MEMORANDUM
Subj: INTERNHSHIP AFTER ACTION REPORT: Center for Strategic and International Studies
General Information: Last summer I was fortunate enough to receive an internship position at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. A prominent K Street think tank, CSIS employs Senior Fellows, military officers, greenhorn college graduates, and interns who collaborate to accomplish the think tank’s mission: “providing world leaders with strategic insights on — and policy solutions to — current and emerging global issues.” The Senior Fellows author and publish the center’s material, supported by research assistants and interns. The handful of senior military fellows, selected from across the services, stay at CSIS for a one year tour. The DoD expects these O-5’s and O-6’s to produce an innovative report on a timely military or national security issue. The International Security Program (ISP), of which I was a part of, is the largest of all the CSIS programs and includes these military fellows as consultants. In the office, however, the interns accomplish much of the dirty work that constitutes the lifeblood of any high-flying office in Washington, D.C. If you’re selected, be prepared to don your administrative game face, because the first tasks that you’ll receive will either revolve around the copy machine (…it requires a mysterious code) or involve errands to mail and supply rooms. Since ISP is large, however, it’s easy to spend time looking for new people who can offer you a different form of busy-work when you’re not paired off with your senior fellow, accomplishing actual research. The think tank is run by Dr. John Hamre, a former deputy secretary of defense, and ISP is directed by Kurt Campbell. Both possess impressive résumés and are individuals to be revered by CSIS employees. What’s more is that they’re tremendously affable bosses who foster a welcoming atmosphere at CSIS, making it a real pleasure to work there despite the challenges it has to offer.
Experience Gained: During my three week stint at CSIS, I was placed in the International Security program under Julianne Smith. Miss Smith is currently the deputy director of the International Security Program. In addition to her managerial roles as such, Miss Smith contributes to a project entitled European Defense Integration (EDI). This venture’s purpose is to address shortcomings in certain aspects of European military capabilities, so that they might be better suited for global deployments with either NATO or the EU and ready for joint operations with U.S. forces. Part of this project also entails facilitating a discussion between NATO and the EU regarding defense asset sharing. Currently, both institutions have parochial justifications for head-butting that need to be reconciled.
Under Julianne I was assigned a very specific range of tasks. While I was working at CSIS, I knew that she had been working on a draft of a specific portion of the EDI report, and when she emailed me this document I was tasked with filling research gaps. She would highlight and area that needed expanding and I would fill in dates and tidbits and then italicize my revisions before I sent it back to her. I feel that I was very effective in this because of the publications that I came across in the midst of my research that Julianne hadn’t found before she started working on EDI. I was always troubled by my lack of pending work, however. When I finished Julianne’s revisions, of which there were only five or six, I was reluctant to go around the office and surrender myself to others’ busy work. Much of my typical day was spent conversing with the military fellows – they were known throughout the office as those willing to shoot the breeze and offer sage advice, whatever the topic. (I truly think that they were thankful not to have been sequestered to the Pentagon, where the pace is a bit quicker and the constant gaze of the brass never ceases.)
CSIS offered an interesting look into office life, and consequently how and how not to act in such a setting. The experience was very managerial, but I didn’t see any opportunities to exert real leadership. I found that I lacked the experience to intellectually contribute to the think tank’s operations – if you don’t have a master’s degree, prepare to be defaulted into this category as well. I now truly appreciate how micromanaging in the workplace compromises efficiency and lowers the morale of subordinates. At the Aspen Institute, just a stone’s throw away from CSIS on Dupont Circle, I was tasked one morning with preparing briefing binders for Madeline Albright’s team before they traveled to Vancouver for an annual summit on trans-Atlantic cooperation. What I thought would be a simple job turned into an intern’s worst nightmare. I expected Aspen’s members to instruct me how to properly organize the binder contents. What I did not expect was for the same director to dictate how these contents would be taken out of their box, how they would be laid on the table, which portion of the conference table in this vacant room I should use, at what angles the stacks were to be laid at in relation to each other prior to stuffing, and how the CHAIRS IN THE ROOM WERE TO BE ORGANIZED AS I WORKED. I did all I could to take Aspen seriously after the first 15 minutes, reminding myself that I was actually working for the former Secretary of State, and not this condescending supervisor.
Overall, I found it disappointing that I was used primarily for administrative office work. When I consider the minds and personalities that actually produce intellectual material for CSIS, however, I still feel fortunate to have been a part of their organization. In the end, I walked away with the confidence that I can function in a high-speed, D.C. based organization and not screw up. Many other interns shared with me their horror stories, and by the end of my three weeks they became my experiences and laughs as well, rather than points of anxiety or frustration. Seeing think tank operations in motion was fascinating because of the unique blend of academic and real-world, D.C. politics that drive the institution.
