My name is Rafa del Rosario and I am a second-year MPP at Batten. Last summer, I served as the Internship Advisor for the National Security Policy Center (NSPC) and the National Security and Data Policy Institute (NSDPI). The NSPC and NSDPI are UVA’s national security research hubs. The NSPC is tied specifically to Batten, and focuses on teaching, research, and policy engagement. The NSDPI is a newer organization, and brings in researchers from across the university to combine expertise in data science, AI, research computing, and policy. Both organizations are intellectual powerhouses staffed by some of the best people you will meet in Charlottesville.
I have been in or around the national security space since 2014, both in and out of uniform, I knew I wanted to find an internship within this space. Even though I find the policy issues intellectually stimulating and generally important, my interest in national security has really been cultivated by the people. Getting to work with passionate people who are willing to sacrifice so much for something bigger than themselves is what this space is all about and why I wanted to continue working in this area.
I first found out about this opportunity through both NSPC staff and Batten’s Career Advancement Team. Dr. Sarah Hanks sent out an email in mid-March with internships specifically for Batten students. One of these was the NSPC, which offered 2 positions for post-grads, who would serve as the internship advisors, and 5 for accelerated MPPs. During my application process, Dr. Hanks and former Career Advancement Team member Mr. Hiss were pivotal in answering questions and reviewing cover letters.
During the internship, my main responsibilities were communicating the goals and standards of the NSPC staff to the intern cohort, walking with the other interns as they progressed through their projects, and giving the interns broadening experiences within the national security space. Day-to-day, this looked like holding a morning “stand-up” meeting and reviewing research progress. The day-to-day tasks would be punctuated by finding and facilitating guest speakers for the intern cohort. These guest speakers came from all over the national security and foreign affairs space and gave the interns the opportunity to learn from and network with professionals at every stage of their careers.
In addition to these day-to-day responsibilities, I had the opportunity to spend the first part of the summer focused on energy industry competition between the U.S. and China. The culmination of this project was an extremely comprehensive literature review of the energy industries in both countries and a longform briefing of the research to industry professionals. While this topic was not a “typical” national security one, it helped us see that national security is truly everywhere.
What surprised me most about this specific internship was how much autonomy I was given. In my time in the uniformed part of the national security enterprise, I had very little autonomy, and for some unfounded reason, I expected the same at the NSPC. As the internship supervisor, I was given comprehensive guidance and maximal latitude to guide the accelerated cohort as I saw fit. I had to learn how to create my own professional structure and systems, which has been helpful in my second year of the MPP.
After the formal portion of the summer internship concluded, I have been able to continue my work with the NSPC and NSDPI, both through working on another research project and indirectly through my APP client. The research project I was engaged in this fall was focused on space system cybersecurity and was done in partnership with an NSDPI industry partner. During my APP search, I leveraged my past contact with the guest speakers to try to secure a client. It ended up working out, and I am now doing my APP on Indo-Pacific security issues, which has been immensely rewarding.
My advice to anyone seeking an internship in the national security space is to prepare, prepare, prepare. Get started on everything early – the search, application material writing, and especially networking. The more time you are engaged with the industry, the higher your chance of success. For those who are looking at this internship in the future, get involved with the NSPC and NSDPI early! Both organizations frequently host great events with Batten and the university at large. Further, get to know the personalities of both organizations. Great people and strong culture are what separate good organizations from excellent ones, and I truly believe the NSPC and NSDPI are both excellent organizations. Consider applying to the NSPC and NSDPI!
