AUBURN, Ala. (EETV) - Auburn's National Political Science Honor Society, Pi Sigma Alpha-Epsilon Nu, hosted a National Security panel on Sept. 30 where the organization invited former and current members of the FBI, CIA, USMC, and DIA to speak. Students from across campus were invited with the intent of showcasing the wide variety of career opportunities available within the intelligence community.
The panelists spoke at length about their careers and how they came to be in their respective fields. They talked about all of the events in their life - both fortunes and misfortunes alike - that led them to where they are today, as well as the hardships they faced along the way. Former FBI agent Scott Forehand spoke about how he worked as a county prosecutor in Ohio before Sept. 11, 2001, then enrolled in the Quantico FBI Academy the following year as a result of the attacks.
They also shared their advice with students hoping to head down similar careers. Col. Chris Ritchie, who served in the USMC for over 30 years, stressed the importance of framing issues clearly and without bias while also maintaining specificity of language. At the conclusion of the panel, the speakers turned it over to students in attendence for questions.
We reached out to moderator and advisor of Phi Sigma Aplha Dr. Matthew Clary to ask what the goals of the event were and how he thought that it went.
"The main goal was to provide auburn students-but mostly for those majoring in political science and in the undergrad Certificate in National Security & Intelligence-a panel of individuals with diverse backgrounds in national security/intelligence related career fields to provide them an idea of what careers in the field entail as well as to think about how to prepare their qualifications and materials for applications," said Clary.
Clary mentioned that interests in the career fields of national security and intelligence are on the rise.
"The goal is to provide more support for those students. This is why we have also recently stood up a new student organization, called the National Security & Intelligence Society (NSIS) that will help to promote additional events along these lines, to help build connections and bridges to students potentially interested in national security that may not be in CLA or Political Science, and to provide a forum for students to explore topics and issues related to national security and intelligence," said Clary.
Clary says careers in national security are vital in today's political climate.
"In general, I think right now it is vital that we continue encouraging individuals to consider public service and/or work related to national security. The world is a difficult place full of challenges that will need smart, engaged, and capable individuals to help us navigate them through policy and action,"
For more information about Pi Sigma Alpha-Epsilon Nu, visit https://auburn.campuslabs.com/engage/organization/pisigmaalpha