Internship Highlights: The most splendid aspect of my time at CSIS was, hands down, the relationships that developed between me and fellow ISP employees. I remain in contact with three to this day on a consistent basis, even though it would be easy for me to reconnect with at least four times that many should the opportunity arise. One of my friends, an Australian, works as Kurt Campbell’s special assistant, and came to the U.S. to attend masters programs at Georgetown. Another, a recent U-Conn grad, is the assistant director of ISP and the one responsible for my position in ISP. Yet another, as I was departing CSIS for the Summer, was in the process of moving from CSIS to the DoD to work as a special assistant to Donald Rumsfeld. Interacting and networking with such high-caliber, enjoyable people was truly a lifetime experience for me as a young, relatively ambitious officer-to-be.
Some other experiences stand out as well. On day two of my internship, I was sent on a field assignment to the private sector’s summit on post-tsunami reconstruction. Among the speakers were Richard Holbrooke, George Bush Sr., and Bill Clinton. I stayed at the conference for most of the day and then prepared a briefing for Julianne. This was an absorbing venue, and I was thankful because it broke up the monotony of the office life that I had experienced on the first day. As far as recreation, this was only the beginning. My colleagues and I attended happy hour frequently after a tough day of work and even planned a half day Friday to enjoy a Washington Nationals game. Throughout the course of the three weeks, I rarely returned to Annapolis before 2000 because of dinner plans or other events that I was included in. I was present for British Foreign Minister Jack Straw’s first major foreign policy speech after taking office, and was lucky enough to attend an ISP dinner with General Craddock of SOUTHCOM.
Recommendations: I would strongly recommend this internship to anyone who is looking for a moderately challenging, highly enjoyable month of interning in Washington, D.C. This is the perfect block zero internship. Interning at CSIS is also the type of resume booster that bodes well for future work in the D.C. Metropolitan area, and in all areas and future educational possibilities involving politics and international security. If you’re looking for a structured, regimented day that’s packed with to-do’s from 0800 to close, then CSIS is probably not for you, but you will enjoy your time at Aspen (if sent). Additionally, if you’re looking for an incredible leadership experience before your firstie year, CSIS is not for you. But if you’re looking for an internship purely based on your fascination with international politics and how policy recommendations are made in Washington, then a month on K Street is definitely your bag! Just show up ready to learn, ready to be frontloaded with work, and willing to be as humble as possible. If you don’t take care of this yourself, your colleagues will.
Additional Information: Because I completed my CSIS internship during zero block, I stayed in the Hall and drove to New Carrolitton every morning so I could catch the Metro in to Farragut North. This was a time consuming process – about an hour and a half in total – but feasible if no other accommodations are possible. Just leave gate 1 at around 715, hit Starbucks, and away you go. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE YOUR CAR TO K STREET. You’ll sit on 50 W for at least an extra 30 minutes if you make the same mistake I did. There are great places to eat all around 1800 K Street if you don’t have time to catch breakfast on the way. I’d recommend Marvelous Market first. It’s an organic foods store located right underneath CSIS that sells great muffins, coffee, and shakes. If you plan on interning in D.C., then plan on spending some money. I spent money pretty much every day on lunch, coffee, and of course the obligatory after-hours refreshment with the associates. I only mention this because D.C. is expensive, and if you think you can plow through the day with $10 in your pocket you might end up in debt to a fellow intern. In the future, the Academy should provide some small allowance for Metro fares and parking at New Carrolitton, just don’t count on it now! What about attire? Look sharp at the office – get some decent ties and a suit if you don’t want to wear your uniform, which is definitely not recommended because none of the military fellows do. Other than that, go have fun.
Subj: INTERNHSHIP AFTER ACTION REPORT: Center for Strategic and International Studies
I spend several weeks doing an internship with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on K. Street in Washington DC. CSIS is one of the nation’s most prestigious political think tanks.
I had the opportunity to work with their International Security Program (ISP). Additionally, I got to meet many interesting individuals working there as fellows, assistant fellows, or interns. I also had the opportunity to attend many seminars on issues ranging from leadership to business management to international relations.
I was assigned to several different assistant fellows, whom I did various research tasks for. For example, I did research on Buy America Act, the Broader Middle East Peace Initiative, and I was asked to find data comparing the transformation of the American military between both Vietnam and the 1990s. All of this was a learning experience as I got so see how these institutions operate.
I really enjoyed all of the seminars that were available for interns to attend. Every day during lunch time there was a new seminar on a different subject. Additionally, I met a lot of great interns from schools across the country. The staff in charge of coordinating the interns was very helpful and courteous. She made sure that we were taken care of and that we had the opportunity to see many different sides of the institution.
Recommendations to future interns:
-My time at CSIS was very brief. I would recommend to any Midshipman applying to this internship that they spend at least three to four weeks there.
-Housing was easy for me because I live in Bethesda, MD, but is quite expensive if you try to rent in the city. I would recommend finding a sponsor near a metro station.
-Don’t try to commute by car: CSIS provides you with $60 worth of Metro vouchers for transportation (parking is nearly impossible).
-Get involved with the program you are working in, and be assertive about what your interests are. It is easy to get lost in various menial tasks.
-Get out, and meet some of the people in the building. There are many interesting individuals with past political experience (such as congressmen, and past military secretary’s) working in the institution.