Preparing tomorrow's national security leaders: UAH expands Intelligence and Security Studies programs

Courtesy Patrick Semansky/AP

Artificial intelligence. Cybersecurity. Space. Climate. Quantum computing. The technologies transforming the world are also reshaping national security, generating an urgent demand for professionals who can do something increasingly rare: understand science and technology while also comprehending the human decisions that determine how those technologies affect U.S. national security. The challenge isn't simply producing more tech-savvy personnel or more policymakers. It's educating professionals who can translate between the two.

At The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of The University of Alabama System, the graduate certificate in Intelligence and Security Studies is built around exactly that idea. Currently offered as a 12-hour graduate certificate, the Intelligence and Security Studies Program introduces students to the theories, concepts and strategic goals that underpin U.S. national security.

The interdisciplinary program is designed for graduate students, working professionals and others seeking to understand the intersection of the humanities, social sciences, key technologies and scientific breakthroughs that enable students to prepare for careers in intelligence, defense, government and industry. Building on the certificate, the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (CAHS) is laying the groundwork for future master's degree programs designed specifically for the needs of North Alabama's rapidly evolving security workforce.

Ferrell Horn, director of UAH's Office of Intelligence and Security Studies and a clinical assistant professor in the UAH Department of Sociology.

Michael Mercier | UAH

Leading that effort is Ferrell Horn, director of UAH's Office of Intelligence and Security Studies and a clinical assistant professor in the UAH Department of Sociology, whose decades of experience in the national security community now inform a program designed for a new generation of analysts, strategists and decision-makers. Before joining UAH, Horn spent more than two decades working across the U.S. intelligence community on some of the nation's most complex security challenges. For the new director, coming to UAH wasn't simply the next career step. It represented an opportunity to continue serving her country by helping others prepare for exciting careers that also meet an urgent national need.

“Towards the end of my career with the federal government, academia was always something that came to mind when I thought about where my skillset would be useful that would also allow me to continue to make a contribution,” Horn explains. “It means a great deal to me to be part of preparing the next generation for this kind of service to the country. It's incredibly rewarding.”

At the same time, Horn is leading the effort to expand that foundation into two master's degree offerings that reflect the needs of federal employers and the unique professional ecosystem surrounding Huntsville and Redstone. CAHS is working towards a Master of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies as well as a more technologically focused Master of Science in Space Security and Policy. Both programs will offer courses across UAH colleges to capitalize on the depth of expertise that exists at the university. This interdisciplinary approach will help prepare students and professionals for successful careers in core industries and agencies critical to Huntsville’s federal economic base as well as U.S. national and homeland security.

“In my role here, I wear two hats,” Horn explains. “I’m a clinical assistant professor, so I teach intelligence and security studies courses, while also serving as the director of the office tasked with developing the proposed master's degree programs.”

To that end, this past semester Horn taught two courses to introduce students to the most effective ways of meeting complex security challenges: PHL/PSC/SOC 220: Analytic Writing for Intelligence Careers and PSC 466/566: U.S. National Security Policy.

“At their core, the new degrees will be social science-based but will go a step further and incorporate a broad understanding of some key STEM fields,” the director notes. “The program will focus on the strategic picture of the relevant social sciences in conjunction with technological and scientific developments that directly impact U.S. national and homeland security decision-making, coupled with our nation’s warfighting capabilities.”

Building skills at the crossroads of tech and policy

That vision is a perfect fit for the region and the timing couldn't be better. Few places in the country sit at the crossroads of technology and national security quite like Huntsville. Home to Redstone Arsenal, the Army Materiel Command (AMC), a growing FBI presence, NASA, the Missile Defense Agency, the Space Development Agency, future SPACECOM personnel, defense contractors and countless technology firms, the city offers students a front-row seat to the industries and organizations that are increasingly driving national security policy.

UAH sees Huntsville's unique environment as one of the program's greatest advantages. The city’s concentration of government organizations, research institutions and private companies provides students with opportunities to learn directly from professionals working at the forefront of national security.

