Students in the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Academy for Hawaiʻi Intelligence (AHI) learned first-hand about future careers in national intelligence directly from U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Rear Adm. and Director for Intelligence Thomas Henderschedt, and Maj. Gen. and Mobilization Assistant to the Commander Mark Hashimoto.
Henderschedt and Hashimoto shared the importance of the intelligence community in the U.S. Indo-Pacific region, as well as insight and guidance on the wide range of national defense job opportunities in the State of Hawaiʻi. The meeting in January kicked off the students’ semester in the Intelligence Mentoring Program (SOCS 489).
“This program SOCS 489 and the valuable way it was set up to guide us through the process of application, resume, interview, research, writing and presentation is a dream come true for me. There is nothing else available to guide one through the complicated and unclear process of finding a job with the federal government,” student Sarah Harrison said.
Throughout this semester, students will gain exposure and mentorship from local intelligence experts in different federal government agencies and military services. The SOCS 489 class is the final course of the AHI program that establishes a historical, cultural, technical and creative foundation to prepare and achieve excellence in the national intelligence job sector.
The course is taught by U.S Indo-Pacific Command Career Development and Outreach Coordinator Michael Spencer and J2C Readiness, Plans, and Exercises Branch Chief Leeanne Phillips.
“AHI is providing UH students with the opportunity to be in dialogue with decision makers at the highest levels of government,” said Department of Political Science Professor and AHI program director Jairus Grove. “Our students aren’t just learning about global politics, they are participating directly in it.”
The AHI program was established through a partnership between UH and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
AHI is housed in the UH Mānoa College of Social Sciences.
