Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) has launched its highly
anticipated 2025 Summer Internship Program, bringing together 173 top-performing students from across
18 U.S. states and Canada, drawn from 53 colleges and technical institutions.
“This opportunity could create a lifelong career at SRS,” said Bryan Ortner, SRNS Senior Vice President,
Workforce Services and Talent Management. “The SRNS Internship Program remains a critical tool for
building tomorrow’s workforce. Students will apply innovative ideas to complex problems, expand existing
university and college relationships, and establish new ones.”
The interns began their experience on June 10 with an executive meet-and-greet, providing a unique
chance to connect with SRNS leadership and gain firsthand insight into the company’s strategic priorities,
expectations and mission-driven work at the Savannah River Site (SRS).
Nearly 175 interns connected with SRNS’ executive and senior leaders during the meet-and-greet. Jim Dawkins, SRNS Executive
Vice President and NNSA Chief Operations Officer discusses the Site’s critical missions that support the Nuclear Security
Enterprise.
During his opening remarks, Dr. Jeff Griffin,
the newly appointed SRNS President and
Chief Executive Officer, said, "This year alone,
SRNS received nearly 4,500 applications, and
each of you is among the 173 chosen to be
part of this program. The future workforce we
need is represented by this diverse and
talented group.”
SRNS began the program in 2009 to build a
pipeline of future leaders in national defense,
environmental stewardship and nuclear
nonproliferation. Over the next five years,
SRNS plans to hire approximately 2,000
additional employees to meet the growing
demands of the National Nuclear Security
Administration (NNSA) missions.
Jim Dawkins, SRNS Executive Vice President and NNSA Chief Operations Officer, discussed the Site’s
critical missions that support the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE). "You’re not just interns; you are future
leaders joining a 75-year legacy of service, innovation and national security. What you do today matters,
and securing America’s future is our collective responsibility. The experiences you gain here can open
doors across the NSE, with potential opportunities at seven other sites nationwide. This is a great starting
point for your career.
”
Felicia Hartzog, SRNS Internship Program
Coordinator, added, “This program is a bridge
to full-time careers with SRNS, exemplified by
last year's success where 61 interns received
full-service positions and 25 transitioned into
apprenticeships. The talent and passion
displayed by this cohort are truly inspiring and
something to be proud of.”
The program offers a 12-week immersive
experience, allowing interns to explore various
potential careers, including engineering,
computer science, physical sciences,
business services, communications, site
services, information technology, and nuclear
materials control.
Rachael Ogundare, a junior at the University of
Georgia and IT Business Analytics Intern, said, "SRNS is incredibly welcoming. I’ve been exposed to various
business aspects and have explored different programs, solidifying my interest in analytics while also diving
Mike Swain, SRNS Senior Vice President and Nuclear Operations
Officer, right, and James Therrell, Mission Planning Manager for
Environmental Management Operations connect with intern Olivia
Ruszczyk, a senior Mechanical Engineering student at New Mexico
State University.
SRNS Senior Vice President NNSA Tritium Operations and Programs
JC Epting shares job opportunities supporting Tritium missions with
newly hired interns.
into project management. Working on projects like process optimization and visualizations has given me
valuable insights into the critical missions at SRS.”
“I interned here two summers ago
supporting Solid Waste
Management, and I’m thrilled to
gain new experience in software
automation testing — a whole new
avenue for me,” said Hannah Ho,
Site Software Engineering Intern
and a senior at the University of
Georgia. “Currently, I’m assisting in
the development of a site portal for
web apps, focusing on creating unit
and Cypress tests from the
database to the user interface. My
goal is to secure full-time work by
the end of this internship and follow
in my parents' footsteps at SRS.”
“It's refreshing to see young
leadership in the fire department
focused on progress rather than just tradition,” said Reid Wooten, SRS Fire Department intern and senior
at The Citadel. “This internship is helping me find my path in fire services and understand the industrial
side of firefighting. I've already earned my national Hazardous Materials Technician certification, and I'm
excited about the opportunity to do meaningful work and potentially return next summer."
Dr. Griffin concluded the event by encouraging the interns to make the most of their time at SRNS.
"You’re not just here to fill a summer; it’s about building a bridge to full-time careers. Engage fully, learn
relentlessly, and contribute boldly. When this internship ends, we hope it’s just the beginning of your
journey with us."
SRNS is committed to developing the next generation of leaders in national defense and environmental
stewardship. Each intern will play a vital role in advancing the Site’s missions, which are crucial to the
Department of Defense and the NNSA. For more information about the program, click here.