Alex at IWPPlease note: None of the views expressed herein represent the views or policy of the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Government.
Alex Florescu enrolled in IWP’s Graduate Certificate program to remain eligible for the U.S. Department of State’s Pathways Program while completing his security clearance. What started as a practical solution became an invaluable education that helped him understand the world of intelligence, diplomacy, and statecraft.
Those lessons proved relevant in his career. As a Foreign Affairs Officer, he regularly received intelligence briefings that informed policy decisions, and his IWP coursework helped him understand not only how intelligence is produced, but also its strengths, limitations, and appropriate use in policymaking.
Today, Alex promotes U.S. commercial interests in the Middle East and North Africa, helping American businesses succeed abroad while advancing international relationships.
In this interview with IWP, he reflects on his path from State Department intern to Foreign Affairs Officer, the experiences that have shaped his career, and why a commitment to public service continues to motivate him every day.
Beginning a State Department Career
Raised in a family with Eastern European roots, Alex’s upbringing imbued him with a competitive spirit and a determination to take advantage of the opportunities that came to him. When he became interested in geopolitics as a teenager, he knew that he had found something he would like to do professionally.
“I thought it would make sense to pour my competitive energy into an agency like the State Department, where I could help the American people,” said Alex.
While he attended the University of Maryland, he was able to network into an unpaid internship at the State Department. His strong performance led to continued opportunities through the Department’s Pathways Program, where he remained until graduating from college.
Unexpected Graduate Studies
Just when Alex was preparing to convert to a full-time position at the State Department, a federal hiring freeze interrupted his plans. He reached out to contacts throughout the State Department, but many people were unable to help given the circumstances. Finally, an IWP alumnus found a position for him.
There was a catch – the position required a security clearance, which would take time. It would put Alex outside of the 120-day deadline to get hired following the Pathways program. If he went to graduate school, he could accept this position as a graduate student in the Pathways program. He began to look at graduate certificate programs.
“If I was going to spend money on education, I thought that I may as well take courses that I enjoy and am interested in,” said Alex. “When I looked at IWP’s course list, I felt like a kid in a candy shop.”
Studying Intelligence and Propaganda at IWP
One of the most helpful classes that Alex took at IWP was on propaganda. “This course taught me how to think more independently,” he said. “In a lot of ways, it has insulated me from silly arguments in the public space. I learned how to stress test ideas, what the tricks of propaganda are, and how to identify logical fallacies.”
His intelligence courses also proved invaluable. As a desk officer responsible for a major Middle Eastern country, Alex routinely received intelligence briefings that informed policy decisions.
“My IWP classes helped me understand the role of intelligence, the relationship between my job and the Intelligence Community, what they can or cannot make judgments on, and the limitations of intelligence,” said Alex. “I knew that the analysts also had their own perspectives and biases, and I understood the steps of the intelligence cycle. I wouldn’t have known that without IWP. I consider myself lucky to have gotten this intelligence education.”
A State Department Career
Until recently, Alex was working on U.S. commercial interests in Africa. He promoted U.S. businesses in the region and helped remove obstacles to American companies interested in investing in Africa, including in areas like critical minerals, ports, energy, infrastructure, and health.
He now works on many of these same issues across the Middle East and North Africa.
Over the course of his career, he has supported American diplomacy and counterterrorism efforts, mentored junior colleagues, and provided institutional continuity during multiple presidential administrations.
Alex also served as Chief of Staff of the Bureau of Counterterrorism for about four months.
“At the time, I had no leadership experience yet,” he recalled. “My Principal Deputy Coordinator saw potential in me and put me in charge.”
The role expanded his responsibilities dramatically, taking him from supervising two employees to managing the staff supporting the equivalent of an Assistant Secretary.
At another time, he stepped in as Special Assistant to the Undersecretary for Political Affairs for the Middle East region. When the itinerary changed unexpectedly, requiring an additional stop, he coordinated the production of an entirely new trip book on short notice. The following week, the Under Secretary called him into his office to thank him personally.
“At the State Department, you work where you are needed,” said Alex. “When my country needs someone who can show up, think critically, and produce results, I am ready to serve.”
Advice for Those Beginning Their Careers
For those just starting out, Alex believes determination matters more than anything else. He also emphasized the importance of believing in the mission behind one’s work.
“You have to have a purpose and understand why you are doing this job,” he said. “If you do not believe in the mission of your agency and the mission of this country and its power for good in this world, it will be hard to remain resilient.”
A Rewarding Career
Alex finds his work at the State Department to be intellectually stimulating and deeply meaningful. He enjoys contributing to the implementation of U.S. foreign policy and helping shape outcomes that affect American interests around the world.
For him, however, the greatest reward is the opportunity to make a positive difference through public service.
“We advocate for our policies because they are good for the American people, but also because they are good for the rest of the world,” said Alex. “The things America stands for – democracy, human rights, political stability, free markets, upward mobility, and the rule of law – these things work and continue to work. They are our most important assets, and they are worth fighting for. It’s why I come into work every day.”