Logan Hammell, Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2029

Where are you interning, and what is your role?

I am interning at the Rowan University Sustainable Facilities Center, serving as an Engineering Assessor for the BUILDER Sustainment Management System program supporting the New Jersey Army National Guard. My role is to travel to different military sites and inspect the mechanical systems they have present. Once the inspections have been completed, I document their condition and input the data into BUILDER to support the long-term success of the facility.

What projects or assignments are you working on?

I was previously working on inventory and condition assessments across the NJARNG facilities. During this, I would identify deficiencies, evaluate system conditions, and upload component data into BRED/BUILDER. I am currently working with REVIT to help create and label floor plans to help simplify future inspections.

What does a typical day look like?

During June, I conduct on-site facility assessments at New Jersey Army National Guard locations, completing structured walkthroughs of mechanical and life-safety systems, photographing components, and documenting deficiencies for BUILDER SMS. In July and August, my work shifts to the data processing phase, where I input all collected field information into BRED, perform detailed quality-control checks, and prepare finalized assessment packages for submission to the National Guard.

What Rowan class or experience has helped you most?

The Rowan course that has helped me the most would be Intro to Mechanical Design. It gave me a strong foundation in systems thinking, technical terminology, and understanding how mechanical systems operate. The skills I gained from that directly help my understanding of plumbing and conveying equipment.

What new technical or professional skills have you developed?

I’ve developed hands on skills in equipment assessment, BUILDER SMS data entry, system condition rating, and REVIT.

What has surprised you about working in the civil engineering field?

I’ve been surprised by how much interdisciplinary knowledge is required. Even though BUILDER is a civil engineering driven program, the work involves mechanical systems, electrical components, life-safety systems, and building operations. The field is far more integrated and hands on than I expected.

How has a faculty member or mentor supported you?

My mentors at the Sustainable Facilities Center, especially the Team leads, have supported me by providing training, reviewing my assessments, and helping me understand BUILDER’s rating logic.

What advice would you give another student pursuing an internship?

My advice to another student pursuing an internship is to take initiative from the very beginning. Ask questions early, stay open to learning unfamiliar systems, and be willing to step outside your comfort zone. Not having done something before is never a reason to avoid it.

Complete the sentence: “This summer, I am helping to…”

...improve the long term efficiency of the New Jersey Army National Guard facilities by performing accurate, standardized BUILDER assessments of critical building systems.