Internship Location: Washington DC
Organization Type: Think Tank
Policy Areas: International Policy/Foreign Affairs
For the last seven months, I have interned at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), a nonprofit think tank in Washington, D.C. with a focus on national security issues. CNAS is dedicated to developing principled and pragmatic national security and defense policies. I was hired by the Middle East Security program due to my interest in the U.S.-Iran relationship and the Velayat-e Faqih governing system. As a part of the MES team, I created materials for a strategic tabletop exercise centered around a post-JCPOA future in the region. I was also able to write op-eds in national security outlets regarding the stalled Iran nuclear negotiations and the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. My work was not limited to the MES program, as I was also responsible for assisting the CEO of the organization with background research for his upcoming novel that is being co-authored by the former Ambassador to India. I read through every national defense strategy document released since the Clinton administration, a multitude of novels, and speeches pertaining to the “Asia Pivot” that was formally announced in 2011. I also assisted in organizational development work in my time at the Center, helping prepare event briefing materials for executive staff members, documenting our various contacts via Salesforce, and scheduling meetings with external clients. Working at CNAS was a wonderful experience that allowed me to grow my networking base, interact with amazing people every single day, and learn more about my field of interest.