A Powerful Beginning: Intelligence, Community, and the Global Stage

Sunday officially marks the launch of the 2025 National Security & Diplomacy Internship at Georgetown University, bringing together a motivated cohort of high school leaders from across the country. After arriving and settling into their dorms, interns were welcomed with open arms by Leadership Initiatives staff and their program teams. Early afternoon sessions focused on orientation, group introductions, and setting expectations for the week ahead.

Following a formal welcome, interns gathered for the opening keynote: “The Impact of Intelligence on Global Security,” delivered by renowned intelligence analyst and author Gina Bennett. One of the longest-serving counterterrorism experts in the U.S. government, Gina shared insights from her decades of experience at the CIA, emphasizing how intelligence gathering shapes both national policy and global diplomacy. Her message underscored the importance of discernment, responsibility, and ethical decision-making in a field where the stakes are often high and the information imperfect.

In the evening, interns boarded buses for a tour of the National Mall, visiting the Lincoln Memorial, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, and the WWII Memorial. The monuments sparked deep conversations about the role of leadership, justice, and global cooperation. The combination of civic inspiration and Gina’s thought-provoking keynote set the tone for a week of serious learning, meaningful dialogue, and personal growth.

The journey into diplomacy and security may have just begun, but already the energy and engagement of this group are remarkable.