NHHC Internship: Closes 31 March
The Underwater Archaeology Branch (UAB) of the Naval History & Heritage Command (NHHC), the official history program of the Department of the Navy, is located at Washington’s historical Navy Yard. The office serves four main functions:
- Cultural Resource Management, Historic Preservation & Policy Development – Resource management involves implementing an overall cultural heritage policy, ensuring Navy remains in compliance with federal laws and regulations, forming a sunken military craft inventory, crafting individual site management plans, coordinating violation enforcement, coordinating human remains issues, and extensive collaboration with federal, state, local agencies, international counterparts, the non-profit sector, the private sector and the public to best manage sunken military craft.
- Archaeological & Historical Research – Intrinsically tied to the management of sunken military craft are the inventory, survey, assessment, documentation, research and monitoring of these ship and aircraft wrecks. NHHC undertakes archaeological research as a lead agency, as a collaborator, as a guide, and as a monitor and permit-issuer in the case of external archaeological surveys and/or actions that disturb sunken military craft.
- Artifact Conservation & Curation – All historic artifacts recovered from an underwater environment require some form of conservation and a proper curation environment to remain in a stable condition. NHHC, via its Archaeology & Conservation Laboratory, is directly responsible for about 14,000 artifacts originating from sunken military craft.
- Education, Public Relations & Information Dissemination – Public education and outreach is a fundamental mission component of NHHC as it helps promote the Navy’s heritage and preserve its sunken military craft from disturbance. Information dissemination occurs through channels such as publications, presentations, lectures, a web and social media presence, and press coverage is pursued on a regular basis.
Interns can expect to work on tasks such as: preparing, undertaking, or following up on field investigations; conducting archaeological and historical research; reviewing, editing or preparing reports; synthesizing information and preparing policy or case study briefings; conserving artifacts; assisting with the UAB artifact inventory, management, and loan programs; coordinating partner and inter-agency correspondence; and participating in public outreach and education initiatives such as tours, lectures, presentations, and web presence.
