Tag: Students/Recent Grads
From wilderness guide to environmental specialist: How CEMML’s early-career program helped one intern find her path
After early job experiences as a wilderness guide and ski instructor, Ellery McCaw came into CEMML’s Early-Career Development Program expecting just a part-time internship. What she found was a platform to gain career insights and build on technical skills. She left the program confident that the critical administrative and procedural skills she acquired will help her advance her career ambitions.
March 13, 2026
Community partnerships drive conservation success at Bellows Air Force Station
For Emma Beard, a CEMML natural resource specialist based at Bellows Air Force Station in Hawai’i, the work is all about sustainability – ecologically, culturally, and operationally. To achieve that, it takes a whole community. Beard regularly brings together service members, educators, community leaders and volunteers all in the name of an island-wide conservation effort.
February 12, 2026
From journalist to archaeologist: My journey as a cultural resources technician
After a seven-year career in journalism, Lucas Chapman was looking for a change. He completed a master’s degree in archaeology and was looking for a way to gain practical experience in his new career path. After coming across CEMML’s Early-Career Development Program, he found just the opportunity he was looking for.
February 5, 2026
From “shovel bum” to experienced archaeologist: A CEMML intern’s journey
For Michael D’Ottavio, the CEMML Early-Career Development Program gave him the perfect opportunity to deepen his interest in American military history. Through his job as a cultural resources technician on an Air Force base, he gained useful skills and hands-on experience. Now, he’s excited to continue his storytelling journey in archaeology.
September 24, 2025
From Myanmar to Florida: A global journey to a natural resources career
Originally from Myanmar, Soe Min Thu has long had an interest in the preservation of natural spaces. His pursuit of a career in natural resources management led him to CEMML’s Early-career Development Program and an internship as a vegetation technician at Florida’s Avon Park Air Force Range. That experience evolved into a permanent position with CEMML as part of Avon Park’s botany team.
August 6, 2025
Unearthing potential: Starting a career in archaeology with CEMML
For recent college graduate Harrison Wehmann, the detailed detective work of archaeology is exactly what he wants to be doing. After earning his bachelor’s degree with a double major in archaeology and history, and a master’s in underwater archaeology, he’s found the perfect opportunity through CEMML’s Early-career Development Program. Now, he’s building a career chasing history at Joint Base Langley-Eustis—and helping a military installation preserve its past.
July 6, 2025
History in her hands: CEMML intern’s interests piqued at Avon Park Air Force Range
As a CEMML intern, Ellie Azulay focuses on documenting historic turpentine industry sites from the early 20th century on what’s now Avon Park Air Force Range. A recent graduate from Pennsylvania’s Bryn Mawr College with a degree in political science, Ellie’s getting hands-on experience in public history, while learning from experts in her field.
June 16, 2025
Nothing but flowers: On an Air Force base, CEMML helps create pollinator habitat
As a participant in CEMML’s Early-Career Development Program, Rebecca Morse is supporting pollinators and the military mission at Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas. Morse and her counterparts at the installation planted native wildflowers and grasses in a new pollinator garden they created on land once occupied by military housing and a golf course. Work on the garden has also involved local families as well as airmen from the installation.
May 6, 2025
CEMML intern wins 2024 Great Plains CESU Award
Levin Brandt, an intern with CEMML’s Early-career Development Program, was presented with the annual Great Plains CESU Graduate Student Award for his outstanding work supporting ecosystems on Air Force installations in Nebraska, South Dakota, Colorado, and North Dakota. Mr. Brandt is a graduate student in Biology at the University of North Dakota.
November 8, 2024
Spreading the love of monarchs: CEMML intern works with Midwestern pollinators
As part of his CEMML internship, Alexx Uecker’s work for the Midwest Natural Resources Program of the Air Force Civil Engineer Center gave him the opportunity to study bats and support important pollinators like the monarch butterfly. During his six-month experience, Uecker supported monitoring and survey efforts at Air Force bases across the Midwest.
November 29, 2023
A career-changing student finds success through CEMML
With the help of CEMML’s Early-career Development Program, James Fujioka is making a transition from managing kitchens to managing natural resources. After beginning his career in the culinary arts, the added stress of working in the restaurant industry during the pandemic, combined with his love for the outdoors, made him rethink his career trajectory.
July 6, 2023
From pizza delivery to natural resources planning
Amber Bumgardner Mense always knew she wanted a career in the outdoors. After earning multiple associates degrees and certifications, volunteering every chance she got, and navigating a slow job market during the COVID pandemic, she came across an opening in CEMML’s Early-career Development Program. That experience led to a full-time position with CEMML as a Natural Resources Planning Specialist.
June 1, 2023