Brendan Potter (MIS ‘22): How to find the perfect internship

Brendan Potter has a busy schedule. He’s a second year student in the Master of International Studies program at NC State, president of the MIS Graduate Student Association, an ambassador for the Student Veterans Association, and a dad. For most of this year, he’s also worked part-time as a masters intern at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), a U.S. Department of Energy research lab with a global reach. 

Brendan has long been interested in national security issues. He has a B.S. in strategic studies and defense analysis and served in the Marine Corps for ten years as a Recon Marine and Raider. He learned about PNNL when both a classmate and one of his international studies professors mentioned it. PNNL is a national lab tasked with advancing sustainable energy through decarbonization and energy storage as well as enhancing national security through nuclear materials and threat analyses.

Intrigued by its mission, Brendan contacted PNNL to ask about internships and they responded, opening a dialogue that led to an offer. His professional background, skills, and current course of study at NC State were a perfect match. We asked Brendan to tell us more about his work and why it’s an important part of his graduate program. 

What do you do as an intern? 

I have a variety of roles at PNNL. My primary responsibility is to contribute to training courses that are provided to international security partners via the U.S. Department of State. In addition, I sometimes do both policy and analysis work. A great advantage of PNNL is the range of interesting things to do there.

How has your graduate program helped with your work?

My coursework in the MIS program has been directly applicable to my work at PNNL. I have written comparative assessments of foreign militaries and security forces to help tailor coursework to the partner audience. I contributed to an analysis project on climate security and an international law project that is meant to support our partners in their implementation of nonproliferation treaties.

PNNL is in the Pacific Northwest. What has it been like to work remotely? 

I am working remotely, but my role also involves some international travel. PNNL has been a fantastic organization, one that affords me the flexibility to fulfill my other obligations, namely the most important role I have: my daughter’s father. It has been a wonderful experience to intern with an organization that cares about me on a human level rather than viewing me as a number. 

How has this experience affected what you’ll do next?

It has been interesting to see the unexpected ways in which my previous professional experience and studies can be applied to the national security mission space. My experience with PNNL has completely opened my eyes to a new kind of work life, applying many of the things that I currently study, and have a passion for, to a work environment that I did not previously envision for myself.

What advice do you have for students considering a similar internship experience?

Ask about internships. Start a dialogue with faculty and students, then keep it going. Keep an open mind, an open heart, and keep applying. Moreover, don’t feel discouraged if there is nothing to apply for in an organization that you’re interested in. Reach out to them and let them know you’re interested in their organization. You may well be surprised!