Yohana IbarraIt was truly an honor to serve as a research intern at The Institute of World Politics in Washington, D.C. This experience gave me the opportunity to apply academic concepts to real-world national security challenges. I gained valuable insights into intelligence policy, strengthened my analytical skills, and learned directly from experienced professionals in the field.
I had the opportunity to research the Sinaloa Cartel’s use of counterintelligence and how the United States is actively combating it. My work focused on how these criminal organizations are evolving into intelligence-driven operations capable of hacking, infiltration, and surveillance.
I also worked with my research group on counterintelligence in corporate and academic environments and worked on a publishable article for IXN Solutions. I was fortunate to be mentored by Shane McNeil, a doctoral student at IWP and a counterintelligence policy advisor at the Joint Staff Deputy Directorate for Counterintelligence and Human Intelligence at the Department of Defense. I also collaborated with two other doctoral students at IWP, whose guidance was instrumental in developing and refining my research.
My time at IWP reaffirmed my passion for counterintelligence and national security work. I am incredibly grateful for the mentorship, resources, and professional growth I experienced during this internship.
Yohana Ibarra
Arizona State University, Class of 2025
Research Intern