General Description:
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) is committed to training the next generation of national security leaders through its innovative educational programs. ISW seeks motivated and experienced college students or recent graduates to join our intern team. ISW offers internships across diverse research portfolios and departments, including Russia, China, and Iran's Axis of Resistance in Iraq and Syria. ISW also offers internships in Geospatial Intelligence and National Security Technologies and in non-profit management, including Communications.
ISW believes that ground realities must drive the formulation of strategy and policy. In pursuit of this principle, ISW conducts detailed open-source intelligence analysis to provide timely and accurate information on current conflicts and security threats directly to policymakers and warfighters.
Interns at ISW have an unparalleled opportunity to analyze conflicts in ways that directly inform policymakers on some of the most pressing issues facing American national security. Our interns work directly with analysts. They receive classroom education, regular leadership engagement, and a chance to work with cutting-edge technologies employed in business and the intelligence community. Interns have the opportunity to stand at the front lines of military research and policy development, tackling the latest crises in the headlines.
The ISW Internship Program is one of three core education programs housed within The General David H. Petraeus Center for Emerging Leaders, launched to identify, educate, and develop the future cadre of leaders committed to America’s national security. ISW views interns as an integral component of its team. ISW has worked with interns to draft, edit, and publish their own research under the mentorship of senior analysts. It has also hired many interns onto its staff.
Internship Available:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
Internship Description: Unpaid, Scholarships available by application.
National Security and Intelligence Analysis Internship: ISW is a leading source of innovative analysis and intelligence on global conflicts that threaten American national security. ISW publishes regular research reports and graphics to inform policy-makers, warfighters, and journalists in Washington, DC, as well as the general public. Interns provide critical assistance to our analysts and receive hands-on training from their supervisors, as well as a formal development program taught by our leadership. Interns will be trained to use innovative technologies to conduct open-source collection and analysis in a fast-paced environment.
Interns will be paired with ISW researchers on subject matter that best matches their skill sets and language capabilities. Interns are expected to collect, process, analyze, and synthesize intelligence from native language sources under the guidance of our staff; collaborate with the wider research team to generate intelligence products; assist with editing, documenting, and compiling materials for publications; and support the planning, preparation, and execution of public events and private briefings held by ISW. This is a full-time internship (five days per week), but part-time work will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Geospatial Intelligence and National Security Technologies Internship: ISW uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing technologies to improve research collection, intelligence analysis, and visualizations. Interns will use Geographic Information Systems (GIS), satellite remote sensing, data visualization, and Python coding skills to help refine how ISW’s analysts implement these cutting-edge tools. This internship provides practical hands-on experience using GIS in national security and intelligence applications. Interns will support data collection, analysis, and visualizations that support ISW’s world-renowned maps. Interns may also have valuable interactions with software partners who are transforming the national security space. Interns will receive further training on some of these platforms. ISW’s roster of technology partners includes Neo4J, Babel Street, Ntrepid, Microsoft, Sayari Analytics, BlackSky, and Semantic AI, among many others. This is a full-time internship (five days per week), but part-time work will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Communications and Non-Profit Internship: ISW’s Communications Team offers a unique opportunity to candidates interested in learning more about non-profit communications with an eye towards national security. Interns will hone their skills supporting a variety of communications functions, including media relations and monitoring, writing and copyediting, social media monitoring and management, digital content creation, and media and policy research.
Over the course of a quarter, interns will receive guidance from ISW’s professional communications and publishing staff, gradually expanding their knowledge of communications strategy and sharpening their ability to improve written products. Interns will have the opportunity to create and edit videos, graphics, and written material as well as assist in special projects and company initiatives. Interns will also help develop and execute social media campaigns across platforms like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
This internship provides a great opportunity to train alongside a small and flexible external relations team in an engaging and fast-paced work environment. This is a full-time (five days per week) in-person, remote, or hybrid internship; but part-time work will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Purpose of the Internship:
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) is committed to training the next generation of national security leaders through its innovative educational programs. ISW seeks motivated and experienced college students or recent graduates to join our intern team. ISW offers internships across diverse research portfolios and departments, including Russia, China, and Iran's proxy networks. ISW also offers internships in Geospatial Intelligence and National Security Technologies and in non-profit management, including Business Development and Editorial.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Candidates must be motivated and organized college students or recent graduates with demonstrated expertise in a related field;
- Candidates must possess excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills;
- Candidates should preferably possess strong critical language capabilities in Arabic, Russian, Mandarin, Turkish, Kurdish, or Farsi; or a programming language such as Python;
- (For Geospatial candidates) Candidates must possess strong capabilities in GIS software such as Esri's ArcGIS Pro, ArcMap, or ArcGIS Online. Experience with QGIS or Google Earth is a plus. Experience with a programming language such as Python, JavaScript, or HTML; or web development experience with HTML or JavaScript is a plus.
- Candidates must display the ability to conduct complex tasks in a timely and efficient manner;
- Candidates must display the ability to conduct complex tasks in a timely and efficient manner;
- Candidates should be self-motivated, independent, creative, and capable of working in a dynamic and fast-paced environment;
Candidates must show commitment to—and interest in—the core mission and values of ISW.
Additional Information:
This internship requires U.S. work authorization and is open to candidates with Curricular Practical Training.
How to Apply:
Please review and submit all application materials at the respective BambooHR links. You may view all internship postings here: https://www.understandingwar.org/career-opportunities
Expected Contact:
We will contact you via email if you are selected for an interview or waitlist. If you are not selected, then we will notify you via email after the application deadline.
Contact Person:
Caroline Nicholson
Education Programs Assistant
The General David H. Petraeus Center for Emerging Leaders at ISW