MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE ALBANY, GA -- The first group of students to participate in the Marine Corps Logistics Command (LOGCOM) and Albany State University (ASU) internship program wrapped up their projects in December 2024, but the lasting impact of mentorship is expected to resonate well beyond their final presentations.
Mentorship is a central pillar of the internship initiative, which pairs ASU students from the Department of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Physics with professionals from LOGCOM. By nurturing meaningful mentor-mentee relationships, the program equips students with the tools needed to contribute to LOGCOM’s mission, while building a foundation for their future careers.
For Captain Lane Johnson, an operations research analyst in the Command Data and Analytics Office, serving as a mentor was both an incredible opportunity and a rewarding experience.
“We had a great time working together,” said Captain Johnson, reflecting on his time mentoring DeVaughn Clark, an ASU senior majoring in Computer Science. “Teaching him about the Marine Corps and gaining his outside perspective on some of our challenges.”
Capt. Lane Johnson, operations research analyst, Marine Corps Logistics Command, and DeVaughn Clark, an Albany State University senior majoring in computer science, discuss highlights of the LAV-25 Repair Cycle Time Analysis Project to stakeholders during the Fall 2024 Internship Final Project Presentations on Dec. 5 at ASU’s West Campus. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Phyllis Banks Whitley)
Clark, who participated in the internship program, shared how the experience exceeded his expectations.
“We resonated very well. Not only talking about the Marine Corps, but also about life,” he said. “Whether it was financial wealth or economic wisdom, Captain Johnson was encouraging and willing to give me the information I needed.”
The mentorship went beyond career guidance. Clark faced a personal challenge during the semester, when he lost his car in an accident. He recalled how Captain Johnson went the extra mile to offer support during the tough time.
“He was willing to come and get me when I needed a ride. It wasn’t just about the internship; it was about showing support in my time of need. That really meant a lot to me,” Clark added.
Captain Johnson noted that Clark quickly adapted to the Marine Corps’ unique culture, picking up acronyms, jargon, and lingo, quickly becoming a valuable contributor to the team.
“He sounded like an expert after just a short time with us,” said Johnson, who expressed hope that Clark would return to LOGCOM one day as a colleague. “I know he has a lot of other opportunities, but I hope he comes to LOGCOM one day and becomes my coworker.”
The internship program is a key collaboration between the command and ASU, established in 2024 through a Memorandum of Agreement. It aims to foster home-grown talent by providing students with opportunities to work alongside LOGCOM mentors on innovative initiatives. Command mentors provide invaluable guidance by helping students develop practical skills, navigate complex projects, and gain insights into real-world problem-solving.
The internship program spans four months and is managed by the LOGCOM Command Data and Analytics Office Innovation Support Branch in partnership with the National Security Innovation Network. The Marine Depot Maintenance Command and several other LOGCOM divisions support the initiative, contributing expertise in areas such as Digital Integration, IT, Cyber, and more.
The program is set to continue in the spring of 2025 with 14 new interns, furthering the mission of preparing future leaders in the fields of logistics and technology.