HARRISBURG, PA — When most people think about user experience (UX) design, military strategy and wargaming aren’t usually the first things that come to mind. But for Michael Donar, an Interactive Media major at Harrisburg University of Science & Technology (HU) graduating in December 2025, his passion for UX design led him to an unexpected and highly respected environment: the Carlisle Army War College.
Through an internship with the Department of Strategic Wargaming, Michael applied his skills in user experience design, research, and game-based systems to real-world military simulations, helping redesign complex financial models and developing a symbol-generation website used in wargaming scenarios.
His experience not only challenged his assumptions about where his degree could take him, but also demonstrated how HU students can apply their skills in innovative, high-impact settings far beyond traditional industries.
Below, Michael shares more about his day-to-day work, the skills he developed, and how this experience shaped his career goals, along with advice for students looking to pursue internships in college.
Can you briefly describe your internship?
I worked at the Carlisle Army War College in collaboration with the Department of Strategic Wargaming (DSW).
What kind of projects or responsibilities have you been working on?
I was given two projects to work on: one relating to a redesign of one of the college’s high-level financial situations for the military, and the second — and largest— was the creation of a website that allowed symbol generation for wargaming.
What has been your favorite part or most meaningful part of the experience so far?
The most meaningful part of my internship was having the opportunity to work in this environment as someone who never thought their major would give them this opportunity. Being able to get my foot in the door in such a respected place allowed me to understand how my skills in UX and user research could be transformed to fit a variety of roles.
What inspired you to pursue an internship like this?
My main inspiration was the Game 380 special topics class, focusing on games as simulation, by Dr. Greg Loring-Albright. Throughout the class, I got progressively more interested in wargaming and the uses of gaming outside of the entertainment industry. The project of making a physical wargame was a great project that I believe was the main reason I was accepted into this internship.
What skills have you gained or strengthened during your internship?
Through the internship, and especially the first project with the financial simulation, I was able to gain new skills in understanding how to program in R and utilize the Shiny library within R. I improved my skills in researching preexisting code and ensuring that my code was set up for continuation once I left the project. I also learned more about how the government works and the experience I could have if I continued working for places like that.
How did HU help you find or prepare for this opportunity?
Career Services assisted me not only by helping me look for roles that matched my niche interest in wargame design, but also by ensuring that all my application materials looked as good as they could. Emily Lupi assisted me in looking for connections and using her contacts at the United States Army War College to give me a line of communication. If I had done it alone, I would have only found out-of-date information about internships and assumed the opportunity was never available.
How has this experience helped you clarify your career goals or interests?
Through working in this experience, I was able to understand how wargame design works in a real-world setting and the research that goes into the process. I also learned about the current topics being explored in wargaming, such as AI and transforming existing physical games into digital games. Also, I knew acronyms are a common usage in the army, but the amount of them I had to learn was staggering.
Has anything surprised you about the work or the industry?
The number of games that are produced physically and the in-depth knowledge and research that is conducted to ensure the games can model real-world scenarios.
Why do you think internships are valuable for HU students specifically?
Internships help HU students understand their field while also giving them the chance to explore areas they never imagined working in. They offer an environment where you can learn, make mistakes, and discover new fields or interests while making connections for the future.
How has this internship made you feel more confident or prepared for your future career?
Not only did this internship allow me to learn a solid base of R programming, but it also gave me the chance to introduce myself to a small circle of government workers in a field that often only hires from within the military. I was able to prove my skills and knowledge to this group and gain connections that I can leverage further if I continue in this field.
What’s one standout moment or achievement from your internship that you’re proud of?
My most standout moment was meeting a Major in the Army and my mentor and explaining the code I worked on for the better part of the internship. This was a moment to show people that I had skills and knowledge in programming and that I was able to showcase these skills to individuals higher up than me. It gave me a sense of respect to have my work appreciated at such a high level.
What do you want incoming or prospective students to know about the internships and overall opportunities at HU?
Be willing to ask for internships, not only through Career Services but also by emailing people directly. The worst someone can do is not reply or say no. Never think that just because you don’t have the skills listed on the application you can’t try to apply. Use every skill and tool you can to get yourself into a position where you feel that you are having a meaningful experience. Look in places you least expect, and try the niche roles, positions, and companies you’ve never heard of.
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