Welcome to CSU-ACE

On April 12, 2013 the California State University Center of Academic Excellence held its 7^th Annual Colloquium. Students from Azusa Pacific University, CSU-San Bernardino, CSU-Fullerton, CSU-Long Beach, University of Redlands and others attended. Professor Donovan Chau of CSU-San Bernardino presented on “Challenge Projects.” Challenge projects are quarter-long, faculty-student research projects, designed to provide insight for agencies of the U.S. government about a specific issue, while enhancing students’ analytical skills. CSU-San Bernardino has completed seven of these projects in the past few years for the National Security Agency.  Following Dr. Chau’s presentation, National Security Studies students from Political Science 621: Strategic Intelligence, presented their class project entitled “Sustainability of U.S. Drone Operations in Pakistan” to classmates, visiting students, faculty, and members of the Intelligence Community. Afterwards, guest lecturer Benjamin Acosta, Ph.D. Candidate at Claremont Graduate University and National Security Studies graduate, presented his research on drone operations on their effect on terrorist groups.

The presentations were followed by an Intelligence Community panel where representatives from the Central Intelligence Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Government Accountability Office and the State Department presented on careers at their respective agencies. Students then had the opportunity to meet individually with the representatives.

Professor William Van Cleave, a former mentor and professor to several members of our National Security Studies faculty, passed way away on March 15, 2013. Our program director, Dr. Mark Clark, studied under Professor Van Cleave at USC through his Ph.D. Additionally, Drs. Donovan Chau and Antony Field both studied under Professor Van Cleave while earning their Master’s degrees at Southwest Missouri State University. We are sorry to hear of his passing. Please see the following article.

 

William Van Cleave, former senior adviser to President Ronald Reagan, the U.S. Department of Defense, Department of State and former professor of international relations at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, has died. He was 77.

Van Cleave died of natural causes at his home in Idyllwild, Calif., on March 15.

Professor of international relations and director of the Strategic Studies Program at USC Dornsife from 1967 to 1987, Van Cleave had vast experience in, and influence upon, U.S. defense policy.

He served in numerous policy-advisory positions. For example, he was a delegate to the U.S.-Soviet Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) and a member of the “Team B” review of intelligence estimates on the Soviet military, both in the 1970s. From 1979 to 1981, he was senior adviser to Reagan and director of the defense transition team for Reagan’s new administration.

Robert English, associate professor of international relations and director of USC Dornsife’s School of International Relations (SIR), recalled Van Cleave’s intensely loyal following at the Department of Defense.

English joined the department straight out of graduate school from Princeton University in 1982. His position as a junior analyst quickly brought him into contact with Van Cleave’s former students working in the Pentagon and elsewhere in Washington, D.C.

While English didn’t always agree with their positions, “I have to say that Van Cleave’s protégés were among the best informed, hardest working and most dedicated to the national interest that I knew in nearly a decade of defense policy analysis,” English said. “Looking back over the years, William Van Cleave was probably one of the USC professors whose influence on national policy was greatest. From the late 1970s through the mid-1980s, his impact on foreign policy debates and decision-making was such that few academics in any area had more direct influence on U.S. policy than he did.”

The author of 200-plus publications, Van Cleave helped to place many of his graduate students in important executive branch, Congressional staff and think tank posts. He stirred controversy with hardline positions favoring a large U.S. military buildup, one that some credit with accelerating the USSR’s global retreat in the late 1980s and ultimately ending the Cold War.

Van Cleave was admired for his passion for ideas and dedication to his students, many of whom are acknowledged as among the best that SIR has produced — including Secretary of the U.S. Air Force Michael Donley, former Deputy National Security Adviser J.D. Crouch and many top officials with the state and defense departments.

Keith Payne, director of the National Institute for Public Policy and former deputy assistant secretary of defense, recalled Van Cleave as “an incomparable mentor, friend and constructive critic.”

“Professor Van Cleave believed that the formulation and direction of government policy should benefit from rigorous scholarly analysis,” Payne said. “He did not simply talk that talk; his integrated career of academic excellence and public service will have a positive impact for generations as his students and their students carry on his example of scholarly rigor and public service.”

Distinguished Professor Emeritus of International Relations Peter Berton was Van Cleave’s close colleague. The two taught many of the same students.

“William Van Cleave’s security program at the School of International Relations helped to put USC on the map,” Berton said.

Riki Ellison, former USC and pro football linebacker, now director of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, remembers his former professor as a surrogate father.

“It was a match made in heaven and a bond that never has, never will be broken,” Ellison said. “Like father and son, we shared the same passions, loved the same things. We set our principles beyond reproach and above the minutia, climbed together those impossible dreams, yet fell together when we slipped. He was the one to pick you up like a father and put you back on that white horse to fight the good fight.”

