The inspiration for the University of Tennessee Space Institute (UTSI) becoming an approved Department of Defense SkillBridge partner came from within.  

One of UTSI’s staff members was the parent of an Air Force service member who was looking for a program to help his transition out of the military. He asked if there was an opportunity at UTSI. Although there wasn’t at the time, it sparked a dialogue about UTSI applying to become an authorized organization. 

The DOD SkillBridge program allows service members to gain valuable civilian work experience through specific industry training, apprenticeships, or internships during their last 180 days of service. Service members who participate in the SkillBridge program still receive their military compensation and benefits. 

UTSI’s SkillBridge Internship Program was approved in the spring and is launching in August on UTSI’s campus in Tullahoma, Tennessee. It connects service members with well-known aerospace faculty and researchers at UTSI to mentor and assist with their transition to civilian life. The program is designed to expand upon the service member’s military experience and enhance their skills, knowledge, and experience. 

“We have a lot of very strong relationships with the military and have a lot of veterans on campus. SkillBridge allows us to mentor transitioning veterans through a process a lot of us have already gone through,” said UTSI Director of Research Jerry Dahlberg, a military veteran. “It also opens up the potential of future employees coming to us straight from military duty if they wish to stay working with us once they complete the internship.” 

UTSI’s inaugural SkillBridge class this fall will feature seven interns from every branch of the military. The internships will be tailored to specific individuals and the skills they acquired in the military. The current internships include: 

• grants and contracts coordinators, 
• instructors/faculty in aerospace or mechanical engineering, 
• industrial security specialists, 
• program managers, 
• technical specialists.  

Robert Pohl, 40, was the first SkillBridge intern to arrive. He is transitioning from the Air Force and went through orientation at UTSI in June. Pohl will be serving an internship in industrial security. He will be helping with the preparation for new projects using his previous experience working in a classified environment. 

Pohl spent his military career as a language analyst. He has two degrees in languages and one in computer science with a concentration in information security. 

“I want to get more skills, but more importantly I need to figure out how the civilian side works. I have only worked in the military outside of a few short jobs in college,” Pohl said. “The culture shift is another big thing. I have been working with a bunch of intel nerds versus the rest of society, which is a very different society as I’m told by my wife.” 

Pohl appreciates being able to spend his final few days of service preparing for his future. Some members of the military struggle to make the transition into other avenues of work, and the SkillBridge program can be a valuable asset. 

“I wouldn’t go as far as saying it should be mandatory, but everyone should seriously consider doing something like this just because it helps you getting out in the real world,” Pohl said. “There are a lot of young kids enlisted, and even the older ones like me, who don’t have much experience on the outside.” 

UTSI Executive Director John Schmisseur values the skills that military service instills in people and is eager to welcome the inaugural internship class. He hopes UTSI’s SkillBridge Internship Program serves as a model for others to replicate.  

“I would like this to be for the entire UT system and bring this to Knoxville, Chattanooga, Martin, or Southern,” said Schmisseur, an associate dean in the Tickle College of Engineering. “We would like to be the point of origination that can help get this going for the entire UT system because it’s such a great opportunity for everyone involved.” 

Contact 

Rhiannon Potkey (865-974-0683, rpotkey@utk.edu)