Alaska Aerospace Corporation Announces 2015 Interns

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (June 1, 2015) – Alaska Aerospace Corporation (AAC) welcomes two new engineering interns for the summer of 2015, Jason Sebring and Rocky Powers, both Mechanical Engineering majors attending the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. They were selected from a competitive field of highly qualified candidates.

Jason served as an airborne infantryman in the U.S. Army for five years at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER). He left active service in 2011 to pursue his educational goals. Jason is currently a member of the Alaska National Guard, UAF Aeronautical Club and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Rocky Powers is a U.S. Air Force veteran with seven years of experience as an avionics specialist on numerous aerial platforms. He separated from the military in 2012 to pursue his engineering degree in Alaska. He is president of the UAF Aeronautical Club and is currently working on the research and development of a small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle for an upcoming international competition.

During their internships, Jason and Rocky will be learning about the space industry and spaceport operations, with exposure to orbital mechanics, mission planning, and aerospace business operations. AAC has hosted 24 interns since 2004 as part of the corporate charter to support the education of Alaskan students in aerospace.

“We are excited to help build the next generation of rocket scientists in Alaska who’s enthusiasm will continue to diversify our economy and bring new high-tech careers to our great state,” Craig Campbell, President and CEO of AAC, said.

Jason and Rocky are both sponsored by the Alaska Space Grant Program, which supports a broad range of programs to enhance teaching, research, and educational outreach within aerospace and earth science, and other NASA related STEM disciplines throughout Alaska. The Alaska Space Grant Program (ASGP) was established at the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 1991 by NASA’s National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program.

“Alaska Space Grant Program is dedicated to growing aerospace in Alaska by providing interdisciplinary engineering and science students with hands-on experience in all aspects of space systems engineering through a design, build, launch paradigm applied to balloon and rocket payloads and small satellites. Providing student internships through our partnership with Alaska Aerospace Corporation supports the professional development of Alaska’s future aerospace workforce. Students who have participated in the AAC internships are highly sought after when they graduate!” Denise Thorsen, Director of the ASGP, said.

AAC has hosted seven ASGP interns since 2010.

AAC is a state-owned corporation established to develop a high-technology aerospace industry in the state. AAC owns and operates the Pacific Spaceport Complex-Alaska (PSCA) and is the worldwide distributor for RapidEye multispectral imagery of Alaska. Its corporate offices are in Anchorage, Alaska.