Born on Aug. 27, 1935, in Kansas City, Mo., Van Cleave was a U.S. Marine who earned his bachelor’s degree in political science summa cum laude from Cal State Long Beach, now called California State University, Long Beach, and his master’s and PhD from the Claremont Graduate University.

Van Cleave is survived by his daughter, Cynthia Van Cleave, sisters Linda Schooler, Patricia Lamport and Marcia Donnelly, and granddaughters Amber Van Cleave and Monica Gibson, and grandson Christopher Gibson.

His family is organizing a memorial service to be held in Washington, D.C., in late April.

http://news.usc.edu/#!/article/48349/in-memoriam-william-van-cleave-77/

Registration for the 2013 CSU-ACE colloquium is now open. If you are not a student at one of the CSU-ACE schools, but would like to attend, please email us via our contact page or call (909) 537-3694.

Thank you.

During the third week of February, CSU San Bernardino’s Intelligence Community Center of Academic Excellence invited our senior Central Intelligence Agency liaison, Steve, to meet with students from the National Security Studies graduate program and other CSU-ACE schools. Steve spent several hours over the course of two days advising students regarding their pursuits to become members of the Intelligence Community.

In addition to individual appointments, Steve also visited the two intelligence courses offered to National Security Studies graduate students, Strategic Intelligence and Political Intelligence. In the Strategic Intelligence course, Steve discussed structured analytic techniques and problem solving related to intelligence. In Political Intelligence, Steve detailed his experience joining the Central Intelligence Agency and his time there.

We hope to bring Steve, and other analysts, back to campus in the near future, continuing our outreach with the Intelligence Community.

On Friday November 2, 2012, CSU San Bernardino’s Intelligence Community Center of Academic Excellence hosted an informal meeting of faculty and students with a senior Central Intelligence Agency analyst. The CIA sponsors a program for some of its senior analysts to liaise with certain universities that are designated as Intelligence Community Centers of Academic Excellence.

Steve is a graduate of the California State University system, and has worked with the agency for over 16 years in a variety of positions. Steve has replaced our two previous liaisons who have moved to new positions.

In our discussions, he emphasized that in addition to getting special training in graduate studies and in foreign languages, the three most important skills students can bring to his agency are the ability to think critically, to write clearly, and to present well. He also talked about his experience as a hiring manager, and some of the mistakes people make when applying to the agency, both in applicant resumes and in the interview process.

Our website has a number of resources available to students considering careers in the intelligence community. We plan on bringing Steve, and other analysts, out to campus throughout the year to provide more opportunities for workshops, seminars and simulations for student participation.

SECRETARY NAPOLITANO ANNOUNCES EMPLOYMENT HONORS PROGRAM AT ACADEMIC ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING

WASHINGTON– Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today announced the creation of the Secretary’s Honors Program (SHP), a new initiative to recruit exceptional recent graduates for careers at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The announcement was made at a meeting of the Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council (HSAAC), a federal advisory committee comprised of prominent university presidents and academic leaders.

“DHS is committed to providing rewarding and challenging careers for the next generation of homeland security leaders,” said Secretary Napolitano. “The Secretary’s Honors Program will help build a pipeline of talent critical to DHS’ missions and ensure the Department employs the most qualified, and highly trained workforce both now and in the future.”

Qualified candidates for the SHP compete for a limited number of positions across the Department, and are selected based on their academic performance, experience and other criteria. This premier program includes six different career tracks, and individuals who possess relevant graduate or undergraduate degrees may apply for fellowships related to information technology, cybersecurity, policy, management, emergency management, and law.

Those selected for the program will be offered a variety of incentives and enhanced career opportunities including Department rotations, mentorships, focused on-the-job training and inclusion in various professional development programs. Each fellowship lasts one or two years, and participants may have the opportunity to convert to permanent federal positions at DHS.

Learn more about the SHP at www.dhs.gov/secretarys-honors-program.

Most agencies in the Intelligence Community offer summer internships for college students and several offer cooperative education programs.  Below is a quick summary of some of these opportunities.  We encourage students to apply for these internships as described on each organization’s website.  The security clearance process for interns is the same as for a regular permanent employee and requires that the applicant be a U.S. citizen.

 

Organization:  National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), Springfield, VA; Washington, DC; St Louis, MO

Majors:  Engineering, Mathematics, Cartography, Counterterrorism, Counter-proliferation, Cultural Area Studies, Foreign Language, Geodesy, Geographic Information Systems, Geography, Geology,  Hydrography, International Affairs/Studies, Meteorology, Physics, Political Science, Quantitative Sciences, Remote Sensing, and Surveying

Deadline:  12 October 2012 for summer 2013 internships

For additional information:  www1.nga.mil/Careers/StudentOpp/Internships/Pages/default.aspx

 

Organization:  Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Washington, DC area

Career Fields:  Analytical, clandestine service, language, science, engineering and technology, or business, IT and security

Deadline:  15 October 2012 for summer 2013 internships (Application for co-op programs during the academic year is 6 to 9 months before the date you wish to begin work.)

