Ten New Mexico State University students have been selected for the Physical Science Laboratory Classified Ready Employee Workforce program. When completed students leave with experience, national security education and clearance. (NMSU photo by Marcella Shelby)

Ten New Mexico State University students selected for the Physical Science Laboratory Classified Ready Employee Workforce or CREW program started their journey and exploration into the national security sector this semester. 

Students in PSL’s CREW program are matched with cooperative education employers and participate in a national security seminar series. Their engagement in this unique program opens the door for these students to graduate NMSU with their national security clearance in-hand and ready to enter the national security and defense workforce. 

NMSU students joining the CREW program in 2021 include: (major and co-op placement)

• Robert Armendariz, electrical engineering, PSL Telemetry and Missile Systems Divisions
• Micah Cheng-Guajardo, aerospace and mechanical engineering, Los Alamos National Lab
• Mason Curtin, aerospace and mechanical engineering, Los Alamos National Lab
• Kaia Garley, information and communication technology, PSL Information Security Operations Center
• Scott Komar, aerospace and mechanical engineering, X-Bow Systems
• Stephen Moreno, computer science, PSL Information Science and Security Systems Division
• Irene Richter, human resource management, PSL Facility Security
• Gabriela Salas, industrial engineering, PSL Quality Assurance
• George Sandoval, computer science, Sandia National Labs
• Queztal Soto, electrical engineering, PSL Telemetry and Missile Systems Division

The new CREW students join the program as the second cohort who have participated in the dynamic co-op program hosted by PSL in partnership with national security industrial leaders such as General Dynamics, Northrup Grumman, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories and X-Bow Systems. 

This year’s national security seminar series will be taught by retired Army Col. Alan Wiernicki. He currently serves as the chief quality officer for El Paso Independent School District. Wiernicki is a decorated Army veteran, retiring as a colonel in 2018 after 26 years of active service. His occupational specialty was air and missile defense operations, and he commanded at every level from battery to brigade. Key staff assignments included assistant professor of Military Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, senior adviser to the commander of the Kuwait Air Force – Office of Military Cooperation Kuwait, and deputy commander of the Army’s largest Air Defense Command, the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command at Fort Bliss. He is also a veteran of several combat and operational deployments.

“Working with leadership throughout the defense and intelligence sectors, PSL is keenly aware of the critical workforce needs and challenges faced by national security and defense employers,” PSL Director Eric Sanchez said. “The acute need to strengthen the national security and defense workforce pipeline spurred NMSU and PSL leadership to invest and launch the Classified Ready Employee Workforce program.

“The national security seminar, taught by esteemed instructors like Col. Wiernicki, in addition to the experiential learning during co-ops sets CREW students up for much success. Companies who invest in building their workforce pipeline now, ensure returns,” Sanchez said.

“There are a diversity of career opportunities throughout the national security sector. The CREW program represents an innovative solution for companies and government agencies facing the immense challenge of ensuring a robust cleared workforce pipeline,” NMSU Chancellor Dan Arvizu said. “The CREW program leverages the unique national asset of our Physical Science Laboratory to connect national security companies and agencies to bright NMSU students who are cleared and ready to support their mission.” 

Launched in 2020, PSL’s CREW program’s mission is to develop a diverse pool of classified-ready professionals with the necessary technical, professional and interpersonal skills required to pursue successful careers in support of national security.   

Students selected for the one-year program, participate in a series of national security and classification seminars and are employed through cooperative education experiences in national security research and emerging technology innovation and application. 

Since 1946, the Physical Science Laboratory at NMSU has supported technology and national security advancement. The involvement of NMSU students in applied research projects has been a cornerstone of PSL’s important mission and during the last 75 years, they have employed hundreds of student employees and co-ops. 

To learn more about the CREW program, contact Marcella Shelby, PSL Strategic Initiatives officer, at mshelby@psl.nmsu.edu or 575-646-9201.