Construction and Facilities Management Office Highlights 2026 Internship Program
Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs
September 29, 2026
Courtesy Story by LeeAnn Abrams
The Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs' Construction and Facilities Management Office (CFMO) had another successful summer with its 2026 internship program. Three students worked alongside seasoned mentors to gain valuable experience:
- Calfyn Chen, UW Madison, 4th-year electrical engineering student from Jefferson City, MO
- Ethan Abel, UW Stevens Point, senior forest management student from Green Bay, WI
- Luukas Vainio, UW Madison, senior data science student from Espoo, Finland
Intern Projects and Achievements
Calfyn Chen
Worked closely with Senior Project Manager Kolt Knutson on project statements for exhaust fans, lighting, fire alarm inspections, and boiler replacements.
- Updated the CFMO project management flow chart for training purposes.
- Documented the usage of CHP (Controlled Humidity Protection) units across the state.
- Learned about arc flash dangers and created an email template to communicate these risks.
- Built a network of contacts in his field and traveled across the state.
Ethan Abel
Collaborated with Facility Operations Specialist Aaron Wolf on forestry initiatives.
- Pruned over 90 trees for health and maintenance at various facilities.
- Planted 40+ trees obtained from the Department of Natural Resources at Camp Williams, achieving a 95% survival rate.
- Saved the state over $7,500 by performing these tasks in-house.
- Practiced urban tree identification and expanded his professional network.
Luukas Vainio
Worked with Senior Data Analyst Jason LaFever.
- Developed a framework in Power Business Intelligence to gather data on roofs, boilers, chillers, furnaces, generators, and water heaters from Asset Essentials and the Builder database.
- Created a searchable, interactive, and intuitive database with clear visuals and graphs.