Sharing knowledge with and learning from U.S. Service members

Each year, more than 100 active-duty military officers from all of the Service branches work at Lincoln Laboratory as full-time fellows or summer interns. These educational partnerships acquaint officers with the process of developing systems that directly impact national security and the capabilities that can be achieved with advanced technology. In turn, our researchers gain constructive insights into the operational needs of the military.

Military Fellows Program

Lincoln Laboratory provides fellowships to active-duty U.S. military officers who are enrolled in a graduate school program, often at MIT, or are completing requirements for advanced education at Senior Service Schools.

For graduate students, the military fellowships cover tuition and fees and require that the students perform thesis research at Lincoln Laboratory. Officers enrolled in a Service School program do research at the Laboratory while taking courses in national security management at MIT.

Cadets and midshipmen participate in the Military Fellows Program.
Cadets and midshipmen participate in the Military Fellows Program.

Each summer, Lincoln Laboratory also employs undergraduate students from the United States service academies. Interns spend three to six weeks of their summer contributing to sponsored projects under the guidance of their assigned mentors.

If you are interested in becoming a Lincoln Laboratory Military Fellow, please fill out the application below.

The application window for the AY 2024–2025 Lincoln Laboratory Military Fellows Program is now closed.

Application for Academic Year 2025–2026

For further information, contact [email protected] or 781-999-4060.

 


 

Capt. Stefanie Coward, a deputy flight commander in the 1st Space Operations Squadron, participated in the Space Tactics Internship Program.
Capt. Stefanie Coward, a deputy flight commander in the 1st Space Operations Squadron, participated in the Space Tactics Internship Program.

Space Tactics Internships

The Space Tactics Internship Program was established at the Laboratory to provide reciprocal learning opportunities for Air Force Space Command space operators and Laboratory personnel. The program leverages the knowledge and technology at the Laboratory with the experience and critical thinking of Air Force space operators to further the evolution of space tactics. The month-long internships run throughout the year, and interns are selected by Air Force leadership.

 


 

Military Courses

Laboratory staff teach elective courses to the officers attending the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. There are four courses offered.  

  • The Ballistic Missile Defense course explores the critical technologies, capabilities, operational concepts, and policies that influence how ballistic missile defense affects the military capabilities of the United States.
  • The Space Technology and Policy course explores critical space technologies, capabilities, and policies that shape how the United States uses space for military and government purposes.
  • The Cyber Security course describes cyber operations, cyber threats, and how to defend critical systems.
  • The Homeland Protection course is offered at the Homeland Security Institute on Hanscom Air Force Base. This course provides a broad understanding of homeland protection missions, enabling technologies, and current challenges in homeland security. The key areas of disaster response, critical infrastructure protection, and chemical/biological defense are covered and followed by a half-day of hands-on exercises to solidify concepts. 

 


 

Military Fellow Thieu Albert poses in the entrance atrium at Lincoln Laboratory

SkillBridge

Lincoln Laboratory is an authorized provider organization for SkillBridge, a Department of Defense program connecting active-duty service members with internships, apprenticeships, and job/employment skills training in civilian career areas. The program is designed to help service members transition to civilian employment once their military duty ends. Active-duty personnel can spend up to the last 180 days of their military service at the Laboratory, gaining real-world experience matched to their backgrounds and skillsets while continuing to receive military compensation and benefits. After completing the program, SkillBridge participants are encouraged to apply for employment at Lincoln Laboratory, which is committed to recruiting, employing, and retaining U.S. military veterans. To apply for a SkillBridge opportunity at the Laboratory, fill out the application below.

Apply Here

For further information, contact [email protected] or 781-999-4060.