What is your job/position?
Senior Analyst for the U.S. Department of Defense; I conduct research on current events, then draft products and deliver briefings relating to national security for US policymakers and military officials. I perform in-depth analysis into foreign militaries, including their defense systems, budgets, and leaders, shaping key decisions at the highest levels of government and impacting US military operations throughout the world.
Describe the path that took you from your American Studies degree to your current career or life situation.
Courses at BYU in national security affairs, foreign policy/relations, intelligence studies, and US history led me to pursue an MS in International Relations and National Security Affairs from Troy University while I applied to various government intelligence agencies. I also pursued a related internship and applied for a co-op program to facilitate a security clearance.
What are the specific competencies you cultivated as an American Studies student that you now use in your professional life and that set you apart from your colleagues?
Patriotism, passion for US history, data analysis, research skills, and written and verbal skills. These skills gave me a head start into a career in national security analysis.
What are some of the surprising ways in which your American Studies degree has helped you in your professional or personal life?
American Studies instilled in me a passion for our nation’s history and the need for national security to preserve US interests at home and abroad.
What do you wish you had known as an American Studies student? What advice would you share with current students?
Pursue your passion, not just money. Find a niche within the major and seek career opportunities, even if that requires an advanced degree. Several people warned me that American Studies wouldn’t offer many career opportunities, but I persisted nonetheless. It was very much worth it!