Learning and networking opportunities for future professionals

Take part in this US-based study tour that focuses on providing information and training with intelligence experts.

Since 2015, a select number of our postgraduate students have been given the unique opportunity to join our professional study tour to Washington, DC, and New York.

Hosted by the University of Maryland’s National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), the study tour features a lecture series and an opportunity to network with researchers and professionals.

A group of students

Past iterations have included meetings with acting and retired US intelligence professionals; visits to the Pentagon and the US Congress; and programs at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI), as well as RAND Corporation.

Students have the option to participate in a two-day workshop consisting of computer-aided, simulated crisis response to a terrorist attack in the United States, providing training in risk and crisis communication. Participants will have opportunities to network with prominent individuals from within the intelligence community in both formal and informal settings. Past speakers have included:

  • Paul Becker, Rear Admiral (ret.), former Director of Intelligence (J2), Joint Chiefs of Staff and former Director of Intelligence (J2), Pacific Command
  • Jeffrey L. Canfield, Deputy Director for Africa, Middle East/Africa Regional Center, Defense Intelligence Agency
  • Norman Hayes, Rear Admiral (ret.), Executive Vice President, Cybersecurity and Intelligence, Dynamic Technology Systems Incorporated
  • Jake Jacoby, Vice Admiral (ret.), former Director, Defense Intelligence Agency;
  • Mark Lowenthal, former CIA analyst and daily briefer for Vice President Cheney, leading authority on intelligence analysis and intelligence studies
  • Don Pruefer, former US National Intelligence Council (NIC) Analyst and FBI Academy Intelligence Analysis Trainer
  • Paul Rester, Human Intelligence - US Army and Defense Intelligence Agency

The study tour is open to all domestic and international postgraduate students. Participants are selected on a competitive basis.