Happy National Intern Day! Meet our interns:

Olivia Garcia

Olivia Garcia is Airbus U.S. Space & Defense’s Space Exploration Intern II this summer and works in the Houston, Texas, office. She will begin her junior year at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the fall, studying aerospace engineering.

What Olivia has enjoyed most about her internship is Airbus’ culture of openness and support. She has found that people are invested in her growth and committed to ensuring she has the best internship experience possible. “From day one, the team made me feel welcome and supported,” she said.

A highlight of Olivia’s internship was visiting NASA’s Johnson Space Center to support ESA scientists with astronaut physiological testing. “It was an incredible experience to learn about the effects of spaceflight on the human body and speak with astronauts about their time in space,” she said. “Another highlight is that when Starlab launches, there may be an aspect I designed in space—which would be a dream come true.”

By the end of the summer, Olivia hopes to leave with stronger technical skills and a clearer understanding of how complex aerospace projects come together.

Kayla Rummell

Kayla Rummell is Airbus U.S. Space & Defense’s Industrial Engineering (IE) Intern this summer and works in the Merritt Island, Fla., facility. She will begin her senior year at the University of Florida in the fall, studying industrial and systems engineering.

Kayla wanted to intern at Airbus U.S. to gain real-world experience in manufacturing. “The company’s mass production of small satellites especially excited me,” she said. “That scale of production is almost unheard of in the aerospace industry, and I wanted to see how they made that mission possible.”

The highlight of Kayla’s internship has been seeing satellites come to life on the factory floor. “I’ve been able to see how concepts I’ve learned in the classroom apply to the industry,” she said. “Plus, everyone here is happy to help and answer my questions, which has helped me learn even more.”

By the end of the summer, Kayla hopes to gain experience and perspective on what it’s like for an IE to work in manufacturing and learn how to apply lean six sigma principles to minimize waste.

Eleanor Lavin

Eleanor Lavin is Airbus U.S. Space & Defense’s Marketing & Communications Intern in the Arlington, Va., office. She recently graduated from Clemson University, studying marketing, and will attend King’s College London in the fall to pursue a master’s in international marketing.

Eleanor has enjoyed being on the Marketing & Communications team for over a year, where she’s focused on pioneering the “Airbus U.S. Space & Defense Ground Crew” employee and division spotlight initiative and currently manages the company’s social media. “I’ve grown so much as an individual and professional during the past year at Airbus U.S.,” she said. “My team is amazing and has helped me feel confident as I enter the marketing industry.”

The highlight of Eleanor’s internship has been getting to know a wide range of employees and teams through writing the employee spotlight features. “I’ve learned many lessons and heard great career advice through writing the spotlights,” she said. “Every employee I spotlight inspires me in a new way.”

By the end of the summer, Eleanor hopes to finish up fun social media projects she’s been working on and spotlight as many more talented employees as possible.

Brady Summers

Brady Summers is Airbus U.S. Space & Defense’s Avionic Engineering Intern in the Mobile, Ala., office. In the fall, he will enter his fifth year at Oklahoma State University, studying computer and electrical engineering.

Brady returned for another summer with Airbus U.S. because of how much he grew during last year’s internship. “I learned so much during my time here last summer, and I knew I wanted to learn even more this summer,” he said.

He especially enjoys being part of the intern team and competing in weekly challenges and collaborations with his peers. “Getting to know and laugh with the other interns is always fun, especially during our challenges.”

By the end of the summer, Brady hopes to gain even more aerospace experience to carry into his future career.

Peter Fischer

Peter Fischer is Airbus U.S. Space & Defense’s Industrial Engineering Intern in the Merritt Island, Fl, facility. He will begin his senior year at the University of Central Florida in the fall, studying industrial engineering.

Peter wanted to intern at Airbus U.S. because of his interest in high-volume satellite manufacturing. “I wanted to help bring satellite manufacturing capabilities to Florida, since the state has a much stronger presence in rocket manufacturing,” he said.

The highlight of Peter’s internship has been performing observations on the floor and learning about satellite production processes. “I’ve been able to speak with technicians who build hardware daily, hear about their challenges, and help resolve them.”

By the end of the summer, Peter hopes to further his knowledge of manufacturing improvements and contribute to impactful projects.

Brooke Stafira

Brooke Stafira is Airbus U.S. Space & Defense’s Accounting Intern in the Arlington, Va., office. She will begin her senior year at James Madison University in the fall, studying accounting and computer information systems.

