For my STEP project, I participated in an internship with the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA). I got to shadow both background investigators, industrial security representatives, and an investigative assistant. I also built and analyzed a survey that gauged gaps in background investigator training.
I realized how important our national security is and why good analysis is so important. I got hands-on experience with professionals who are protecting the country from insider threats daily. I saw all of the different procedures and preventative measures for insider threats and spoke with counterintelligence analysts about how important analysis of insider threat reports is. I also learned more information on how the private sector helps support our national defense mission. While shadowing the industrial security representative I got to visit many defense contractors and learn how they operate and collaborate with the U.S. government.
I already touched on it some, but shadowing professionals in the national defense arena really opened my eyes to how important our national defense is. I spoke with background investigators and heard different stories of how they are often the first to see signs that somebody could be attempting to gain a clearance for nefarious purposes.
When learning about industrial security, I saw how important it is tha companies that have a contract with the government follow the rules and regulations set in place by DCSA. The industrial security representative told me stories of companies that were so lax with their classified information they ended up losing their clearance and their contract with the government. He explained to me why it was important that companies follow these rules.
Getting to experience first hand how these professionals support the national defense mission impacted me deeply. I was able to envision myself performing these jobs and it expanded my knowledge of what kind of jobs there are in the security and intelligence job field. I realized I really enjoy industrial security and am currently considering returning as an industrial security intern.
Learning about the different career fields in the security and intelligence industry opened my eyes to a whole new career path I wouldn’t have considered previously. I learned how flexible DCSA is with changing careers and I am now more open to different career options such as industrial security.
I will use this information when applying for more internships and future jobs. I will not close myself off to opportunities and I will say yes to anything that comes my way. This internship has given me a foot in the door for government work so I have way more options now for a career than I did previously.