The Maryland-National Capital Region Emergency Response System (MDERS) has launched a new internship initiative to invest in the next generation of emergency management and public safety professionals. The newly created Emergency Response Intern position, supported by the Operational Support Directorate, offers undergraduate and graduate students in the National Capital Region (NCR) the opportunity to gain firsthand experience working alongside the region’s leading public safety experts.

This unpaid internship is designed to provide students with an immersive, real-world introduction to the complexities of multidisciplinary emergency response coordination. Interns collaborate directly with professionals across the five primary disciplines represented by MDERS, emergency management, fire/rescue/EMS, law enforcement, hospitals, and public health, to better understand how these partners work together to strengthen regional preparedness and response capabilities.

Through the program, interns:

• Gain real-world experience collaborating with stakeholders from the five MDERS stakeholder discipline areas (emergency management, fire/EMS, law enforcement, hospitals, and public health).
• Learn and apply the POETEE (planning, organizing, equipping, training, exercising, evaluating) process for a project of interest.
• Receive structured mentorship from MDERS staff.
• Develop professional skills in stakeholder collaboration, networking, public speaking, research, writing, and editing.
• Deliver a capstone project identifying a potential for enhancement in one of the five disciplines and/or MDERS policies and procedures.

In October, MDERS welcomed their first Emergency Response Intern, Kayla, who comes to us after engaging with MDERS staff during HERoes on the HERizon, a summer camp focused on empowering and educating young women about opportunities in the emergency management and public safety fields. Kayla’s emergency management experience includes a nine-month fellowship with the Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management. Furthermore, she is an active member of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP). In this position she contributes to search and rescue and disaster relief efforts, focusing on airborne operations and communications. These are only two examples that reflect her commitment to teamwork, leadership, and community service, qualities that align seamlessly with MDERS’ mission.

Through this internship, Kayla is excited to further her knowledge of exercise development, connect with regional stakeholders, and gain a better understanding of training and daily operations in public safety and related fields. Her work with MDERS will not only help advance her professional goals but also contribute meaningfully to ongoing initiatives that enhance the region’s preparedness and response posture.

As MDERS continues to foster new opportunities for emerging professionals, the Emergency Response Internship stands as a testament to the organization’s commitment to developing talent, strengthening collaboration, and building a resilient public safety future for the Maryland-National Capital Region. If you have any interest in applying for an internship with MDERS, please use this link to complete the process.

Written by Kayla & Elizabeth Adams