For additional information:  www.cia.gov/careers/student-opportunities/index.html

 

Organization:  National Security Agency (NSA), Washington, DC area

Career Fields: Computer Science, Computer/Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Foreign Language, Intelligence Analysis, Cryptanalysis/Signals Analysis, Information Assurance, Installation & Logistics, Business Security

Deadline:  15 October 2012 for various summer 2013 internships; 15 November 2012 for summer intelligence analysis program, cyber program and language program; 15 December 2012 for co-op program

For additional information:  www.nsa.gov/careers/opportunities_4_u/students/index.shtml

 

 

Organization:  Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Washington, DC

Career Field:  Cybersecurity, health and science, law enforcement, legal, public affairs, other majors and general interest

Deadline:  TBD (anticipate 2013 internship information to be advertised in mid September)

For additional information:  www.dhs.gov/student-opportunities-0

 

Organization:  Department of State

Majors:  International Affairs, Business or Public Administration, Social Work, Economics, Information Management, Journalism, and the Biological, Physical and Engineering Sciences

Deadline:  TBD

For additional information:  http://careers.state.gov/students/programs

 

Organization:  Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Washington, D.C. 56 field offices located in major metropolitan areas across the United States

Career Fields:  Management Analyst, Budget Analyst, Staff Operations Specialist, IT Specialist, HR Specialist, Personnel Security Specialist, Electronics Engineer, Forensic Examiner, Intelligence Analyst, Forensic Accountant

Deadline:  TBD (NOTE: volunteer intern opportunities only available in 2013)

For additional information:  https://fbijobs.gov/23.asp

 

Organization:  Department of Treasury

Career Field:  Accountants, Attorneys, Budget Analysts, Contract Specialists, Economists, Financial Analysts, Information Technology Specialists, Intelligence Specialists

Deadline:  TBD

For additional information: www.treasury.gov/careers/Pages/pathways-programs.aspx

 

Organization:  Department of Energy

Career Field:  Scientists, engineers, mathematicians, accountants and contract specialists, computer scientists, technologists, specialists in national security and international affairs, business, communications, information technology

Deadline:  TBD (anticipate October application period)

For additional information: http://jobs.energy.gov/entry-level-students

 

Organization:  Drug Enforcement Agency

Career Field:  accounting, acquisition, human resources, forensic chemistry, intelligence, investigations, information technology, telecommunications, and business management

Deadline:  TBD

For additional information: www.justice.gov/dea/resources/careers/opportunity/student-employment.html

 

Organization: Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), Washington DC

Majors:  foreign area studies, legal, computer science, business administration, human resources, public administration, international relations, political science, chemistry, physics, biology, microbiology, pharmacology, toxicology, engineering, or intelligence analysis

 

Deadline:  31 October 2012 (anticipate 2013 internship information to be advertised in mid September)

 

For additional information:  www.dia.mil/careers/students/

 

 

Additional information about student opportunities in the Intelligence Community may be found at http://dni.gov/index.php/careers/student-opportunities and www.intelligence.gov.

 

Considering a position with worldwide opportunities?

 

On October 1, 2012, a representative from the Central Intelligence Agency will visit CSUSB to talk about employment with the CIA.

 

The CIA is an independent US Government agency responsible for providing national security intelligence to senior US policymakers.

Career opportunities include Analysts, Business, IT and Security, Science, Engineering, Technology, Language and Clandestine Service Positions.

 

The visit will take place in the Political Science Conference room in SB 516 at 12:00.

Lunch and refreshments will be served.

The deadlines for 2013 summer internships are as follows.

• National Clandestine Service: September 15, 2012
• Central Intelligence Agency: October 15, 2012
• Pat Roberts Intelligence Scholars Program: October 15, 2012
• National Security Agency: November 15, 2012

Currently, there are no internship opportunities available for summer 2013 at the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the Drug Enforcement Agency. Other agencies may have internship opportunities available at a later date. Check back periodically for continued updates.

On May 11, 2011, Pi Sigma Alpha and the Political Science Department held its 36^th Annual Pi Sigma Alpha induction ceremony and awards banquet. Guest Speaker, Dr. Mark T. Clark, Professor of Political Science, Director of the National Security Studies Program and the Intelligence Community Center of Academic Excellence (CSU-ACE) at CSUSB, discussed the importance of collaboration in both academia and the professional world. Dr. Clark outlined CSU-ACE participation in challenge projects promoted by the Institute for Analysis and assigned to CSUSB by the National Security Agency. The Intelligence Community and United States Government have used these projects in real world applications. Dr. Clark mentioned that these projects succeeded because of collaboration between students, faculty and other schools in the consortium.