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Security for a New Century Internship

 

The Security for a New Century internship offers students an opportunity to be part of one of the most unique programs in Washington. SNC is an ongoing briefing series for Congressional audiences, which seeks to inform policymakers on national security and foreign policy issues. We use a broad definition of "security" in planning our events, and greatly rely on the fresh ideas and creativity interns can bring to the program. This internship will demand practical and creative research skills, both in and out of the office. As an SNC intern, you will have the opportunity to interact with a variety of experts working on national and global security issues. You will be relied upon to research and network in the DC foreign policy and security community. This internship will give you exposure to the academics of policy making, the think tank world, and the culture of Capitol Hill.

 

Main Responsibilities Include:

  • attending briefings in Washington (on the Hill, or at other institutions)
  • identifying the issues behind the newspaper headlines
  • contacting potential speakers, researching newspapers, journals, books, etc.
  • updating the website to reflect upcoming and recent events

 

Generally, strong candidates for this position would have the following qualifications:

  • strong interest in national security and global security issues
  • excellent writing skills
  • friendly disposition, and ability to network
  • ability to work independently
  • advanced undergrad, recent graduate or graduate student
  • available at least 20 hours a week


       Previous interns have said:

"My experience with the Security for a New Century program was extraordinarily positive.  It gave me the opportunity to witness the interaction between Congress, the greater DC policy community, and a broad range of security experts.  The program encourages creativity, independence, and networking skills.  This is the perfect opportunity for anyone with a strong interest in a broad range of security issues, and the desire to contribute to the education of our nation's policy makers." 

 

"Overall, I found my experience at Stimson a very positive one. Interning for the SNC program provided me with an opportunity to learn something about a wide variety of topics and, therefore, to identfy issues or topics that I could further pursue as part of my graduate program. I appreciated the collaborative working relationship I had with the Congressional Fellow who was always willing to consider my ideas for topics and speakers. I would certainly council anyone looking at internship possibilities to consider working with the SNC program."

 

"SNC was a great introduction to working in D.C. Unlike a lot of other internships, it allowed to me attend interesting meetings in a multitude of institutions rather than being at a desk all day. I was asked to do research on possible briefing topics, which also allowed me to take significant personal initiative. Furthermore, I thought the staff did an excellent job providing advice for my future goals, which demonstrated a level of personal involvement in the internship program that I really appreciated."