South Dakota Mines Students First in Expanded Global Strike National Security Fellowship Program
Four South Dakota Mines students will spend the next year working with Ellsworth Air Force Base (EAFB), helping to shape the future of national defense after being selected for the Global Strike National Security Fellowship.
The year-long program introduces undergraduate and graduate students to the Department of War (DoW) and utilizes their knowledge in computer science, mathematics, mechanical engineering and other fields to work on real-world defense projects.
“Our goal is to help Air Force Global Strike Command, which includes the areas surrounding its bases. Seeing the Fellowship program reach beyond the command’s headquarters and add South Dakota Mines students is a major part of that puzzle,” said Kevin Nolten, Cyber Innovation Center (CIC) president. “Being able to give these students experience with unique, real-world challenges and expose them to careers in defense will only help Mines, Ellsworth AFB, Rapid City and South Dakota as a whole.”
Fellowship students include Brennan Berget, computer science major; Joel Calhoun, mechanical engineering major; Aaron Six, industrial engineering and engineering management major; and Owen Asbridge, mechanical engineering major. Aaron Grinager, an alumnus of Mines and an assistant professor of practice at the university, is the faculty mentor for the fellowship students.
“This experience will open a lot of doors for me, many of which I did not realize were even there before,” Berget said. “Collaborating with our airmen on innovative technology that is making a meaningful impact in national defense is something I can take pride in.”
The fellowship is facilitated by STRIKEWERX, the innovation hub of the Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) that connects defense leaders with industry, academic and government experts to solve complex challenges.
This is the first year the fellowship has accepted students outside Louisiana, the headquarters for STRIKEWERX.
“Being part of the first expansion is a meaningful milestone for South Dakota Mines and a strong vote of confidence from EAFB,” said Ann Brentlinger, director of industry, government and community engagement at Mines. “It reflects their recognition that our students bring the curiosity, technical expertise and problem-solving mindset needed to support critical mission challenges.”
Col. Erick Lord, the commander of the 28th Bomb Wing at EAFB, introduced the STRIKEWERX partnership to bring innovation to base operations. Lord had previously been the deputy commander of the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana.
“It was a natural fit, as Lorie Vega, deputy commander for the 28th Mission Support Group at EAFB, has spent years championing innovation initiatives on the base while actively engaging with Mines students through senior design and National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) projects,” Brentlinger said.
The university has been working closely with STRIKEWERX over the past several months to launch the opportunity, ensuring it delivers real value for both the students and the Air Force.
“For our students, the experience goes well beyond a typical internship,” Brentlinger said, “They gain hands-on, real-world experience supporting national defense, earn a steady paycheck during the academic year to help offset their educational costs and receive a security clearance, which is an uncommon and highly valuable credential that will set them apart as they enter the workforce.”
As the faculty mentor, Grinager will be working with the students to establish a project plan, define customer needs and corresponding project requirements, and provide guidance on building and testing solutions.
Grinager echoed Brentlinger, noting that the partnership will give students a distinct edge after graduation, offering hands-on experience with DoW contracting and operations, opportunities to collaborate with service members and a meaningful boost to the region’s workforce development.
“As Ellsworth grows and the footprint for contractors such as Northrop Grumman is established, having a pipeline that gets Mines students in the door will provide a great opportunity for students wishing to stay in the Black Hills and pursue cutting-edge technology careers,” Grinager said.
For Berget, the fellowship is as much about responsibility as it is opportunity. He said the experience challenges him to represent Mines at the highest level while contributing meaningful work alongside airmen and fellow students. Berget is excited to apply what he has learned in the classroom to real-world challenges that carry real stakes.
“The work I will be doing has real impact and meaning, which also means that it has real stakes, and I have to be more diligent than ever and hone my craft to produce quality work that I am willing to stand behind,” he said.