On December 2, more than 70 UW–Madison students participated in a National Security Career Forum with Dr. Eric Miller, Senior Advisor for Open Source Intelligence at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). The forum provided students the opportunity to explore careers in national security, learn about pathways into public service, and discuss how language skills, cultural expertise, and technical competencies are increasingly valued in intelligence careers.
Dr. Miller’s visit to campus, coordinated by Dave Schroeder and the UW National Security Initiatives team, included meetings with faculty and program leaders across the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences; Letters & Science; and the International Division. These discussions underscored UW–Madison’s research strengths in AI and language education, the university’s capacity for interdisciplinary collaboration, and the continuing relevance of advanced language study to evolving national security priorities.
The event also helped identify future opportunities for collaboration with partners such as the University of Maryland’s Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS), INSURE, the Wisconsin National Guard, and U.S. Cyber Command.
The career forum was co-sponsored by several units, including the Language Institute, the Language Program Office, the Russian Flagship Program, L&S SuccessWorks, the International Studies Major, Center for Russia, East Europe, and Central Asia (CREECA), and IRIS NRC.
We are grateful to Dave Schroeder and all campus collaborators for leading a successful and informative visit. IRIS NRC remains committed to supporting meaningful career exploration for students preparing for globally engaged public service roles.