Three generations of AF interns succeeding, proving program success

  • Published
  • By Philip Lorenz III
  • AEDC/PA
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. --  When 23-year-old Stephen Maccarino reports to AEDC later in June he will represent a third "generation" of PALACE Acquire program participants who will work in the 650th Test Evaluation System Squadron at the same time.

The PALACE Acquire program, which has been in existence since the late 1980s, was established as an avenue to replenish the civilian work force with entry-level college graduates for future civilian careers with the Air Force.

"I actually found out about the PALACE Acquire program from Robins AFB in Georgia," said Maccarino, a Tennessee Technology University graduate who will be AEDC's newest investment program manager. "I had tried to get on with AEDC several times. I interviewed for the program back in April. I also interviewed with the AEDC facilities group. Finally in May, I interviewed with Brandon [Stiles] and Mr. Tom [Best] who found the job for me."

Stiles, who is the deputy director for the 650th Test Evaluation Systems Squadron, has been at AEDC for six years, with three years tackling other assignments at Wright-Patterson AFB between his responsibilities at Arnold.

"I came in as a new PALACE Acquire in 2001 and then grew up here, went through my 'journeyman years,' got an opportunity to leave AEDC for broadening and then accepted this leadership position to return to AEDC," said Stiles who is a University of Tennessee at Knoxville graduate. "We oversee all of the major facility upgrades. The TEDAC [Turbine Engine Dry Air Capability] project is a good example of the type of projects that we manage."

Stiles did an Internet search after learning more about AEDC from 704th Test Systems Group civilian leader Ron Polce's son Greg. That search revealed details about the PALACE Acquire program and after applying for the program, Stiles was contacted by Tom Best about coming on board at AEDC as a PALACE Acquire (PAQ) intern.

"I have been the AEDC scientist and engineer PALACE Acquire recruiter/hiring authority now for about 10 years," Best said. "I go to career fairs at Tennessee Tech, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Vanderbilt University and Tennessee State University to get students to apply for PAQ jobs all over the U.S. at different Air Force bases.

"Then I do the hiring for the positions at AEDC," he continued. "When we hire, we are able to work with students all over the U.S. who have been recruited by other Air Force bases."

Best said the PALACE Acquire program provides great career opportunities for the most highly qualified students.

"This program only attracts the best and brightest graduating students," he said. "It offers several perks to encourage the students to come to work for the Air Force over the many other options they have, including, a signing bonus, school loan pay-back, paid graduate degrees, etc. With the aging work force in the Air Force's science and engineering corps, it is essential that we hire these types of students to learn the business quickly and be able to take leadership roles when a large part of the work force starts retiring. All of the PAQs [PALACE Acquire interns] at AEDC are outstanding. They have great leadership and technical skills and will take AEDC into the future with a passion for excellence."

Melissa Strange, the Force Renewal Branch Intern Management Section Chief at Randolph AFB, Texas, has been working with the PALACE Acquire and the Copper Cap program, another avenue to bring in qualified college graduates into Air Force careers, since 2002.

She said there are hard numbers to back up the success of these programs.

"Our data shows that 9,500 candidates have come through the programs with 6,600 completing the programs," she said. "The intern programs have proven to be successful and continue to be sought out by management as a way to replenish their work force."

Christopher Abbott, a program manager with the 650th Test Evaluation System Squadron, decided to take part in the PALACE Acquire program a year after he had been a student intern with the 716th Test Squadron in 2005.

"I first found out about the Palace Acquire (PAQ) program from Mr. Tom Best at a Tennessee Tech career fair in 2004," Abbott recalls.

In 2005, Abbott worked as a co-op student at AEDC in the 716th Test Squadron.

"During that summer I continued to explore the opportunities PAQ had to offer and decided it was consistent with my interests and fit my personal and professional goals," he said. "I returned to TTU for my senior year, applied to the PAQ program and was accepted December 2006. I haven't regretted it since."

During his tenure at TTU, Abbott was a co-op student with four different companies or organizations.

"AEDC was by far the best of the four due to the outstanding people, the unique mission and the passion each person has for accomplishing his or her job," he said.

The PAQs and their supervisor prepare a customized three-year training plan to fulfill the mission at hand and highlight local opportunities.

"My individual training plan included a generous portion of acquisition classes, systems engineering training, with a focus on project management and risk management," Abbott explained. "The skills learned through the PAQ program, along with on-the-job experience managing large-scale investments projects, provided an excellent training ground for my work at AEDC.

"When I started the PAQ program, I worked as a program manager on several investment projects to bridge capability gaps and modernize AEDC's existing test cells," he continued. "My supervisor gave me opportunities to work on projects in several areas of the base, including our wind tunnels, engine test cells and space and missile facilities. I also initially spent time applying to graduate schools and completing the training specified in the PAQ plan.

"The PAQ experience has been outstanding," he added. "The first year I managed several projects within the investments department while growing and learning about Air Force acquisition. The second year is spent full-time in graduate school. Then, the third year is spent applying knowledge gained from graduate school with the practical experience of managing projects the first year."

Abbott described the Palace Acquire program as "an organized, disciplined three-year program that provides a framework for a civilian career in the Air Force."

He said, "Although I received other job opportunities, the PAQ program lined up with my interests and career goals. I would highly recommend the program to others."

Abbott credited his student coop experience in 2005 with providing him with a basic knowledge of AEDC's mission and testing environment.