hands on and allowing us to figure things out on our own. He also suggested and advocated for [our team] to have a trip out to South Dakota to visit active gold mines and be together. The trip was integral for our project because it took us to one of only a handful of mining schools in the US, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, where we met with experts on critical minerals. The trip also took us to sites where stibnite was present (the critical material we used as an example for our project) which is always present where there is gold. The ideas and conversations flowed so much better and allowed us to be incredibly productive in the completion of our project.

NSIN: What kind of work do you do at NGA? Do you feel that your experiences as a student and a fellow helped you acclimate to your new role?

Johns: I am an image analyst at NGA, and I feel fulfilled in my work and feel like I am making a meaningful contribution to the world. My experience as a student and fellow impacted my ability to do my role to prepare me for the specific writing style that was necessary and preparing and presenting my facts effectively.

NSIN: Can you explain how you got the job at the NGA? What helped you most during the process?

Johns: I knew NGA was local to St. Louis and once I found the SMART scholarship, I knew it would be a great fit. My professors and advisors were amazing and helped me with my letters of recommendation, and I used the student writing center to get feedback on my application. My biggest suggestion would be to use all the resources available to you.

NSIN: What would you tell someone who is interested in working in the defense industry?

Johns: I would say that the X-Force Fellowship is a great place to start because you put forward meaningful work in an environment that is very supportive and comfortable. I never felt like I wasn’t listened to, it wasn’t intimidating, and you are still doing work that is impactful. I would have felt much more intimidated going into my current internship if I didn’t have the X-Force Fellowship experience to help set myself up.

Apply to multiple opportunities and apply early so that you can find something that suits you best and that you are passionate about. Additionally, I have noticed that coding and data manipulation skills are very important to what is done in the world in general today. You don’t need to be an expert, but having familiarity with the different coding languages can help you stand out on your application.

About the Programs

The NSIN X-Force Fellowship is a summer fellowship program that provides undergraduate and graduate students and recent graduates a chance to serve their country by solving real-world national security problems in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).

The NSIN Capstone program is an opportunity for student technologists and entrepreneurs to serve their country and provide solutions to the DoD while solving real-world national security challenges via existing university capstone courses.

About National Security Innovation Network

NSIN is a program office in the U.S. Department of Defense, nested within the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). We are set up to collaborate with a wide variety of innovators to include universities, researchers, students, entrepreneurs and start-ups. We create opportunities for collaboration across communities and connect those that might not traditionally work in national security. Together, we help drive national security innovation and develop technologies that directly support the individuals responsible for protecting our country.

For more information or interview requests with Team NSIN, please contact us at [email protected].