Security Internship Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) established its flagship internship and mentoring program in honor of Dr. Joseph S. Nye, Jr., who has devoted his career to the preparation and mentoring of generations of Americans and global strategists. The Joseph S. Nye, Jr. National Security Internship and Mentoring Program seeks to follow Dr. Nye's leadership in this area by offering a rigorous internship program involving policy research, writing, exposure to national policy debates and decision makers, and professional development.

Interns work directly with one or more of CNAS' research programs or business departments: Communications; Design; Development; Defense; Energy, Economics, and Security; Indo-Pacific Security; Middle East Security; National Security Human Capital; Technology and National Security; and Transatlantic Security. Applicants should familiarize themselves with each department's work through the descriptions below and information available on the CNAS website. Your cover letter should, in addition to outlining your qualifications, explain which research areas or departments most interest you and why. Interns work closely with CNAS staff and are given considerable responsibility.

CNAS offers full-time (40 hrs/week) internships for a six-month term. Interns are given a $75 per month transportation stipend and an additional stipend of $1,900 per month intended to help cover daily expenses incurred during the internship. As of September 2021, CNAS personnel have resumed working in our Washington, DC office full-time. Therefore, we are now only accepting applicants who can relocate or are already located in the Washington, DC area.

CNAS is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

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Communications: Joseph S. Nye, Jr. Communications Interns work directly with the Communications team, gaining experience in a range of activities including media relations and monitoring, multimedia support, event planning and execution, social media outreach, website administration, database management, writing marketing materials and press releases, copyediting, and external relations writ large. Target start date: November 2026

Design: Joseph S. Nye, Jr. Design Interns work directly with the Creative Director, gaining experience across a range of creative workstreams supporting the CNAS brand identity. The intern will be responsible for tracking report and research project timelines and deliverables; organizing and maintaining design files asset libraries, and production documentation; and handling administrative tasks such as purchase orders, invoices, and budget tracking. The intern will also communicate status updates between the design team and internal stakeholders, proof materials prior to production or publication, and support the team during live events or installs, managing setup, signage placement, and on-site logistics. Target start date: September 2026

Development: The Development team works in support of the Center and its mission to build and maintain diverse donor portfolios, steward current partners, and prospect potential funders of the organization. The Joseph S. Nye, Jr. Development Intern works directly with members of the Development team to assist with ad hoc projects related to the Center's fundraising portfolios (individual, corporations, government, and foundations); conduct development and fundraising-related research and assemble briefing memos related to development prospects and opportunities; manage data input in the Center's CRM (Salesforce); support event planning and execution; provide assistance to research programs with database and marketing tool questions; and support email marketing efforts, including tracking metrics, using the Center's marketing software.

The ideal candidate possesses an appreciation and willingness to work in a fast-paced environment, excellent verbal and communications skills, the ability to prioritize multiple tasks from several stakeholders at once, exceptional professionalism and discretion, and a willingness to learn on their feet. Additionally, the ideal candidate will be a highly motivated self-starter, detail oriented, and have a track record of high-quality research and organizational management skills. Candidates with a background and interest in fundraising and nonprofit management are strongly preferred. Target start date: October 2026

Defense: The Defense Program's research and wargaming capabilities examine how to sustain U.S. military superiority in competition with its adversaries, how to push Department of Defense innovation through the integration of emerging technologies, and how to balance the intricacies of military operations with the need for budgetary and institutional reform. CNAS produces the most innovative, rigorous, and high-impact work designed to illuminate the way forward in these competitions and drive meaningful change in the U.S. defense enterprise. Ideal intern candidates will have a demonstrated interest in defense topics and exhibit strong verbal and written communication skills. Ideal applicants will be self-motivated, detail-oriented, and able to operate independently and as part of a small team. Primary responsibilities include administrative work in support of ongoing projects and can range from: event planning, assisting with the facilitation of tabletop exercises, background research for major reports, etc. U.S. citizenship is required to work on some Defense Program projects. As a result, U.S. citizenship is preferred for Defense Program Interns. Regardless, all interested individuals are encouraged to apply and all applications will be considered. Target start date: September 2026

Energy, Economics, and Security: The Energy, Economics, and Security (EES) Intern will support EES in its analysis and communications on issues related to economic security and economic statecraft. EES intern opportunities include:
- Podcast production, including booking guests, recording, post-production promotion and social media engagement for the CNAS Derisky Business podcast
- Events management for EES private roundtables and public events
- Tracking and analysis of economic statecraft policy developments
- Sanctions database management for Sanctions By The Numbers report series
- Research support for major EES research initiatives
- Other support as needed across CNAS
Successful candidates will have the following:
- Demonstrated interest in EES research priorities
- High levels of self-motivation and agency
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Ability to contribute in a team environment and operating in a fast-paced, dynamic policy environment
Additional opportunities may be available for candidates with the following skills:
- Foreign language skills, including but not limited to Chinese language skills
- Fluency in using AI tools to automate research tasks and processes
Target start date: Fall 2026

Indo-Pacific Security: The Indo-Pacific Security (IPS) Program seeks to inform the exercise of U.S. power and leadership in the Indo-Pacific region through a wide variety of research, publications, and activities, including dialogues with officials, public events, and expert working groups. The program's research agenda addresses opportunities and challenges for the United States in the region, with a growing focus on issues that originate in the Indo-Pacific but have global implications. Ideal candidates will be team players who have strong writing skills, experience doing detail-oriented work on tight deadlines, and a demonstrated interest in the region. This is a rewarding and fast-paced internship with significant responsibility. Interns will be called upon to assist in research efforts, support events with top experts in the field, and take advantage of opportunities to write under their own bylines. Target start date: January 2027

Technology and National Security: The Technology and National Security Program explores the policy challenges associated with rapid developments in critical and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, 5G, autonomy and unmanned systems, digital infrastructure, biotechnology, and quantum technologies. A key focus of the program is bringing together the technology and policy communities to better understand these challenges and develop pragmatic solutions. The intern will work with the team to support ongoing efforts such as the Biotech Task Force and the U.S. National Technology Strategy initiative. Duties center on program support including event planning, administrative support, and social media outreach, in addition to some research tasks. Ideal candidates will have a track record of high-quality writing, research, and organizational and time management skills. The applicant must be detail oriented and a creative and motivated self-starter. Interns are encouraged to complete a written product, such as an op-ed, under their own byline during their six-month internship. Target start date: November 2026

Transatlantic Security: The Transatlantic Security (TSP) Program's research agenda focuses on Russia, European security, and strengthening alliances to address shared challenges such as China, technology competition, and threats to democracy. The intern will work with the Transatlantic Security Program team to support the program's events, research, and activities. Ideal candidates will have an interest in the region, experience conducting detail-oriented work in a fast-paced environment, top-notch written and verbal communication skills, strong organizational and event planning skills, and will be a self-starter able to operate with minimal supervision. Strong preference will be given to candidates with previous experience balancing research tasks and a moderately high flow of program management tasks. Interns for the program are also expected to complete a written product under their byline during their time with the program. Target start date: March 2027