From Intern to Impact: Meet Marley Walker

Turning Communication Skills into Mission-Focused Proposal

A native of San Antonio, Texas, Marley Walker completed her bachelor’s degree in communications with a minor in business at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. She joined the Leidos QTC Growth team as a proposal writer intern. “I was inspired to pursue an internship at Leidos QTC because I wanted to understand how my writing could make a meaningful impact while continuing to strengthen my communication skills,” she said. Supporting the proposal operations team introduced her to government contracting and technical writing while allowing her to contribute to proposals that helped expand healthcare access.

"The most meaningful part of my experience was gaining exposure to the proposal process through team meetings, collaboration with colleagues, and discussions surrounding active proposals," she said. "Seeing how teams developed strategic solutions and supported programs with meaningful outcomes reinforced that this was an industry I wanted to be a part of and continue growing in."

Walker credited much of her professional growth to the mentorship and encouragement she received from her supervisor and colleagues. She shared, "They taught me the fundamentals of government contracting and developing meaningful, customer-focused proposals. One of the most valuable lessons I learned was how to craft a compelling proposal narrative that not only engages the customer, but clearly demonstrates how our solutions support their mission."

The pivotal moment that solidified Walker’s decision to make Leidos QTC the place to build her full-time career was during the Summer Intern Sessions, where guest speakers such as Lesly Padilla, Shawn Mellon, and others shared their career paths and advice. Walker noted, "Hearing about their long tenures with LQTC, the collaborative culture they described, and the meaningful impact they had made for both colleagues and customers helped me envision a long-term future with the company."

As Walker became more involved in proposal development, she also gained a greater appreciation for how the work happening behind the scenes supports the company's mission. Today, Walker serves as a proposal technical writer supporting the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Rural Health lines of business. Her current work helps communicate Leidos QTC's capabilities and innovative healthcare solutions to customers. “Through collaboration with subject matter experts and proposal teams, I help to translate complex information about Leidos QTC’s work into clear, compelling narratives that align with customer needs and mission objectives. By supporting proposals that expand access to healthcare for Veterans, Service Members, and rural communities, I contribute to initiatives that improve service delivery and positively impact the populations we serve," she said. She also had the opportunity to travel to company headquarters in Reston, Virginia, where she worked alongside a Leidos proposal team on a VA proposal.

For students considering an internship at the company, Walker advised, "Be curious, ask questions, and show initiative in everything you do, even when you are still learning. Going the extra mile and maintaining a positive attitude will not only help you grow professionally, but also leave a lasting impression on those around you.”