By Alexander Begej
This summer, I was able to enroll in the International Security and Intelligence (ISI) Program at the prestigious University of Cambridge. ISI is a four-week summer academic program that studies international security and intelligence issues through a British perspective. Much like at SSP, the ISI faculty is comprised of acting practitioners, such as the former head of British Secret Intelligence Service, Sir Richard Dearlove and former CIA human intelligence officer and Georgetown alumnus, Dr. David Gioe. The curriculum at ISI was conducted in a unique British teaching style that I found quite refreshing after many years of purely American academic experiences.
Why did you choose this particular program? Please be specific.
I chose to enroll in the ISI program because I was able to devote my summer to studying the field of intelligence. The Security Studies Program at Georgetown University offers a wide variety of unique and challenging courses; but, because I am also pursuing a Certificate in Eurasian, Russian, and Eastern European Studies, I am unable to fully take advantage of the relevant courses that would better position me for a career in intelligence. Now, since I was able to take a wide range of courses, such as the British approach to intelligence, human intelligence practices, and various intelligence case studies, I am now able to devote more of my Georgetown credits towards my certificate and regional interest.
How did you come up with your project and why does it interest you?
In addition to the lectures, seminars, and conferences that are a part of the ISI curriculum, I was required to conduct an independent research project under the personal guidance of a supervising professor. Coming from a family of Ukrainian immigrants, my interests naturally gravitated towards the Ruso-Ukrainian war. After several rounds of review with my supervising professor, my project evolved into a focus on Russia’s new niche military capabilities and how the US and NATO can derive lessons from the war in Ukraine to better prepare themselves for a potential confrontation with Russia. My supervisor was particularly helpful throughout the process as he provided excellent leads and recommendations while also challenging me with constructive criticisms.
How does your internship sponsor or agency contribute to the mission of national security?
The program shines a light on an often-underrepresented component of international relations, intelligence. Program professors strive to provide a foundation for the next generation of intelligence officers by analyzing historical international events, such as the Cuban missile crisis, through an intelligence lens. The program also provides necessary clarity on counterintelligence and covert action operations, which often play a more opaque but still vital role in statecraft. In fact, my favorite lecture was conducted by FBI Special Agent Paul Woodbury who outlined in detail the long term counterintelligence operation to arrest Kendall Myers and Ana Montes, Cuban sympathizers, government agents, and some of the most damaging spies in US history. Thanks lectures such as this, emerging professionals such as myself are more capable of contributing to American national security in a professional capacity.
Why did you choose this particular program? Please be specific.
I chose to enroll in the ISI program because I was able to devote my summer to studying the field of intelligence. The Security Studies Program at Georgetown University offers a wide variety of unique and challenging courses; but, because I am also pursuing a Certificate in Eurasian, Russian, and Eastern European Studies, I am unable to fully take advantage of the relevant courses that would better position me for a career in intelligence. Now, since I was able to take a wide range of courses, such as the British approach to intelligence, human intelligence practices, and various intelligence case studies, I am now able to devote more of my Georgetown credits towards my certificate and regional interest.
How did you come up with your project and why does it interest you?
In addition to the lectures, seminars, and conferences that are a part of the ISI curriculum, I was required to conduct an independent research project under the personal guidance of a supervising professor. Coming from a family of Ukrainian immigrants, my interests naturally gravitated towards the Ruso-Ukrainian war. After several rounds of review with my supervising professor, my project evolved into a focus on Russia’s new niche military capabilities and how the US and NATO can derive lessons from the war in Ukraine to better prepare themselves for a potential confrontation with Russia. My supervisor was particularly helpful throughout the process as he provided excellent leads and recommendations while also challenging me with constructive criticisms.
How does your internship sponsor or agency contribute to the mission of national security?
The program shines a light on an often-underrepresented component of international relations, intelligence. Program professors strive to provide a foundation for the next generation of intelligence officers by analyzing historical international events, such as the Cuban missile crisis, through an intelligence lens. The program also provides necessary clarity on counterintelligence and covert action operations, which often play a more opaque but still vital role in statecraft. In fact, my favorite lecture was conducted by FBI Special Agent Paul Woodbury who outlined in detail the long term counterintelligence operation to arrest Kendall Myers and Ana Montes, Cuban sympathizers, government agents, and some of the most damaging spies in US history. Thanks lectures such as this, emerging professionals such as myself are more capable of contributing to American national security in a professional capacity.