From Summer Games Intern to Analyst at Booz Allen

Booz Allen’s Summer Games internship program is competitive, immersive, collaborative, and gamified—it’s the perfect place for networking and growth.

Just ask intern-turned-employee Allun Ward, a data analyst whose time in the program led him directly to the mission-focused career he’s always dreamed of.

During the firm’s ten-week paid program, Allun and his fellow interns collaborated to create solutions for real client challenges—all while competing to win the Summer Games Challenge Cup, an award for the team with the most innovative solution.

We spoke with Allun about his experience as a Summer Games intern—and how that experience prepared him for the beginning of his career.

Tell us about your time as a Summer Games intern. What project did you work on?

My team and I worked on a project called Robo Hack. We got the chance to work on Spot, a dancing robot dog manufactured by Boston Dynamics. We dug into the API of the robot, determined how it worked, and then checked it for cyber vulnerabilities. Once we determined the vulnerabilities, we formulated a plan to fix them that involved helping the robot perform a security sweep that made it more secure and productive.

What were the key takeaways from your time as a Summer Games intern?

If I hadn’t done the internship, I wouldn’t have the interpersonal or networking skills I now have. Because of my time as an intern, I developed the confidence to step outside my comfort zone.

Collaborating with my team and with Booz Allen leaders allowed me to branch out and take initiative. It taught me hard skills that I can apply to any work I do moving forward—but, more importantly, it taught me that I can do whatever I aspire to.

Describe your path from intern to full-time employee.

I interned the summer before my senior year of college from June until August. I then interviewed and accepted an offer with Booz Allen in October. It was nice to have a job already secured while I finished my senior year of school. I started working at Booz Allen as a data analyst the following June.

From my internship experience, I knew the work I’d do at the firm would be interesting and impactful. I wanted to do work that helps the military or federal government, and I get to have my hands on those missions. Not many people can say that they affected projects like helping get more people into space or advancing Navy capabilities. I knew that Booz Allen would give me opportunities like those—and I cherish that.

What types of growth opportunities do you find at Booz Allen?

I work remotely, and Booz Allen makes it easy to network with others and grow. From tuition assistance to online learning, you can expand your knowledge in multiple areas. I recently took a computer aid design class, which helped set a foundation for the analysis work I’m doing for our federal client.

And a culture that prioritizes connection helps, too. When I started, I introduced myself with a post on our employee social networking platform. I had over 100 comments within a day from colleagues welcoming me, inviting me to put time on their calendars for informational interviews, and greeting me with warmth.

What surprised you the most about Booz Allen?

Before joining the firm, I thought of Booz Allen as only an IT consulting firm. Instead, I found that much of our work relies on all sorts of specialists. There are opportunities for people of all backgrounds—I’ve even met someone with a degree in animal science. The company has spots for just about everybody, no matter your skillset.