FORT BELVOIR, Va. –
At the Defense Logistics Agency, logistics goes beyond moving parts to impact the mission through the people who support it. Two student interns made their mark on that mission this past summer.
Peyton Coleman, a graduate student at Virginia Tech, and Reuel Florendo, a rising senior at the University of Arizona, completed an eight-week internship with DLA’s Information Operations Research and Development team. Their assignment was to support a sustainability initiative aimed at repurposing excess defense equipment and recovering critical materials.
Over the course of the program, the interns conducted interviews with agency personnel, visited facilities and carried out research. Their work contributed to the agency’s “5R” initiative — reuse, recycle, repurpose, refuse and reduce – a framework intended to maximize existing resources while increasing supply chain resilience and reducing reliance on foreign sources.
“One of the key takeaways for me was how important it is to verify data and correctly define the problem,” Coleman said. “That’s what drives real solutions.”
Florendo, who studies civil engineering with a focus on water resources, echoed the value of the experience.
“The circular economy we were learning about wasn’t just a concept,” she said. “It was a strategy for improving national security.”
Coleman and Florendo joined DLA through the Defense Civilian Training Corps, a scholarship-for-service program that prepares college students for civilian careers in the War Department. In exchange for scholarships, students commit to working for the department for at least two years after graduation.
During their internship, Coleman and Florendo were paired with DLA mentors and exposed to agency operations from acquisition policy to environmental stewardship. The result? The interns cited practical skills, deeper understanding and a sense of purpose.
“I’ve been a part of multiple DLA programs over the years,” Florendo said. “This one stood out because of the level of responsibility and the trust we were given.”
While job seekers may know about DLA’s Pathways to Career Excellence program, the agency also participates in other recruitment pipelines like DCTC that help develop future leaders in logistics, contracting and acquisition.
“DLA is always looking for people with ideas, energy and a drive to serve,” said Dawn Sutton, a recruiter with DLA Information Operations. “These interns brought all three.”
The next step for Coleman and Florendo may include full-time employment with DLA as both said they are considering returning through the PACE program or other hiring initiatives.
“Being here confirmed what I hoped — that government work can be meaningful,” Coleman said.
For more information about internships, career paths and civilian opportunities at DLA, visit www.dla.mil/Careers.