As 2024 draws to a close, the Jack D. Gordon Institute's Intelligence Community Centers for Academic Excellence (IC-CAE) Intelligence Fellowship workforce development program celebrates a semester packed with opportunities to prepare the next generation of intelligence professionals. From courses on Writing for Intelligence and National Security, Cyber Threat Intelligence, and History of Intelligence and Emerging Technology, to thought provoking roundtables and workshops with industry experts and intelligence professionals, the fall semester offered the Intelligence Fellows a wealth of experience to cultivate their potential and sharpen their abilities.
A Semester of Growth and Connection
Defined as best in class, the Gordon Institute's IC-CAE Intelligence Fellowship earned recognition from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence as one of the nation's premier workforce development programs that cultivates the next generation of intelligence professionals. Open to students from all academic backgrounds, the program offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience and mentorship from one of the 18 U.S. intelligence agencies. It aims to bridge academic foundations with real-world intelligence challenges, equipping students with the tools and insights necessary for success in this dynamic field.
This fall, the program delivered on this mission by hosting a series of roundtable discussions featuring distinguished professionals from across the intelligence and national security sectors. Among the standout speakers were Don M. Holstead Deputy Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, who headlined the Fellowship's Induction Ceremony back at the start of the semester. During his keynote remarks, Deputy Director Holstead shared how mentorship shaped his career and provided advice on finding the right mentors and building a successful career within the intelligence community. Following his remarks, Deputy Director Holstead transitioned to a fireside chat moderated by Gordon Institute Program Alumni and current Department of Defense professional, Ariana R. During the fireside chat, he addressed the evolving global threat landscape, emphasizing that recent incidents, such as the October 7th attack by Hamas, further highlight the importance of counterterrorism efforts, amidst the 23rd anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
In September, the fellows met Steve Murphy and Javier Peña, the ex-DEA agents and inspiration behind the Netflix hit series NARCOS. Murphy and Peña recounted their time working alongside Colombian authorities to take down the infamous Medellin Cartel drug kingpin Pablo Escobar and shared how their intelligence careers impacted their lives even to the present day.
As the calendar flipped to October, the fellows continues their engagement of intelligence professionals meeting Dr. Vince Houghton, Director of the National Cryptologic Museum at the National Security Agency and former historian of the International Spy Museum, and Eric Driggs, U.S. Coast Guard Officer and congressional liaison for U.S. Southern Command. Houghton and Driggs participated in a Fireside Chat to discuss their book Covert City: The Cold War and the Making of Miami.
The fellows also participated in a semester-long Insider's Guide to Careers in National Security and Intelligence Speaker Series that featured professionals from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, MITRE Corporation, Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and Defense Intelligence Agency. The Insider's guest speakers provided insights about internships and career opportunities within their respective organizations.
Finally, to cap the fall semester the fellows participated in a National Security Roundtable with Admiral (retired) Craig S. Faller, former Commander of U.S. Southern Command and Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs Senior Fellow, who spoke to the fellows about leadership, service, and love of country and community.
Building Community and Confidence
Beyond the senior leadership engagement and structured sessions, the Intelligence Fellowship facilitated numerous opportunities for research and mentorship. As part of the program requirements, all fellows research, write, and brief on a specific functional and geographic area of interest to U.S. national security. The program matches students with mentors from the intelligence community to tap into research insights that will help them produce an open-source intelligence assessment at the conclusion of the program. One of the featured research mentorship projects included National Counterterrorism Center officers mentoring students on violent extremism and terrorism related research projects. The fellows will deliver their research findings in February 2025 at the NCTC headquarters in Washington, D.C., as part of the fellowship spring break intelligence community professionalization trip.
Looking Ahead
As the Intelligence Fellowship gears up for the spring semester, the Gordon Institute remains committed to nurturing and cultivating a pipeline of diverse, agile, and ethically minded intelligence professionals. Upcoming initiatives include expanded opportunities to meet IC recruiters via one-to-one professional consultations, more in-depth technical workshops on national and cyber security, additional practitioner roundtables featuring leaders in intelligence and security, and a weeklong spring break Washington, D.C., professionalization trip.
For students considering a career in intelligence, the IC-CAE Intelligence Fellowship offers a unique platform to develop essential skills, build connections, and gain confidence to make a meaningful impact.
Through its comprehensive approach, the program equips its graduates with the tools and resources to help them excel in the intelligence field. It consistently places 80% of its fellows in top intelligence agencies, including the FBI, CIA, NSA, and NCTC. This year's cohort continues this legacy of excellence.
Are you ready to join us? Learn more about our program and how you can be part of the next cohort HERE. Together, we can shape the future of intelligence.