“The benefit of being here at UAH and in Huntsville is that we are right in the middle of the technology/security/policy nexus,” Horn says. “I have no doubt that there will be interest in the degree programs from potential students, but also from our professional community, because we will be able to prepare students, future members of Huntsville’s workforce, to understand the most critical U.S. national security threats that we face today.”

That access is especially important as the relationship between government and industry continues to evolve. Horn says the traditional divide between the technology sector and national security community has changed dramatically.

“When I first started covering emerging technologies in my career, there was a tech world and a government world, and the two didn't necessarily have the same missions or priorities,” she says. “It's changed so much just in the past 10 years.”

Today, private companies increasingly develop and provide technologies that impact national security missions, creating demand for professionals who understand both worlds.

“Although the federal government does some stunning technological development of their own, when it comes to the digital age, the big tech companies are the ones at the cutting edge of the technological fight,” Horn notes. “The mission set between industry and government differs in some ways, but national security priorities are something they have in common.”

That need for translation across disciplines, domains and organizations has shaped Horn’s own education and career and now serves as a foundation for the new master’s programs she is developing.

“During my career, I often found myself in the position of acting as a translator between the policymakers and engineers, or the policymakers and climate scientists, for example,” she says. “Fields like these tend to ‘speak’ different languages than policymakers do, but the need for communication and, more importantly, understanding between the two, is more critical than ever.”

Horn says the certificate and future master's programs are designed for students pursuing a wide range of careers, including government, defense, intelligence, law enforcement and the private sector.

“These skillsets are very transferable, depending on what kind of career our students want. These degrees will benefit anyone looking to go into government, the military or the contracting world, for instance. We discuss topics such as the evolution of the national security framework in the United States, how foreign and security policy is made, how national security decision-making happens, what U.S. adversaries prioritize and what national security threats our students are most likely to face when they are in the professional arena.”

Combining interdisciplinary know-how with real-world experience

That interdisciplinary approach is already attracting students from a variety of backgrounds. Horn points to students with interests ranging from atmospheric and environmental sciences to physics and other technical fields who are applying their specialized expertise to help examine top U.S. national security challenges.

“It’s also there for students who are looking to broaden their experience. Maybe they're coming from one of the STEM fields that's so much a part of the government world here in Huntsville, and this program gives them that national policy and decision-making exposure,” the director says.

The program also emphasizes practical preparation. Horn wants students to graduate with the analytical and communication abilities required in professional environments where decisions often depend on generating clear, concise and objective analysis in a timely manner. Those skills are the focus of the program’s courses, helping students develop the ability to evaluate information and misinformation, accurately communicate informed findings and present impactful assessments.

“We prioritize professional skills in the Intelligence and Security Studies Program,” Horn says. “Our coursework is designed to develop and enhance critical thinking skills, professionalism and analytic writing and briefing skills.”

These core competencies are especially important to intelligence and national security professionals who must communicate clearly and precisely in high-pressure, high-stakes and high-speed environments where decisions are made based on the urgency of U.S. policymaker needs.

As UAH continues to expand its Intelligence and Security Studies offerings, Horn sees the programs as a way to prepare professionals who can navigate an increasingly complex national security environment. As the technological developments that shape national security priorities continue to change, the ability to understand those technologies, communicate their importance and connect them to policy decisions will remain essential.

Beyond the classroom, Horn is focused on building connections to help students gain firsthand experience in these fields. Some of her students have already taken advantage of opportunities with local organizations including the FBI, Redstone Arsenal and law enforcement, while partnerships with local companies can provide additional internship opportunities.

“I had so many amazing students this past semester,” the director says. “One of my students already has a security clearance and is working as an intern with the FBI. Another student is interning with the Huntsville Police Department and was accepted into the FBI Collegiate Academy program. Yet another student has applied for a position in the intelligence community after graduation.

“And I'm happy to say that this summer, we are going to have our first certificate-program graduate since I took over the program,” Horn concludes, reflecting on the invaluable experience the program can bring to a student’s future career. “A lot of my former colleagues went to tech companies when they left the intelligence community, and they have said they wouldn’t be able to do their job as well in the private sector without understanding the strategic picture of national security policy, diplomacy and decision-making. The future of U.S. national security depends on professionals who understand technology and science, while also understanding the implications these developments have on U.S. national and homeland security.”