Justin Ford
How Does My Internship Relate to My Major?
By Justin Ford
Summer 2014
As an International Relations major with a concentration in foreign policy and security studies as well as an Arabic minor, I knew that coming to Washington for an internship would be a great opportunity to finally gain real world experience in these areas. I realized that Boston had some, but not a lot of related opportunities that I could take advantage of during the summer before my senior year. So after applying for many internships, I finally received one with the National Defense University.
The NDU is national security institution focused on advanced joint education and leader development. It supports the joint warfighter by providing professional military education to the US armed forces, representatives from other government agencies, and international students in order to develop leaders that have the ability to “operate and creatively think in a complex world.” At NDU I work at the Eisenhower School, which educates its students in strategic leadership and developing national security strategy, as well as in evaluating and managing resources in the execution of that strategy. During the school year, the faculty teaches various classes in subjects such as economics, national security strategy, cyber security/warfare, resource management, acquisition, and leadership.
I currently work under a professor completing research on intelligence and cyber security/warfare, helping him develop courses he will teach in the upcoming school year. I am utilizing knowledge and skills used from my BU IR classes related to intelligence, while also learning so much more about these fields. I am happy that I am able to take what I am majoring in and apply this to my own interests. It’s also nice to know that in some ways, I am helping the university, and indirectly the Deptartment of Defense, to complete its goals. Taking classes related to foreign policy, intelligence, security studies, international relations history, etc. is interesting, but finally using what I have learned to help NDU makes interning here so worthwhile. It is a very rewarding experience working in an environment that helps to educate future leaders who will help execute the nation’s national security strategy.
Justin Ford is an International Relations major interning at the National Defense University.
