You don’t have to choose between innovation and impact

This fall has reminded me why we started NobleReach in the first place.

Last month, I spoke at the Military Officers Association of America’s TotalForce+ Conference, an event that brought together thousands of active-duty personnel, Guard and Reserve members, veterans and more. My remarks focused on reimagining civilian talent pathways, but what struck me most wasn’t the policy discussions. Instead, it was the underlying question everyone kept circling back to: Why do we still treat working in the private sector and serving the nation as mutually exclusive choices?

They aren’t.

The truth is, America’s biggest challenges demand people who can move fluidly between sectors, who understand both the speed of innovation and the complexity of public mission. Not as a career compromise, but as a deliberate path to impact.

That’s what we’re building at NobleReach. Our Scholars Program creates structured pathways for professionals to bring their skills to government work, proving that entrepreneurial thinking and public service don’t just coexist, they amplify each other.

Applications for our next cohort of Scholars are open until December 10. If you’re ready to see what’s possible when purpose meets scale, or if you know someone who should apply, visit us at noblereach.org/scholars.

Arun Gupta, CEO

Around NobleReach

In partnership with the United States Coast Guard, NobleReach launched a 14-week internship program in Washington D.C. earlier this year to support the newly established Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) Program Executive Office (PEO). The fall 2025 internship cohort consists of five undergraduate and graduate students studying artificial intelligence, engineering or science-related fields from across the United States. Learn more about the program and its impact here.

The U.S. National Science Foundation has selected NobleReach Foundation to lead a groundbreaking multiyear pilot initiative to accelerate the translation of emerging technologies for national security applications. Through this major award, NobleReach’s Innovation team will engage two NSF Innovation I-Corps™ Hubs structured around four pillars: commercialization assistance, local capability building, talent network development, and capital catalyzation. Over two years, we’ll shepherd an estimated 12 to 20 research projects critical to national security through milestone-based development plans, creating replicable frameworks and AI-enabled assets that can be extended across the broader lab-to-market ecosystem—advancing both regional innovation and talent pipelines critical to national security.

Applications for the 2026 NobleReach Scholars Cohort are open! NobleReach Scholars make a real difference for the future of our country and drive meaningful impact in public service. They also benefit from a dedicated mentor, a kickoff bootcamp, and ongoing programming designed to support their professional growth. Join a welcoming community and form lasting relationships with your cohort and alumni network by applying today!

 Where in the World is NobleReach?

Clockwise from top left: NobleReach staff connect with 2026 Scholars candidates at Afrotech, Arun Gupta speaks at MOAA’s Totalforce+ Conference, Dr. Tom Fewer participates in a panel at GCEC, and Arun Gupta speaks at the upNEXT conference

How You Can Make A Difference

If you are interested in hosting an exceptional emerging leader in STEM or business for a one-year fellowship within your federal, state, municipal government agency or mission-driven organization. We’d love to discuss how you can partner with our Scholars Team.

Host a Scholar!

In today’s crowded digital landscape, breaking through the noise to reach professionals interested in making public service as part of their career journey is one of our biggest challenges. You can make a real difference by following NobleReach on social media and sharing our content with your networks. When you engage with our posts you help us connect the next generation of technologists with mission-driven opportunities to make a difference.

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