Professional Development Opportunities
The professional development component of the Terrorism Studies Minor program provides opportunities for cadets to engage with leading scholars and counterterrorism practitioners.
This portion of the program includes guest lectures and roundtable discussions with experts, practitioners, and senior government officials in the field; participation in academic trip sections to New York City and Washington, D.C; an ability to participate in a robust suite of AIADs in the nation’s leading counterterrorism units and agencies; participation in a capstone field exercise with the FDNY; and involvement in the Irregular Warfare Group, as well as other opportunities.
Special Events
Terrorism Minor Cadets will be given unique opportunities to attend lectures and roundtables with leading counterterrorism experts and practitioners. In addition the CTC is engaged in sponsoring and organizing various extra-curricular activities. The CTC sponsors an annual trip to Washington D.C. to meet with high ranking counterterrorism officials. Cadets on past trips have met with the Deputy National Security Adviser for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism and the Director of the National Counterterrorism Center. In prior years cadets have also had the opportunity to present their papers/theses and receive guidance and constructive feedback from CTC staff, senior faculty, and top experts in the field at formal events. Finally, twice per semester, the CTC hosts a Movie Lunch event that includes screening a movie relevant to the program and is followed by discussion with CTC Staff.
AIADS / INTERNSHIPS
Through the generous support of Mr. George Gilmore select Cadets will have the opportunity to pursue six week-long internship opportunities at key partner institutions in Washington D.C., as well as in other parts of the country and abroad. In past years CTC AIAD program participants have interned at the NCTC, State Department, FBI, and other organizations.
Irregular Warfare Group
The Irregular Warfare Group (IWG) exposes Cadets to the principles of Irregular Warfare and special operations writ large at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels. The program emphasizes critical thinking, innovation, small unit leadership, and team-building in order to prepare Cadets to wade into uncertainty and confront the intellectual, physical, and moral challenges of today’s complex operating environment. It also provides the opportunity for Cadets to develop critical relationships that will significantly influence their careers and future contributions to U.S. national security.
ADVANCED RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
In addition to mentoring Cadets pursuing their theses the CTC assists select Cadets who have a particular research interest with locating a sponsoring agency for both funds and additional academic opportunities. Past projects that have received additional support from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) include senior theses concerning the London 2012 Olympics, and illicit smuggling networks. The CTC has also supported a Behavioral Sciences & Leadership thesis cadet whose paper was accepted on a panel with Terrorism Experts Martha Crenshaw and Gerald Post.
