Internship Opportunities
The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) is a nonpartisan policy institute dedicated exclusively to promoting pluralism, defending democratic values, and fighting the ideologies that threaten democracy. The organization was founded shortly after 9/11 by a group of visionary philanthropists and policymakers to engage in the worldwide war of ideas and to support the defense of democratic societies under assault by terrorism and anti-Western groups. FDD combines policy research, investigative journalism, strategic communications, and democracy and counterterrorism education.
About FDD’s Internship Program
Based in downtown Washington, D.C., the Foundation for Defense of Democracies has a number of internship opportunities available. All FDD interns will have the opportunity to participate in a twice-monthly speaker series, which brings high-level DC officials and senior staff members to engage with interns in an intimate setting. FDD interns will be encouraged to build on their academic skills by working closely with senior staff. FDD is also happy to assist students who wish to earn academic credit for this internship. All interns are eligible for a stipend and will be required to complete specific government documentation before this stipend is paid.
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. It is recommended that interested candidates submit applications early. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation
FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation (CCTI) is seeking part-time or full-time interns. CCTI promotes a greater understanding within the U.S. government, private sector, and allied countries of the threats and opportunities to national security and economic prosperity posed by the rapidly expanding technological environment. Interns will work closely with all members of the CCTI team, including CCTI director Annie Fixler and CCTI senior director RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery.
For the fall semester, specific projects will include work related to adversarial influence operations, adversarial use of AI, U.S. and allied cyber capabilities, NATO cyber readiness, and critical infrastructure resilience.
Qualified interns will have coursework in international relations, national security policy, computer science, and/or a relevant STEM field of study. They will have an interest in the intersection between cyber and national security, as well as the ability to work alone and as a member of a team. Standout candidates are responsive, self-motivated, and able to learn and work quickly. Basic awareness of computer networking and cybersecurity practices, knowledge of policy writing, experience on Capitol Hill, and familiarity with Europe or the Indo-Pacific are all helpful but not required. In-person and full-time interns are preferred, but virtual and part-time participants will be considered equally.
Applicants should indicate preferences and include experiences related to upcoming CCTI areas of work as indicated above. Please submit a resume or CV, cover letter, transcript, and writing sample. Incomplete applications will not be considered. For additional information about CCTI, please visit fdd.org/ccti.
Eligibility
- Must have at least a 3.2 GPA (on a 4.0 scale).
- Should have a relevant course of study and have completed coursework in any of the following fields: International Relations, Security Studies, History, Communications, Journalism, International Economics, Political Science. Computer science, and/or a relevant STEM field of study.
- Interns should have knowledge of Microsoft Office programs, including Word, as well as basic Excel skills.
- Must be able to commit to a minimum of 22 hours per week.
- Must be eligible to work in the United States.
Application Materials Required
- Resume/CV
- Cover letter (Please review our website and include which FDD projects and issue areas resonate with you and why. Also indicate where you found this internship and your availability for the semester.)
- Writing Sample (no more than 3 pages)
- Unofficial transcript copy
Please specify the department(s) for which you would like to be considered (feel free to indicate preferences) in your cover letter. While you may use the same cover letter for multiple positions, please submit a separate application for each position of interest.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.