Rattlers on the Rise: Wade Solomon Lands NASA Internship with Blue Origin
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. —Florida A&M University student Wade Soloman has been selected for NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services
(CLPS) NextGEN Internship Program and is spending the summer with Blue Origin in Renton,
Washington, one of NASA's commercial lunar delivery partners supporting future lunar
exploration efforts.
"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., vice president for Student Affairs. "Wade is representing FAMU with pride and embracing every opportunity to learn,
innovate and inspire at NASA."
A native of Miami Gardens, Florida, Soloman 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 the highly sought after experience and is the only FAMU student participating in the program 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."
Florida A&M University rising electrical engineering student Wade Solomon is spending
the summer with Blue Origin in Renton, Washington, after earning a coveted spot in
NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) NextGEN Internship Program. (Photo
courtesy: Wade Solomon)
Throughout the summer, Solomon is gaining hands-on experience with Blue Origin while
supporting projects connected to NASA's future lunar exploration efforts. He will also learn from industry professionals working at the forefront of aerospace innovation.
For those who have watched his journey unfold, the achievement comes as no surprise.
"Nearly two years ago, Wade started out in the Engineering Student Access program that I developed," said Charmane Caldwell, Ph.D., director of Student Access at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. "He was one of my quieter students, but he always desired to excel in engineering. Through perseverance and commitment to learning, Wade transformed himself into a promising young engineer prepared to take on new challenges."
Caldwell's mentorship helped open doors that would eventually place Solomon on a path toward NASA.
"When Dr. Hudson approached me about working together to suggest potential candidates for a NASA internship opportunity, Wade quickly emerged as a leading choice," Caldwell said. "His previous work on a NASA-supported project aligned with NASA's vision for sustainable transportation technology."
That preparation began long before the internship offer arrived.
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."
Seeking additional opportunities to grow professionally, Solomon later joined Caldwell's Educating Engineering Students Innovatively (EESI) program, an experiential learning initiative designed to bridge the gap between classroom instruction and industry experience.
Florida A&M University rising electrical engineering student Wade Solomon visits Blue
Origin's New Glenn rocket display during his Summer 2026 internship in Renton, Washington.
Solomon was selected from more than 900 applicants nationwide to participate in NASA's
Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) NextGEN Internship Program. (Photo courtesy
Wade Solomon)
Through the program, Solomon worked alongside faculty members Dr. Peter Cheetham and Dr. Lance Cooley on the NASA Integrated Zero-Emission Aviation (IZEA) project through a NASA University Leadership Initiative grant. During the six-month experience, he helped conduct experiments testing busbar designs for electrical resistance, gaining valuable hands-on experience in engineering research, design and collaboration.
"Being in the EESI program gave me a lot more professional experience in how to adapt to a real-world environment," Solomon said.
According to Caldwell, those experiences are exactly what the program was designed to accomplish.
"Wade's journey reflects the mission of the EESI program," Caldwell said. "EESI students do not simply graduate with engineering degrees; they develop the professional skills, technical competencies and practical experience that today's employers seek."
Now working with Blue Origin, Solomon is eager to learn from some of the experts in aerospace engineering and gain a deeper understanding of the industry.
"I want to know the thought process behind being a NASA employee and the thinking behind each of their inventions and innovations," Solomon said.
He also believes the experience will help distinguish him 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."
As a NASA CLPS NextGEN intern, Florida A&M University student Wade Solomon is spending
the summer at Blue Origin in Renton, Washington, where he is gaining firsthand experience
in the technologies shaping the future of space exploration. (Photo courtesy: Wade
Solomon)
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 is possible.
"Working closely with aerospace through this internship might end up changing my career path for the future," he said.
As Solomon continues his internship through August, university leaders say his accomplishment reflects the power of preparation, mentorship and opportunity.
For Solomon, the internship represents more than a summer opportunity. It is the next step in a journey fueled by determination, curiosity and a commitment to engineering excellence.
Media Contact:
Ashley Flete
Senior Communications Specialist
ashley1.flete@famu.edu
