Houston City College VICEROY Scholar makes history with Air Combat Command internship

Caressa Brown can hardly contain her excitement as she describes how she will spend her summer. The Houston City College (HCC) VICEROY Scholar has been selected to intern at the U.S. Air Force Air Combat Command at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia—becoming the first HCC student ever chosen for the prestigious VICEROY ENVOY internship.

Caressa Brown “This is so exciting. I am just in awe,” Brown said, still processing her achievement.

Brown will be embedded within Air Combat Command, a major operational component of the Department of Defense (DoD). The VICEROY ENVOY internship is a competitive, paid, mission‑focused opportunity within the VICEROY Scholars Initiative. The program places students in real‑world defense environments, where they support cyber, data, artificial intelligence, and other national security projects aligned with DoD workforce needs.

“From what I understand, during my time in this internship, I’ll be exposed to different operating systems—not only in aircraft, but across military operations as a whole,” Brown added.

Her path to the internship at Langley is unique. The 33‑year‑old began her career in the beauty industry, earning a cosmetology degree in the Dallas area and eventually owning a salon and spa. While operating her small business, Brown became increasingly interested in the operational side of entrepreneurship—managing inventory systems, building a website, and learning the digital infrastructure rather than outsourcing those responsibilities.

That hands‑on exposure sparked a deeper interest in technology and motivated Brown to return to school to pursue a degree in computer information systems (CIS).

At HCC, Brown is simultaneously completing two associate degrees—one in CIS and the other in business administration. She is set to walk at commencement next month with her CIS degree and will complete her remaining business courses this summer.

In addition to her academic achievements, Brown is also a participant in the U.S. Navy Baccalaureate Degree Completion Program and is working toward a commission as an Information Operations Officer—an ambition she’s had since wanting to join the military at age 17.

“Ms. Brown stands out for her professionalism, discipline and clear commitment to national service,” said Robert Glover, VICEROY principal investigator/program manager and interim executive director of HCC Military Education Programs. “As the first student from the college to enter the VICEROY ENVOY internship pipeline, she is setting a new standard and opening doors for future scholars who hope to follow a similar path.”

To learn more about the HCC VICEROY Scholars Program, visit hccs.edu/viceroy.