ETV Welcomes Engineering Student from Navajo Technical University for Summer Internship

ETV intern Calsey Nez (pictured) working on a new Thumper Ground Unit that will be integrated into ETV’s precision agriculture system.

Published June 28, 2019

ALAMOGORDO, N.M. — Emerging Technology Ventures recently welcomed Calsey Nez for a summer internship at their headquarters in Alamogordo, New Mexico. The internship is provided under teaming agreements established through the Ke’yah Advanced Rural Manufacturing Alliance (KARMA) initiative, a W.K. Kellogg Foundation grant that brings entrepreneurial and advanced manufacturing development to the Navajo Nation. Mr. Nez will receive industry training and development in robotics and autonomous systems design and production, a key growth area where the Navajo Nation is focused on developing a career pipeline and pathway. Market opportunities range from precision agriculture, environmental management, and critical infrastructure inspection.

Mr. Nez brings a long history of work and student development in industrial design and 3D modeling to his internship. In his professional life,  Nez worked as a NASA sponsor internship supervisor and a 3D technician intern at Navajo Technical University’s Center for Digital Technologies. He is currently in process of earning his Bachelor of Applied Science in Industrial Engineering from NTU.

“So far, it’s a lot of work,” said Nez of his time since beginning his internship. “That’s good news because it keeps me busy and gives me a chance to help with all [of ETV’s] projects, especially assembling the Thumper Bot. I’m learning more about electrical parts and assembly that I didn’t get a chance to do with my 3D modeling.”

“We look forward to nurturing Calsey’s growth in robotics, sensor development, industrial design, and entrepreneurship so that he can take these skills back to the Navajo Nation,” said Cliff Hudson, ETV CEO.

ETV provides custom autonomous system solutions and data analytics for defense, public safety, agriculture, critical infrastructure protection & inspection, and environmental management. Its leading-edge solutions are used to inspect and assess national infrastructure, including wind farms and dams, enable cost-effective crop assessment on farms, and provide a time-critical response to both man-made and natural disasters.

The KARMA program combines technical education and workforce opportunities to support Navajo parents with young children to become interested and involved in high- tech manufacturing skills and culture. The program aims to increase interconnection and self-sustaining opportunities within the Navajo Nation and show how students can be influential in their communities in creating change while implementing advanced manufacturing.