The Institute’s student body includes recent graduates of colleges and universities from the United States and around the world and a mix of mid-career professionals from government, the armed forces, industry, and foreign embassies and governments, whose various perspectives enrich the classroom experience.
Meanwhile, IWP alumni are bringing their insights learned at IWP to leadership and management positions in such crucial organizations as the FBI, CIA, DIA, and Secret Service; the Departments of Defense, Energy, Homeland Security, Justice, State, and Treasury; the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard; Congressional offices, think tanks, academic institutions, and government contracting corporations.
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Lawrence Buckley (’07) has been promoted to the FBI’s Senior Executive Service, where he is serving in the Intelligence Branch as Senior Director on the staff of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board (PIAB). Read more |
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“If you are willing to go 100%, the school will meet you at 200%, whether it is through financial help, the professors, even the administrators.” Christiana Reasor Legislative Assistant on Capitol Hill Read more |
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“I am looking to apply my knowledge, rather than develop theory… When I talk about issues in the federal system, my professors understand where I am coming from.” Curt Klun Senior Policy Analyst at DOJ and IWP Doctoral Candidate Read more |
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“Dr. Streusand’s Geography and Strategy and General Jajko’s Military Strategy courses both provided an opportunity to explore the Marine Corps’ operational and even strategic role as force projector throughout the world.” Major Jeff Brewer USMC Intelligence Officer Read more |
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“If you are looking for a focused education in intelligence, statecraft, and diplomacy, and if you want to feel like your professors care about you individually, IWP is your best bet.” Caleb Crim (’16) Senior Analyst Manager at Bulletin Intelligence Read more |
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“All of the classes I took at IWP help with my work. I still hear concepts and terms at work that I go home and read about in books I was assigned in my IWP courses.” Karissa Chadwick U.S. Air Force Intelligence Analyst Read more |
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“[Attending IWP] has been among the best decisions I have made so far.” Mohammad Shafiq Nobel Peace Prize Nominee, Deputy Senior Advisor to the President of Afghanistan Read more |
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“In Dr. Thomas’ intelligence class, he emphasized the tension between the executive branch and legislative branch… I feel like that’s my everyday life now.” Rachel Bauman (’18) Helsinki Commission policy advisor Read more |
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“One of the great things about IWP is the freedom to engage in civil discourse even when you don’t see eye-to-eye with professors.” Nathan Ginty Veteran, Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Read more |
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“[My classes at IWP] gave me the opportunity to deal with reality and how the international system really works.” Amb. Federico González Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs for Paraguay Read more |
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“I cannot say enough about IWP. I truly enjoyed my time… I have learned so much more I wish I could have learned when I was younger and in the prime of my career.” Roger Myers (’19) Director, Combat Sustainment Systems, Acquisition and Systems Management Directorate, Department of the Army Read more |
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“IWP gave me a general understanding of the national security apparatus…Many people come to my profession from other fields, and they have no idea what agencies make up the Intelligence Community or how the Department of Defense works. I was exposed to that.”
