Lucio Saracco (’26)

This summer I had the privilege of working at the Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE) office within the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Located physically in the Pentagon, CAPE acts as an internal thinktank and consulting firm for the Department of Defense.

As part of my work, I analyzed multiple policy proposals to enhance the right-size and footprint and posture of U.S. forces overseas to bolster U.S. national security objectives and deter adversaries. As part of the analysis, I developed and prepared detailed recommendations for posture policy options that balanced U.S. interests and strategic international partnerships.

In July I got to spend a night on the U.S.S Iwo Jima visiting the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). Here I had the privilege of meeting some great Americans and witness the awesome power of an amphibious assault ship. I also visited the Goddard Space Flight Center, home to one of NASA's largest clean rooms.

During my internship, I got to work with all the services, and met some amazing Americans along the way, both in uniform and on the civilian side.

Washington, D.C. was an amazing place to call home, and I am very grateful to my mentors at CAPE, my fellow interns at MIT and UVA, and our sponsors for making this such a memorable summer.