Safe and secure

Zachary Donnelly ’24 took a chance. Little did he know that a single email could change the course of his future. 

Donnelly’s search for an internship led to a message to Physical Science Laboratory Director retired Army Brig. Gen. Eric Sanchez ’87 and PSL’s Classified Ready Employee Workforce program at NMSU. The correspondence resulted in Donnelly, an NMSU Global student living in Mimbres, New Mexico, and his family moving to Las Cruces. 

“I have always been interested in working in the government and military sectors within STEM but never saw a clear pathway to get there, especially as a Silver City native,” Donnelly says. “The CREW program provided me with an opportunity I never thought possible.” 

Launched in 2020, the CREW program prepares professionals for national security careers by developing technical, professional and interpersonal skills. It includes a national security affairs course and hands-on experience through a variety of supported programs. 

Sevren Jackson ’25, who was recommended to the CREW program by his research professor Abdessattar Abdelkefi from the Environmental Testing and Structures Laboratory in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, appreciated the scope of the seminars. Facilitated by Josh Moon, a retired Army officer, each seminar featured 90 minutes of non-attributional content for the students.  

“It was a great way to have that forum of thought,” Jackson says. “It’s not an experience that you have all the time with people outside of your friend group or your trusted family.

“Dr. Moon is a great resource, and he’s great to talk to. He’s got a wealth of knowledge,” Jackson adds. 

“My experience was a blessing and an unforgettable opportunity,” Donnelly says. “The CREW seminars were always insightful, and I looked forward to each session. We covered a wide range of topics, including operations, tactics, philosophy, and the history of government and the military, all of which helped guide us in understanding the importance of obtaining a security clearance.” 

PSL’s CREW program is supported by the Department of Defense’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office. Since its inception in 2020, it has grown substantially and now boasts more than 80 graduates. Central to the process, CREW students also are eligible to apply for a security clearance, which adds an incredible tool to their resume and directly supports the students’ internship and employment recruitment process. 

“It provided an environment where my education and professional skills could come together seamlessly. The security clearance and technical expertise I gained through the program gave me a significant advantage when entering the job market,” says Donnelly, who is a system analyst in software safety at White Sands Missile Range. 

For his CREW co-op experience, Donnelly worked as a PSL student
software developer. 

“This role provided me with valuable hands-on experience, allowing me to apply my education, personal interests and technical knowledge in a real-world setting,” Donnelly says. “I used tools and techniques that professional software developers rely on daily. Even if I never use some of these exact tools in the future, the problem-solving process and critical thinking skills I gained from my mentors will stay with me for a lifetime.”

To learn more about the CREW program, visit nmsu.link/crew.