Co-op/Intern Spotlight: Katelyn Williamson

Katelyn Williamson majored in Global Security & Intelligence Studies Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott Campus. She had the opportunity to participate inan internship with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations.

Discuss how you obtained your previous internships and what were your responsibilities?

Throughout my first year and a half at Embry-Riddle, I maintained a 3.9 GPA. At the end of my first semester sophomore year (fall 2018) I applied for an internship with the National Ground Intelligence Center for the summer of 2020. I believe that due to my grades and ERAU’s unique program they asked me to interview for the position. Despite being offered a phone interview, I wanted to express my interest and create face-to-face time, so I flew to Charlottesville, VA for an in-person interview. Shortly after the interview I was offered the internship position. During the next year I obtained my TS/SCI security clearance. The Internship was delayed until the summer of 2021 because of COVID. A new opportunity presented itself for me in the summer of 2021 so I had the turn down that summer’s internship offer. However, I would have aided senior intelligence officials in researching, writing, and presenting intelligence briefs. 

How did your internships lead you to your full-time job offer at the Air Force’s Office of Special Investigations?

In the spring of 2021, I asked a professor if he knew any internships available during the semester ,and he was able to organize a virtual micro-internship with HDA’s pharmaceutical cargo security coalition. Here I reviewed available open-source intelligence that focused on supply chain security issues. I produced a daily brief that was sent to thousands of industry executives around the world. 

During the spring 2021 semester I was accepted into the USAF’s Premier College Intern Program (PCIP) direct hire program for the Air Force’s Office of Special Investigations. I was in the top five of over 600 applicants, and was the only undergraduate student selected. During this internship I was able to assist special agents in criminal, fraud, and counter-intelligence investigations at Peterson Space Force Base. I also performed technical assignments that tailor to the AFOSI’s guidelines and chain of command. Furthermore, I analyzed information and data obtained from investigative results, I documented investigative findings, and I prepared various law enforcement reports of findings. 

When being selected for the OSI internship, I believe my top secret security clearance, previous internship experience with open-source intelligence, 3.9 GPA, excellent degree program, and desire to work in public service demonstrated my aptitude to work in this field. I went through extensive background checks and interview before receiving an official offer for the internship program, and because the program is a direct hire program it was intended for me to receive an a full-time offer upon completion of the internship (assuming I maintained a professional attitude and produced good work). 

How did ERAU prepare you to be successful in your internships?

ERAU did a lot to prepare me for success. First, as a stated several times the uniqueness of the GSIS program prepared me to stand out among candidates interested in the same work. I was able to discuss and offer opinions on topics that students in other degree programs had yet to be exposed to. Second, the professors have gone above and beyond to ensure students’ success. There have been countless times I sought a professor out, and left with so much more help than I ever expected. They not only structure their classes to prepare you for the realities of the security and intelligence community, but also teach lessons they learned during their careers. For example, I had one professor spend a lot of time prepping me for my OSI interview - offering me the tips and tricks he uses during interviews. Third, career services provided me with a lot of assistance: resume reviews, mock interviews, informing me of available internships, and providing assistance with any questions I had (which was a lot). There are countless more examples, but I believe these are the main three that helped me. 

What advice do you have for other students wanting to apply for internships?

I would give two pieces of advise to other student wanting to apply for internships. One: apply to as many as possible starting your freshman year. If you apply to a hundred and only one works out, you still have one internship - which is amazing, because if you never apply then you will never get an internship and any internship, even one you aren’t thrilled about, will help provide you the experience you need to stand out and get your “dream internship” one day. Also, don’t get disheartened if an internship you applied for and really want doesn’t work out - you can always reapply when you’ve gained more experience and you never know what different opportunities might come your way (there have been countless times I got turned down from an internship, but I kept applying and now I have a full-time job offer that I am super excited about). Two: always be professional - it doesn’t matter if everyone else is wearing jeans and a t-shirt, you should always act and dress professionally!