DISA hosts local high school robotics teams at the Pentagon

On Dec. 13, the Defense Information Systems Agency hosted Duval High School and Eleanor Roosevelt High School students from local robotics teams: Air Tiger Robotics Team, Team Quantum and Team Illusion at the Pentagon.

Senior military leaders from DISA Global Services 美国军队 Sgt. Maj. Adrian Jenkins and U.S. Army Col. Gary Golubski gave the students a tour and shared with them how the agency protects the nation, and the opportunities available for future employees to help in that fight.

For many of the students, it was a day they won’t soon forget.

“I have always dreamed about visiting the Pentagon, as I have always been fascinated with the armed forces, and today's tour was a dream come true for me,” said Duval High School junior Sangeeth Matthew, Air Tiger Robotics Team captain. "We also got to learn about what DISA does and how they are able to protect the Pentagon from a variety of threats.”?

Aspiring aerospace engineer, Duval High School senior Danny Castano, Air Tiger Robotics Team secretary, was among those touring the Pentagon.

“I’ve always wanted to visit [the Pentagon] because I have always been surrounded by military families,” said Castano. “My favorite part of the tour was walking around the main corridors and seeing the history that lined the halls. The experience felt like a dream.”

For other students, the experience went beyond the intrigue of the Pentagon itself and directly to the cutting-edge work that DISA employees and others are doing there.

“My favorite part of the tour was discussing AI and quantum computing with people working in the Pentagon's IT department,” said Duval High School senior Geby Jaff, Team Quantum and Team Illusion president. “I loved learning about their perspectives and how they think some things should be dealt with. I also got to talk about my own research projects, and it was fun to engage in that conversation and discuss how my research would be beneficial to the United States Department of Defense .”

The Air Tiger Robotics Team, Team Quantum and Team Illusion are comprised of aspiring programmers, mechanical and electrical engineers, and business-minded students. The Air Tiger Robotics Team is based out of Duval High School, and Team Quantum is based out of Bowie High School. Team illusion, on the other hand, is a community team which any student in Maryland can join.

Events like this align with DISA’s Workforce 2025 initiative in which the agency is committed to introducing the next generation of technology workers to its vital national security mission.

Visit DISA.mil for more agency news and events.