A full-time summer internship at Vandenberg Space Force Base is open to STEM students, including Cuesta College students. 

The eight-week program is available for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, UCSB and regional community college students to apply. The application deadline is February 27. Students can find the application on the UCSB website, then select the portal specific to their institution.

On Aug. 29, 2025, Regional Economic Action Coalition (REACH) Central Coast released an article announcing, “The State of California has awarded $9.5 million to REACH and a coalition of regional partners to establish Space Vandenberg.” Some of those “regional partners” include UCSB and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, which helped kick-start the internship program.

The internship is a collaborative program that will allow students to explore career pathways at Vandenberg Space Force Base. The website also states that interns will “gain technical and professional skills relevant to current workforce demands.” Interns will receive a $8,000 summer stipend and will earn a U.S. interim security clearance upon completion of the internship. 

The Space Vandenberg intern selection committee will follow the criteria as provided on the UCSB website to select the students based on their applications. The committee is looking for: “Professionalism and team dynamics, academic potential, motivation, student impact, technical skills or prior experience.” 

Eligible students must be 18 years or older, full-time undergraduate, STEM major students attending a participating institution, U.S. citizens, and must have completed the required prerequisite coursework.

For more information regarding the internship or applications, visit the UCSB website.