Words from Britt Hoskins, COF Career Development Center Assistant Director:
I recently visited the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency headquarters in Washington D.C., and wanted to share with you what I learned about careers in intelligence that are well suited to people studying things like GIS, earth/geology/geography, ocean science, climate science, and atmospheric science and really, STEM in general.
First off, OSU is one of the NGA’s 30 priority schools in the U.S. They are building a relationship with us because they want to hire our students. Shouldn’t Oregon students get some of 300 internships nationwide the NGA opens up every year? I think so.
Why Work at the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency?
- 300 intern openings for summer 2019!
- 80% of interns are hired for full-time positions. Internship is the best way to get your foot in the door with the NGA.
- The free security clearance you get with NGA transfers to other federal agencies like CIA, NSA, etc.
- You can repeat the internship at subsequent summers.
- Access to 1,700+ continuing education courses for NGA employees; paid-for master’s/Ph.D. programs after 2 years of work.
- Student debt forgiveness after 10 years (any federal employer)
- Joining a community of other interns with mentorship programs, support, and fun activities like sports leagues
- 3 hours of paid gym/workout time during every work week
- Government benefits, including a retirement pension
- Intelligence is always in demand, no matter which president is in office. Stable jobs and the opportunity to work toward a mission for the U.S.
Summer Internship Details:
- Applications for the summer 2019 are open now until Sept. 30. Don’t wait to apply, they start picking people as applications come in. By Sept. the intern openings may be all full.
- Apply through nga.mil. Remember, NGA openings are not something you can apply for and then start right away. You have to plan ahead because security clearance can take many months.
- Requirements: GPA of 3.0, U.S. citizen, enrolled in any level, Associates through Ph.D.
- Paid at an hourly rate based on the level of your degree.
- Housing may be subsidized (not covered) in the summer of 2019, awaiting confirmation. Travel cost is not covered. (But flights from PDX to D.C. are reasonable…)
Facts About the NGA:
- It’s a government agency with 14,500 employees.
- Military and humanitarian focus. NGA’s specialty is spatial, visual intelligence and using data in really practical ways.
- Two main locations in D.C. and St. Louis, as well as smaller locations in California, Colorado, and across the globe. 2/3ish of jobs are in D.C., most of the rest are in St. Louis, a few others at other locations. You can mention desired locations in your cover letter.
- Housed within the Department of Defense. Partners with agencies like FEMA, CIA, NSA, and the President.
What Types of Careers Are Available?
Many! For example, a geo-intelligence analyst might use satellites and layers of data to help with hurricane response, firefighting, ebola outbreaks, ice caps melting, and counter-terrorism. (For example, analysts, model makers, and data visualization professionals provided the intelligence in the Osama Bin Ladin raid.) Jobs include: Imagery analysts, geospatial analysts, aeronautical analysts, maritime analysts, cartographers, geodetic scientists, data scientists, engineers, research analysts, info systems security specialists, geodetic orbit scientists, geodetic earth scientists, human geography, information visualization, maritime navigation, bathymetry, photogrammetry, remote sensing, etc.
How Can I Stand Out to the NGA?
Depends on the job, examples of desirable skills include:
- Big data savvy, knowledge of tools like GIS, lidar/radar, tableau, SQL, etc. (See job descriptions)
- Adaptability to learn and change and technologies and situations shift
- Ability to identify patterns, leadership
- Team player with a high concern for customer service
- Good writers/communicators
- Global mentalities/international experiences
- Statistical skills, STEM fields
How Can I Get My Foot in the Door?
- Like so many federal/state jobs, the buck stops with the application. Fill it out their online resume system incredibly thoroughly. Do not limit yourself to one page!!! More is more with government applications.
- List and explain how you meet all of the minimum requirements. If you haven’t listed it, they will assume you don’t have the skill. Recruiters scan for keywords as a way to filter people out.
- Use your cover letter to explain how you have met all the minimums.
- Remember that veterans get priority in interviewing, so list relevant military experience.
- It’s difficult to network your way in, but you can run your application materials by OSU’s NGA recruiter: Melissa Johnson, Melissa.s.johnson@nga.mil. Before approaching Melissa, it’s not a bad idea to make an OSU career appointment to brainstorm strategy.
What is the SMART Scholarship Program?
Also, check into the SMART Scholarship program for a full tuition reimbursement scholarship. This is a highly competitive program that pays for your schooling in exchange for a commitment to work for the NGA during school and for a period after graduation. Great for someone who knows they want to work in the intelligence community after graduation.
