03 JUL 2012

MEMORANDUM

From:

To: Associate Director of Research and Scholarship for Internships & Technology Transfer

Via: (1) LCDR Jason Chiodi, USN Department of Political Science Internship Coordinator

(2) CDR Tom Robertson, USN Division of Humanities and Social Sciences Internship Coordinator

Subj: AFTER-ACTION REPORT FOR INTERNSHIP, SUMMER 2012

Ref: (a) COMDTMIDN/ACDEANINST 1531.73A

1. Per reference (a), this after-action report is provided following an internship at the United States Department of State during the period 29 MAY– 15 JUN.

A. Summary Information

1.  This After-Action Report is provided in accordance with reference (a).

Internship details:

Location: United States Department of State

Dates: 29 May – 15 June 2012

B. Technical

1. Title of Project: Kimsey Scholar Program

2. Objective:

The objective of the Kimsey Scholar Program was twofold: provide an internship in which a midshipman could gain experience while also being able to meet the leaders who influence policy on a daily basis in Washington DC.

3. Approach:

We would attend the internship by day interspersed with meals with distinguished guests of Mr. Kimsey.

4. Accomplishments:

Along with dining amongst such distinguished men as Wolf Blitzer and numerous former Superintendents of West Point, I wrote many summaries for the End of Day report to the Japanese embassy. I also wrote a letter on behalf of the Assistant Secretary informing the Mayor of Hiroshima, Japan, that the President would be unable to attend the Atomic Bomb Peace Memorial Ceremony. I also arranged and attended meetings for the Japanese Capacity Building Office Director throughout the State Department, serving as a key liaison for the Japan Desk within the State Department.

C. Administrative

There was some difficulty in transferring my clearance to the State Department, which meant that I could not do much work during my first week. Also, there was very little extra information regarding where to check in or any other details. For example, MIDN ____ and I were not informed that there was a shuttle we could use to take us to the Metro Station until a few days into the program.

Mr. Kimsey and Colonel Wellman were both extremely helpful with regards to feeding us since the Naval Academy was the only Academy in this program that did not reimburse its students or provide a stipend.

C. Evaluation

1.  Relevance

The internship was very relevant to the duties that I will be undertaking as an Intelligence officer. The military aspect of policy is only a facet of diplomatic relations between countries, and seeing how it works alongside diplomacy and aid was very informative. It was very informative to see how the United States manages its relationships with other countries on a daily basis, and it was very helpful to see how the military works with its civilian counterparts to achieve overarching foreign policy goals set forth by the President and the Secretary of State.

2.  Impact

There is very little interaction between the State Department and the Naval Academy and I believe that both parties benefit from the interaction greatly. I really think that although it may be easier to arrange internships with the Pentagon, it would benefit both the Navy and the other agencies of the federal government to have increased interaction so that both have a better understanding of what the other does.

3.  Level of interest/challenge:

Working at the State Department was very stimulating, but it was really in the conversations with those who set policy in Washington that my interest peaked. Being able to have dinner with Wolf Blitzer from CNN and pick his brain about everything going on in the world was one of the best experiences I've had at the Academy.

D. Recommendation(s)

Since the Kimsey Scholar Program is run through West Point, we were put up in West Point accommodations in Washington DC. What surprised me most was how well run the West Point program is compared to ours. All of their Washington DC interns live at American University and all their students receive a stipend for food. This is very beneficial because I have had to worry about housing and food on the two internships I have done while at the Academy, and in all honesty it is very frustrating when I am forced to provide for myself in what is supposed to be a professional development program sponsored by my institution.

E. Other

One of the biggest issues I had with this internship was that there was very little information provided to myself and MIDN ____. There were participants from West Point, the Air Force Academy, and the Coast Guard Academy and we were the only students who were not reimbursed in any manner for food and transportation costs. This is surprising because although we were put under the most rigorous selection process compared to the other Academies, we were forced to provide for ourselves during what was supposed to be a very prestigious program.