Peter Sulick (’11) |
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“The other schools in the area teach the ways we want the world to be, but IWP teaches the way the world really is.” Peter Debbins (’15) Former Army Special Forces, Russia analyst, and cyber instructor Read more |
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“The education here provides a foundation for anything that you could possibly want to do in intelligence, national security, or the diplomatic realm.” Joshua Drusbacky (’19) Army Officer and Analyst for the U.S. Government Read more |
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“IWP really instructs on the dignity of the human person, and if that’s not foundational in your policy, your policy is flawed from the get-go.” Jacqueline Halbig von Schleppenbach (’15) Government Relations Expert and Religious Freedom Advocate Read more |
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“Even though I had knowledge from working with an actual spy, [my course at IWP] introduced me to the whole realm of academic thinking and experience of the IC with all these different spies.” Dr. David Charney Expert on the Mind of the Spy Read more |
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“What IWP has really helped me with is to get in the mind of what a policy maker or senior official has to deal with on a day to day basis.” Moises Benhabib (’15) Special Assistant to the Executive Secretariat Staff, Office of the Secretary of State Read more |
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“IWP has the most qualified professors, most highly motivated students, and the greatest visiting speakers of any grad school.” Gene Poteat Former CIA Scientific Intelligence Officer Read more |
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“Having an intelligence degree has given me more perspective on the threats that are out there and the mindset of our adversaries.” Robert Department of Defense Director of Security Operations Read more |
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“When I went back to Estonia, I became the first ever U.S. Desk Officer in the Estonian Foreign Ministry.” Amb. Eerik Marmei Former Ambassador of Estonia to the U.S. Read more |
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“I cannot estimate how much I have changed since coming to IWP…both in understanding the reality of broad topics, but also in experiencing other countries and people.” Piotr Trabinski (’18) Alternate Executive Director, International Monetary Fund Read more |
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“It is really interesting to see the techniques and the statecraft and the vocab and knowledge that I’m learning in [my IWP] classes and how it is applicable to my current job.” Emily Office of Naval Intelligence Analyst Read more |
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“Based on my time at Kings Point and in the Marine Corps, in every class, I have learned something that I could relate back to my previous experiences.” Richard Laszok (’20) Marine Corps veteran Read more |
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“IWP is such a unique learning experience because the administrators and professors are so accessible… IWP as a whole pushed me to the career I have today.” Kevin Murphy (’16) Consultant for the U.S. Navy Read more |
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“I can honestly say [IWP] almost completely altered the lens with which I view the world… IWP broadened by field of vision drastically.” Kipp McGuire (’18) Advance Officer for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Marine Corps veteran Read more |
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“Working in anti-money laundering is a fascinating field… I know I am making a difference every time I go into the office.” Wilson Nash (’16) Anti-Money Laundering Senior Investigator Read more |
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“It has been a wonderful experience learning from such accomplished yet humble people.” Samantha Moyer Contractor for the military and intelligence communities Read more |
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“The critical thinking and analytic skills within the Institute of World Politics BSAP program will serve me well in the future.” Major Holly Harris Fellow, White House Office of Management and Budget Read more |
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“Often, the student sitting at the left or right of you is somebody who is already in intelligence or public service.” Paris Michaels U.S. Airways Pilot Read more |
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“IWP classes weren’t pushing an ideological point of view, but was a measured point of view based on years of experience. It was a very different take than I’d been used to.” Kristopher Klaich Founder, Innovato LLC Read more |
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“My IWP studies absolutely impact how I approach my profession. Understanding the intelligence life cycle has been an important key to success in all my roles.” CW Walker Federal Solutions Manager – Threat Intelligence Read more |
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“I can safely say almost every class at IWP has helped me in various ways so far in my career.” Josh Davis Intelligence professional, counterterrorism operations Read more |
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“[The professors and students] liked what I brought to the table, and would often agree that I had a valid point… It’s more gratifying to argue successfully against people with differing views than those with similar views.” Chris Deckert Intelligence analyst, National Geospatial Intelligence Agency Read more |
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“I knew attending IWP would be a useful experience, and helpful to my career…but it far exceeded my expectations, and proved to be much more interesting and beneficial than I had imagined.” Robert Turner Telecommunications Professional Read more |
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“I looked at a lot of schools that had national security and/or intelligence programs… IWP’s faculty with real world experience convinced me to attend.” Nicholas Contractor to the State Department Read more |
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“I took many intelligence-related courses at IWP… The area knowledge I gained at the Institute has also been very valuable.” William Stiles Secret Service Intelligence Analyst Read more |
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“I want to make an impact locally and in my state, and help others become state senators, representatives, and governors. I will continue to employ the things I learned at IWP.” Brendan Steinhauser Founder of Steinhauser Strategies Read more |
