PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii –
Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility extended an Aloha to five scholars from the Department of Defense’s Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship-for-Service Program May 19, 2025, marking the first year PHNSY & IMF is participating in the workforce development program.
The scholars’ site visit was an opportunity to meet the shipyard team and see the facilities before joining what will be a multi-year program.
The SMART program is a combined educational and workforce development opportunity for STEM students that provides a pathway toward gaining valuable real-world experience. The program offers students pursuing degrees in STEM disciplines with funding for tuition, annual stipends, internship opportunities at a DoD sponsoring facility, and employment post-graduation at the sponsoring facility where they did their internship. The SMART Scholarship is a one-for-one commitment; for every year of degree funding, the student commits to working for a year with the DoD as a civilian employee.
PHNSY & IMF STEM Program coordinator Julia Cramer said participation in the SMART program advances the shipyard mission; delivering the science, technology, engineering, and math talent needed to maintain and modernize some of our nation's most advanced machinery.
“We’re so excited to have our first cohort of awardees out to the shipyard and mark a milestone in our work with the SMART program,” said Cramer.
The shipyard subject matter experts within the departments that will host the scholars for their internships and eventually hire them, conducted resume reviews and interviews, leveraging their insight into the hard and soft skills required for success in each position. According to Cramer, the shipyard requested 16 scholars based on what was needed across the departments in the shipyard. The DoD allotted PHNSY & IMF five scholars.
"We are thrilled to have five scholars joining us," said Cramer. "As a first-time SMART-sponsoring facility this is a strong start, and we will continue to grow as we get more of our shipyard community experienced in this program."
PHNSY & IMF Commander Capt. Ryan McCrillis echoed Cramer’s sentiments.
“This is a fantastic opportunity we were given by the DoD to choose these SMART scholars to fulfil our shipyard needs,” he said. “I look forward to them becoming part of our shipyard ohana and seeing their careers kick off first-hand.”
Jayme Shimomura, Innovation Branch Head and a SMART program point of contact, said that SMART scholars will be a vital component to ensuring the shipyard’s future.
“SMART is a strategic investment in workforce development, resulting in reduced time-to-proficiency for new hires, increased retention rates among program participants, and being able to hand-pick students who have the STEM skillsets we need for critical positions,” said Shimomura.
The students – Chayden Yoshida, Cody Nakamura, Cody Yahata, Emily Huynh and Riley Stewart– are currently pursuing degrees in Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Nuclear Engineering. Their areas of study will help the shipyard to recruit and retain the technical talent we need to keep the Navy fit to fight and develop our future leaders. Four out of the five scholars are from Hawaii originally.
“As a mom, I think of the local kids who want to go away to college, return home, serve their community, and succeed in a Hawaii that is becoming more expensive and difficult to build a life in,” said Cramer. “SMART can help us create that pathway; it’s really a win-win.”
PHNSY & IMF’s mission is to keep the Navy’s fleet “Fit to Fight" by repairing, maintaining, and modernizing the Navy's fast-attack submarines and surface ships. Strategically located in the heart of the Pacific, it is the most comprehensive fleet repair and maintenance facility between the U.S. West Coast and the Far East.