Brooke was drawn to Airbus U.S. because of her long-standing fascination with aviation. “I’ve always thought the products Airbus manufactures are impressive,” she said. “I also admire how Airbus supports our U.S. military.”

What Brooke has enjoyed most is learning about the various specialties within the accounting department. “I’ve had the chance to shadow my coworkers and get a full picture of the day-to-day across the team,” she said.

The highlight of her internship has been connecting with fellow interns. “We’ve participated in a number of great intern events that help us bond across the office and virtually with the interns at other sites,” she said.

By the end of the summer, Brooke hopes to expand her professional network and gain more well-rounded accounting experience.

Emily Tan

Emily Tan is Airbus U.S. Space & Defense’s Power and Propulsion Engineering Intern in the Merritt Island, Fla., facility. She will begin her junior year at the University of California, Berkeley, in the fall, studying aerospace engineering.

Emily became interested in Airbus U.S. after hearing a presentation about the Arrow150 line from Armen Askijian, the Chief Technology Officer and Head of Engineering at Airbus U.S. Space & Defense. “I was excited to learn more about satellite engineering and production after that event,” she said. “And working on the Space Coast has always been a dream.”

What Emily has enjoyed most during her internship is the chance to explore different types of engineering. “My team encourages me to reach out where I’m curious,” she said. “That’s allowed me to join multiple projects I wouldn’t have otherwise been exposed to.”

By the end of the summer, Emily hopes to gain clarity on her future field of study and hands-on experience she can’t get in the classroom.

Nolan Quinn

Nolan Quinn is Airbus U.S. Space & Defense’s Software Engineering Intern in the Merritt Island, Fla., facility. He will begin his senior year at the University of Central Florida in the fall, studying computer science and intelligent robotic systems.

Nolan wanted to intern at Airbus U.S. after researching the company’s satellite work in Florida. “I could tell from how my interviewers spoke about the company that this would be a great experience and a strong first step toward achieving my dream job,” he said.

Nolan has most enjoyed getting to know the other Airbus U.S. employees and interns during his internship. “Everyone here is so helpful and happy to answer my questions,” he said. “Working on such an interesting project with a great team has made my internship a great experience.”

By the end of the summer, Nolan hopes to ask many more questions and continue learning more about his colleagues’ roles, products, and processes.

Alexandria Rhoads

Alex Rhoads is Airbus U.S. Space & Defense’s Space Business Operations Intern in the Merritt Island, Fla., facility. She will begin her senior year at Pennsylvania State University in the fall, studying aerospace engineering, information systems technology, and women’s studies.

Alex was matched with her internship through the Brooke Owens Fellowship, a program that connects exceptional women in aerospace with industry internships.

What Alex has enjoyed most about her internship is the supportive and welcoming office culture. “The people here have been so kind to all the interns,” she said. “The sense of community is unlike any workplace I’ve ever seen.”

The highlight of her internship has been learning about both engineering and management functions. “This role has provided a fantastic introduction to the satellite industry, which aligns perfectly with my broader career goals.”

By the end of the summer, Alex hopes to absorb as much as possible. “No matter what I’m working on, my goal is to come away with a broader perspective and deeper knowledge.”

Asaiah Gifford

Asaiah Gifford is Airbus U.S. Space & Defense’s Systems Engineering Intern in the Merritt Island, Fla., facility. She will begin her senior year at the University of Colorado Boulder this fall, studying mechanical engineering.

Asaiah was matched with Airbus U.S. through the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship. This program offers extraordinary Black students their first aerospace internship, mentorship, and a cohort of peers pursuing similar careers.

“I’ve always been interested in aerospace but never had a chance to intern in the field,” she said. “With all the aerospace technologies developed here, I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction.”

The highlight of Asaiah’s internship has been learning something new every day. “I learn the most when collaborating with systems engineers and colleagues from other teams,” she said.

By the end of the summer, Asaiah hopes to gain firsthand insight into all the skill sets that contribute to success across Airbus U.S.’ six business lines. “It takes people with diverse educational, professional, and cultural backgrounds to do what Airbus U.S. does,” she said. “I’m excited to learn from as many of them as possible.”

Antoine Dijon

Antoine Dijon is Airbus U.S. Space & Defense’s Quality Engineering Intern this summer and works in the Merritt Island, Fla., facility. He will enter the final year of his master’s in mechanical engineering, at the University of Central Florida, with a track in Guidance, Control, and Dynamics.

