Interns Encounter Unique Experiences With Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office

U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management Paducah Site Safety Systems Oversight Brad Pont, center, leads a tour of the C-333 Process Building with summer interns.

PADUCAH, Ky. - Internship programs at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management's (EM) Portsmouth, Paducah, and Lexington sites began a new, collaborative effort this summer aimed at enhancing knowledge-sharing and professional development.

This year, the OnePPPO Internship initiative began with the formation of working groups with the 75 interns from EM and contractors Enterprise Technical Assistance Services (ETAS), Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth (FBP), Four Rivers Nuclear Partnership (FRNP) and North Wind Dynamics to provide a platform for interns to exchange insights, ideas and best practices across various disciplines within EM's Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office (PPPO).

"The OnePPPO Internship program fosters a culture of teamwork and learning among our interns, encouraging them to leverage their unique perspectives for innovative solutions and building on DOE's commitment to nurture talent and foster a robust workforce," PPPO Manager Joel Bradburne said.

Summer interns from different Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office organizations and contractors engage in field activities together to learn from each other and bring new experiences back to their counterparts.

U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management Portsmouth Site Lead Jeremy Davis leads a "lunch and learn" event for all Portsmouth Site interns.

The working groups routinely gathered online to learn about their peers across the PPPO sites and share information about the projects they were working on throughout the summer. The Paducah and Lexington sites are in Kentucky, while the Portsmouth Site is in Ohio. By pooling the diverse backgrounds and expertise, interns gained experience in cooperation as well as a comprehensive understanding of the EM and greater DOE missions.

"I can't believe how much I learned in just 12 short weeks," FBP Intern Brittani Wolfenbarker said. "I had such a basic understanding of what human resources was and what comes with it. The entire team has been so welcoming and helpful. I am excited to continue my time here in a full-time position."

Through structured discussions, hands-on projects and field activities participation, interns in the OnePPPO Internship program not only deepened their technical knowledge, but also cultivated essential communication and leadership skills by promoting knowledge-sharing and professional development.

"Being a part of the OnePPPO Internship program was extremely beneficial," ETAS Intern Zachary Allen said. "The supportive environment and mentorship provided by my colleagues enabled me to grow both technically and professionally."

Summer interns at the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management Portsmouth Site participate in a variety of "lunch and learn" sessions, part of the site's training workshop to aid in understanding process improvement techniques.

The OnePPPO Internship experience prepares interns to tackle real-world challenges and contribute to EM's mission at the Portsmouth and Paducah sites, as well as the Lexington office, in the future and beyond.

"Integration with other interns through the OnePPPO Internship program has been a great experience not only in connecting with other interns, but also the ability to share information towards achieving a common goal," FRNP Intern Fletcher Riney said.

-Contributors: Shawn Jordan, Sarah Marko, Dylan Nichols