Unparalleled Experience: NYPD Intern Finds Connection Between Coursework, Real Life

As a native New Yorker, Homeland Security major Ethan Smith remembers being impressed by New York City Police Department’s response to the 9/11 attacks, saying the efforts to rebuild and restructure “really hit home for me.” Thanks to preparation from his classes at Embry-Riddle, Smith landed a coveted internship working with the NYPD counter-terrorism bureau.

Over the summer, he participated in photo-analysis projects and also a class that helped police officers learn how to better defend against terrorism attacks. Smith said he was grateful for the opportunity to put what he was learning every day at Embry-Riddle to work for his hometown police department.

“You need that real-world experience in order to see how what you’re learning in school is applicable to real life,” he said. “I really want to go about changing future events and making the world turn out for the better.”