From the USA to Rome: Four U.S. University Students Complete Internship Programme at the NATO M&S COE
During their time at the NATO Modelling and Simulation Centre of Excellence, Dylan ZANETTO, Jordyn TILSTRA, Quincy WOHL, and Sarah ZARN had the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills acquired through their respective academic programmes while contributing to the Centre’s technical, communication, and organisational activities.
Dylan ZANETTO and Jordyn TILSTRA, both with engineering backgrounds, conducted research and analysis on potential applications of ELMO, the Electromagnetic Layer for Multi-Domain Operations, and assessed its technical performance in multi-domain operations. Their work also examined the employment of unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, in non-permissive operational environments.
Quincy WOHL and Sarah ZARN, whose academic backgrounds are in public affairs, contributed to the review, development, and publication of communication plans for the CASTLE (CBRN Activities Simulation Total Layer Environment) and ELMO (Electromagnetic Layer for Multi-domain Operations) projects. Their activities also included the production of promotional audiovisual material for CHESS (Cyberspace Hybrid Warfare for Educational Strategic Scenarios), the cyber wargame developed by the NATO Modelling and Simulation Centre of Excellence.
At the conclusion of the programme, the students presented their projects and outlined the main results of their work during a final meeting. On this occasion, the Centre Director expressed his strong appreciation for the activities completed, highlighting the professionalism, commitment, and valuable contribution demonstrated by all four interns.
The experience concluded with the following message shared by the students:
“Our internship at the NATO Modelling and Simulation Centre of Excellence has been an incredibly rewarding experience, and we are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such a professional and welcoming organisation.
Throughout our time at the Centre, we had the opportunity to work on meaningful projects that provided us with valuable insight into strategic planning, international collaboration, and the role of modelling and simulation in supporting NATO’s mission. We were able to apply the knowledge acquired through our studies to real-world challenges while further developing our professional skills.
One of the most valuable aspects of the internship was the opportunity to work in a multinational environment alongside professionals from different countries and backgrounds. Everyone at the Centre was approachable and always willing to answer our questions or provide guidance. Our supervisors entrusted us with meaningful responsibilities while ensuring that we had the support necessary to learn and grow. This positive environment encouraged us to contribute our ideas and develop both professionally and personally.
Beyond the workplace, living and working in Italy gave us the opportunity to become more independent, experience a new culture, and step outside our comfort zones. The welcoming atmosphere at the Centre—from collaborating on projects to sharing lunches and coffee with colleagues—made us feel like valued members of the team from the very beginning.
Overall, this internship strengthened our confidence and deepened our appreciation for international collaboration. We are sincerely grateful to everyone at the NATO Modelling and Simulation Centre of Excellence for making this such a memorable and meaningful experience. We will carry the lessons learned during our time at the Centre with us throughout our future careers.”
Written by LTC VENTURA – NATO M&S COE
For additional information on NATO M&S COE internship program, please visit the official website: www.mscoe.org.
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The NATO Modelling & Simulation Centre of Excellence is dedicated to the promotion of Modelling & Simulation in support of operational requirements, training and interoperability. The Centre act as a catalyst for transformation through the involvement of NATO, governments, academia, industry, operational and training entities, by improving the networking of NATO and nationally owned Modelling & Simulation systems, the cooperation between Nations and organizations through the sharing of Modelling & Simulation information and developments and serving as an international source of expertise for transformation in the related domain. https://www.mscoe.org
NATO Centres of Excellence are nationally or multi-nationally funded institutions accredited by NATO. They train and educate leaders and specialists from NATO member and partner countries, assist in doctrine development, identify lessons learned, improve interoperability and capabilities, and test and validate concepts through experimentation. They offer recognized expertise and experience that is of benefit to the Alliance and support the transformation of NATO, while avoiding the duplication of assets, resources and capabilities already present within the NATO command structure. Although not part of the NATO command structure, they are part of a wider framework supporting NATO Command Arrangements. [source https://www.act.nato.int/centres-of-excellence]
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