An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

News & Stories
News | Jan. 27, 2025

Stewarding the Profession

By Capt. Ryan MacCormack Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency Public Affairs

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has recently selected six student interns to participate in laboratory training through the Naval Research Enterprise Internship Program.

The selectees include four graduate students from the University of Nevada, Texas State-San Marcos, Michigan State University, and the University of West Florida and two undergraduates from Western Carolina University and Middle Tennessee State University.

The six interns were selected from a highly competitive field of approximately 135 applicants. Half of these students will be placed with the DPAA lab located at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, and another half will be placed with the DPAA lab at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.

“In 2023, staff from the Naval Research Enterprise Internship Program reached out to the DPAA Scientific Analysis Directorate to inquire if DPAA would be interested in joining the program as a host laboratory,” said Dr. Laurel Freas, internship program manager. “Since then, the lab intern coordinators at the Hawaii and Nebraska labs have been working to socialize the program with DPAA leadership, coordinating with stake-holding directorates, and integrating the DPAA lab into the Naval Research Enterprise Internship Program.”

The Naval Research Enterprise Internship Program is a paid internship through the Office of Naval Research that places college level students in Department of Defense laboratories. There are sixty such laboratories participating in the program, located across the United States. The program runs 10 weeks, starting in summer and each student will receive a biweekly stipend from the Navy during their studies.

“Interns selected to take part in this course of study were thoroughly reviewed by the lab intern coordinators and senior laboratory management and were evaluated based on their academic merit, previous experience in other forensic anthropology laboratories at their home universities, character references, and the potential to make significant contributions to the DPAA mission during their internship,” said Freas.

The Naval Research Enterprise Internship Program provides these students at the undergraduate and graduate level in STEM fields the opportunity to learn about defense research and technology while receiving instruction from scientists who are experts in their fields – as well as to contribute to the DPAA’s mandate.

“The DPAA internship programs play a vital role in advancing this mission,” said John Figuerres, DPAA acting deputy director of operations. “By providing hands-on experience to students from universities across the country, the program nurtures the next generation of leaders in fields such as forensic science, anthropology, and archaeology. These internships offer students the chance to contribute meaningfully to real-world casework, while DPAA benefits from their fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and enthusiasm for public service.”

Internships are a key method by which the DPAA builds partnerships with academia in advancing its capabilities.

“This first cohort of interns have been selected by [Scientific Analysis Directorate] for internships in the Lab, these internship opportunities ultimately will be available to any DPAA directorate engaged in STEM activities with a need or desire for intern support,” said Freas. “As the Lab has learned from years of operating a successful volunteer internship program, student interns can be an important force multiplier supporting core Agency functions, research and innovation, and other Agency needs.”

Figuerres also noted that “Through this program, DPAA ensures the continuity of its mission by inspiring and developing talented individuals who are deeply committed to bringing home those who served our nation with honor.”

News Releases Archives

Public Affairs Contact Information


Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency PAO
Washington, D.C.
2300 Defense Pentagon
Attn: Outreach and Communications
Washington, D.C. 20301-2300
Email: dpaa.ncr.oc.mbx.public-affairs@mail.mil