15 August 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

A. Summary Information:

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

Internship details:

Location: Pentagon: Operations, Plans and Strategy

(N3/N5)

Dates: 23 July – 15 August 2012

B. Technical:

1. Title of Project:

-Technology Transfer Policy (Technology Transfer and Security Assistance Review Board-TTSARB)

- Disclosure Policy (Exception to National Disclosure Policy-ENDP and Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States-CFIUS)

-Invitation process

2. Objectives:

-The goal of a TTSARB is to provide N3/N5 perspective on specific Navy disclosure policy deciding whether or not the United States Navy should release a certain technology to a specific country.

-The goal of an ENDP is to provide perspective on another service’s proposed disclosure of a specific item to a foreign country (i.e. Air Force proposition to release the F-16 to another country) to determine United States Disclosure Policy.

-The goal of a CFIUS is to authorize or reject a foreign company’s request to invest wholly or partially in a business that supports the DoD in any way.

-The invitation I prepared coordinated the participation of 19 foreign countries flag officer’s to participate in a course that prepares flag officers to serve effectively as joint maritime component commanders. This course is hosted by the Naval War College in Bahrain.

3. Approach:

After thoroughly reading and analyzing reports on cases I evaluated the circumstances to determine how the case related to the U.S. government, how it related to the U.S. Navy, potential outcomes (both positive and negative) of the authorization, and how this decision would benefit the U.S. or the U.S. Navy.

4. Accomplishments and My Contributions to the Project:

I provided assessments and recommendations to the Action Officer to be voted on by the specific committee or board that N52 was a part of.

5. Publications and/or Presentations:

I briefed the Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Operations, Plans and Strategy)(N3/N5B), Rear Admiral Samuel Perez, on a TTSARB case that involved the United Kingdom and Australia. Both countries wanted access to Navy technology in order to strengthen their respective navies. After reading and analyzing the case I briefed Rear Admiral Perez and informed him of the desk’s recommendation that eventually became policy. Work done during this internship was with secret level information thus cannot be attached to this AAR as an enclosure.

C. Administrative

Logistics were simple and easy. Email and phone were primary means of communication. Growing up in Baltimore with a parent that worked in Washington, D.C., I knew before hand commuting to the Pentagon by train was the most convenient option. I did not stay in Bancroft Hall throughout my internship, instead I lived at home. That being said, the commute was simple and easy. I would suggest that the intern have access to a car or a reliable means of transportation to get to the train (if that is the option they choose) daily. The intern should contact the host mentor at the Pentagon a few months in advance to set up government benefits for transit on the Metro (Washington’s subway system). The paperwork must be done at least a month in advanced or the benefits will not be given. As far as meals are concerned, I ate lunch and sometimes breakfast at the Pentagon. There are a variety of options to choose from in the building.

D. Evaluation

1. Relevance:

This internship was directly related to my major (Political Science: International Relations) in that it involved nations around the world. When analyzing cases, the relationships between our country and the international country had to be taken into consideration. I was able to use what I learned from Dr. Wrage’s Formulation of U.S. Foreign Policy class when considering relations between what recommendation I should provide. Not only that, but when providing my recommendation to the Action Officer I worked for, he was able to update me on current relation and situations between nations that the public would not know about. I now have an expanded knowledge on international relations.

2. Impact:

My experience directly affirmed my desire to graduate with a Political Science degree and also to seek a position in government that deals with this type of work.

3. Level of interest/challenge:

I was disappointed in receiving this internship because I was originally assigned to the J-5 desk, not N52. However, after talking to a midshipman who was in J-5 while I was in N52 I am ecstatic that I spent my time in N52. Compared to my counterpart, I actually participated in policy making and substantive work.

E. Recommendation(s)

I recommend that interns be notified about the metro benefit program upon knowledge of receiving the internship.