Antoine has found that Airbus U.S.’ collaborative and welcoming environment has made his internship both educational and inspiring. “I’ve greatly enjoyed the people here and the opportunity to work on real-world projects with a tangible impact,” he said. He supports multiple teams, including quality, industrial, and mechanical engineering.

By the end of the summer, Antoine hopes to complete more hands-on work to deepen his understanding of the aerospace industry. “Interning here has been the perfect opportunity to turn my passion for space into a purpose.”

Brandon Choos

Brandon Choos is Airbus U.S. Space & Defense’s Space Business Operations Intern in the Arlington, Va., office. He will begin his senior year at Yale University in the fall, studying mechanical engineering and materials science.

Brandon was drawn to Airbus U.S. to gain exposure to the aerospace industry and understand its operations. “I’ve enjoyed learning about defense contracting and the scale of space infrastructure,” he said.

The highlight of Brandon’s summer has been working on a business analysis project—researching Department of Defense and NASA programs and comparing competitors to Airbus U.S. “It’s been interesting to see how Airbus fits into its niche,” he said.

By the end of the summer, Brandon hopes to understand better what it’s like to work in the private sector and within the aerospace industry.

Madison Drees

Madison Drees is Airbus U.S. Space & Defense’s Contracts Intern in the Arlington, Va., office. She recently graduated from Radford University, studying criminal justice, and will attend William & Mary Law School this fall.

Madison wanted to intern at Airbus U.S. to gain contracts experience before law school. “My father worked in the aerospace industry, so I grew up hearing about it,” she said. “When I saw this internship opportunity, I knew I couldn’t say no.”

Madison has most enjoyed connecting with new people and learning new skills early on. She especially enjoyed getting to know her fellow interns. “I loved attending the DC Spaceball 2025 event at Nationals Park with the other Arlington office interns,” she said. “We had fun going together and also networked with others in the space industry.”

By the end of the summer, Madison hopes to learn more from her colleagues to help her prepare for law school.

Maxwell Skelton

Maxwell Skelton is Airbus U.S. Space & Defense’s Supply Chain Intern in the Arlington, Va., office. He will begin his senior year at the University of Houston in the fall, studying supply chain & logistics technology, data science, and business administration.

Maxwell chose Airbus U.S. to pursue his goal of working in the aerospace and defense industry. “Airbus is a global leader, and I wanted to surround myself with the best of the best,” he said.

What surprised Maxwell most was how open the culture is. “You don’t have to be afraid to ask questions here,” he said. “There are systems in place to support and recognize interns and employees.”

The highlight of Maxwell’s internship was also attending the DC Spaceball 2025 event. “I connected with so many interns and professionals in the industry,” he said.

By the end of the summer, Maxwell hopes to build more meaningful relationships with other employees. “There are so many brilliant people here, and I’ve learned a lot from each of them.”

Mia Canose

Mia Canose is Airbus U.S. Space & Defense’s Accounting Intern in the Merritt Island, Fla., facility. She will begin her junior year at the University of Central Florida in the fall, studying finance.

Mia wanted to intern at Airbus U.S. to pivot from the traditional banking path and follow her passion. “I’ve been interested in space and aerospace for as long as I can remember, so applying my finance skills in an industry I love was a no-brainer,” she said.

Mia has most enjoyed getting to know various employees in the Merritt Island facility. “I’ve made so many connections, inside and outside the finance department,” she said.

The highlight of her internship has been witnessing rocket launches from the office. “It’s surreal to watch a launch from the window and feel the whole building shake,” she said.

By the end of the summer, Mia hopes to gain real-world finance experience that will help guide her career path. “It’s hard to know if you chose the right major,” she said. “I hope I finish this internship confident that finance is right for me.”

Alisa Webb

Alisa Webb is Airbus U.S. Space & Defense’s Mechanical Engineering Intern in the Merritt Island, Fla., facility. She recently finished her master’s in aeronautics and astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is currently pursuing her PhD.

Alisa joined Airbus U.S. to gain hands-on, fast-paced experience in satellite development. “My internship has already delivered what I was hoping for,” she said. “I’m working on various projects—from satellite bus modeling and component design to launching a material characterization test campaign.”

What Alisa has enjoyed most is the collaborative and dynamic work environment. “It’s helped me experience so many facets of satellite development,” she said. “I’ve been able to interact with multiple teams and participate in procedures involving the actual satellite buses.”

By the end of the summer, Alisa hopes to strengthen her knowledge of industry best practices and small satellite design. “I want to carry these skills with me and continue developing them as I grow in my career.”