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Math, Mentorship, and Data Dreams: Blaine Nicola’s Internship Experience at STRATCOM

UNO senior Blaine Nicola has never been scared of a good challenge. This summer, he is working to bridge the gap between data science and national security through his internship with the U.S. Strategic Command Center.

  • published: 2024/09/19
  • contact: Bella Lockwood (Watson) - Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications
  • email: unonews@unomaha.edu
UNO senior, Blaine Nicola, stands in front of the Official Emblem U.S. Strategic Command Center located at Ofutt Airforce Base.

UNO senior, Blaine Nicole, spent his summer as a Data Analyst Intern at the U.S. Strategic Command Center located at Ofutt Airforce Base.

While many people might find the complexities of math intimidating, Blaine Nicola has always had a natural affinity for the subject. This natural interest led him to pursue a degree in mathematics at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), but his journey didn’t stop there.

During his first year at UNO, Nicola discovered the field of data science, a career that perfectly connected his skills in math with a growing demand for data analysis. Realizing that having a grasp of business principles could complement his technical expertise, Nicola decided to add a business minor to his academic plan.

This strategic combination of skills has served Nicola well, landing him an internship as a data scientist at the U.S. Strategic Command Center (STRATCOM) Center, located at Offutt Air Force Base. STRATCOM is a key player in the United States’ defense strategy, focusing on nuclear deterrence and global security.

As an intern, Nicola’s position focuses on analyzing human capital data, including vacancy rates and core values indexes, to support STRATCOM's mission.

“As a data scientist, you take the big raw data and basically pull something meaningful out of it,” Nicola said, summarizing his work.

Nicola discovered the internship through Handshake, UNO's career services platform, as part of his requirement for the Nebraska Career Scholarship, which is a scholarship designed for STEM majors at UNO. He credits this internship for giving him invaluable hands-on experience in his field.

“One of the most important things has been actually practicing data science, figuring out the skills I need to develop for my future career,” Nicola reflected.

The internship has also opened Nicola’s eyes to the significance and importance of STRATCOM’s work. The sense of community within STRATCOM, where different branches of the military work together, has also made a strong impression on him.

U.S. Navy Cmdr. Damon Sumerall, chief of staff for the human capital directorate of STRATCOM, has been overseeing Nicola throughout his time working at Offutt Airforce Base this summer. He called attention to the ways that internships can be mutually beneficial for students and organizations.

“Blaine’s technical acumen really helped our organization tackle some analytical projects by creating dashboards that provide decision quality work force metrics and other information about our people. At the same time Blaine was able to gain insight into what we do at U.S. Strategic Command to support our Nation’s Defense, said Sumerall. “Blaine attended the Strategic Deterrence Symposium at the CHI Center and had the chance to participate in several other related forums. This program is a great opportunity to expose students and young professionals to government service and affords our team the chance to understand the perspective of emerging professionals.”


Blaine often spent time collaborating with his mentor and peers during his internship.


Nicola’s journey through UNO has been supported by various mentors and professors, particularly Xiaoyue Cheng, Ph.D., a data science professor who has had a significant influence on his academic path.

“Dr. Cheng’s classes helped me pursue data science further,” Nicola said. “Her course was a big part of the reason I decided I wanted to have a career in data science. From the class itself, to the way that she taught, really helped me have a better idea of what I wanted to do.”

Looking ahead, Nicola hopes to return to STRATCOM following his graduation, an idea that has been strengthened by his positive experience during the internship.

Despite his growing interest in working for the government, Nicola remains rooted in his community. Raised in Mead, Nebraska, just west of Omaha, he appreciates the proximity to home that UNO offers.

“Omaha has always been home for me,” he said, adding that his overall experience at UNO has been so positive that he would likely return to pursue a master’s degree.

From scholarships to career services and faculty mentorship, UNO has helped Nicola not only find his path, but thrive in it. For many students, including Nicola, UNO is not just a steppingstone, but a community that fosters growth, both academically and personally.