Electrical engineering student Wade Solomon was chosen among 900 applicants for a competitive aerospace internship with NASA and Blue Origin. (Courtesy Solomon)
Key points:
- Wade Solomon, a rising junior studying electrical engineering at Florida A&M University, is the only FAMU student in this year’s NASA CLPS NextGEN Internship Program.
- He’s spending the summer at Blue Origin in Renton, Washington, supporting projects tied to NASA’s lunar exploration efforts.
- Solomon was selected from a pool of more than 900 applicants.
A native of Miami Gardens, Florida, Solomon came to FAMU looking for more than an engineering degree.
“I wanted to stay at an HBCU, be with my people, connect from there and experience what an HBCU would be like,” said Solomon, a rising junior and electrical engineering major.
Three years later, that decision has helped earn him one of the nation’s most competitive aerospace internships. Solomon was among a select group of students chosen for NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) NextGEN Internship Program and is the only FAMU student participating this year.
“I feel really great that I even got accepted because there were more than 900 applicants,” he said. “I was one of the students selected, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity.”
What Is Solomon Doing at Blue Origin?
Throughout the summer, Solomon is gaining hands-on experience with Blue Origin, one of NASA’s commercial lunar delivery partners, while supporting projects connected to the agency’s future lunar exploration efforts. He’s also learning from industry professionals working at the forefront of aerospace innovation.
“I want to know the thought process behind being a NASA employee and the thinking behind each of their inventions and innovations,” Solomon said.
For those who have watched his journey unfold, the achievement comes as no surprise.
“He was one of my quieter students, but he always desired to excel in engineering,” said Charmane Caldwell, Ph.D., director of student access at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. “Through perseverance and commitment to learning, Wade transformed himself into a promising young engineer prepared to take on new challenges.”
“This internship is more than an achievement. It’s a reminder that dedication and opportunity can take you beyond the stars,” said William E. Hudson Jr., Ph.D., FAMU vice president for student affairs. “Wade is representing FAMU with pride and embracing every opportunity to learn, innovate and inspire at NASA.”
Building a Foundation at FAMU
As a freshman, Solomon joined the Engineering Living Learning Community, where he lived and learned alongside fellow engineering students. The experience helped him build friendships, establish professional connections and find a support system that continues to benefit him today.
“It was a very good networking opportunity to meet friends and get connected with everybody in the field,” Solomon said. “Those engineers I still talk to this day in classes, and they help me out with anything.”
Through the Educating Engineering Students Innovatively (EESI) program, Solomon worked alongside faculty members Peter Cheetham and Lance Cooley on the NASA Integrated Zero-Emission Aviation (IZEA) project, funded by a NASA University Leadership Initiative grant. During the six-month experience, he helped conduct experiments testing busbar designs for electrical resistance, gaining hands-on experience in engineering research, design and collaboration.
Now working at Blue Origin, Solomon believes the internship will help him stand out as he prepares for his future career.
“Having this on my resume is obviously going to put me more in the spotlight compared to other engineers because getting a NASA internship isn’t easy,” Solomon said. “Being here allows me to learn through hands-on experiences with some of the most intellectual minds in the industry and see what electrical engineering is like in a real-world atmosphere.”
While Solomon originally envisioned a career focused on power systems and electrical infrastructure, his experience with Blue Origin is already expanding his perspective on what’s possible.
“Working closely with aerospace through this internship might end up changing my career path for the future,” he said.
Solomon’s internship runs through August.
Editor’s Note: This article was edited with a custom prompt for Claude Sonnet 5, an AI assistant created by Anthropic. The AI improved clarity, structure, SEO/GEO optimization and readability, while preserving the original reporting and factual content. All information and viewpoints remain those of the author and publication. This article was edited and fact-checked by college staff before being published. This disclosure is part of our commitment to transparency in our editorial process. Last edited: 07/22/2026.
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