In the current federal service environment, preparing the next generation of national security practitioners requires innovative approaches. In answer, SPA has launched AURORA (American University Repository for Open-Source Research & Analysis), a program designed to provide students and recent alumni with tangible experience, training, and critical skills in open-source intelligence (OSINT) analysis. 

“With the change in the employment environment in D.C., there are fewer opportunities available.” said SPA Professor Tricia Bacon, AURORA’s founder. “Job offers dried up. Internship offers were rescinded. And I think one of our responsibilities as a School of Public Affairs in Washington, D.C., is to make sure our students still get experiences that will set them up to be competitive for the jobs available and be ready for their careers in national security.” 

Soon the seed of an idea took root. How could SPA provide practical experience in the field in-house, drawing from its alumni and professional networks? By spring, Bacon and a group of students and alumni had developed the program, which they will launch with a public event on April 8. 

"We have organized and launched quickly to meet the moment,” Bacon said. “But I wanted to help students as quickly as possible. AURORA provides training and opportunities that members can showcase on their resumes and in interviews, allowing them to demonstrate that they have the experience and skills that employers are seeking.”

AURORA’s Three Pillars
AURORA’s programming has three distinct facets: a student organization, an alumni initiative, and an advisory board. 

Student Organization
The student program is modeled like a "mini Intelligence Community," said Bacon, complete with regional divisions and functional teams and offering opportunities for both analysis and leadership. Within this, a student-led editorial board shepherds a quarterly journal (available soon on SPA’s website), targeted to an audience of national security practitioners tasked with making decisions and informing policy. In addition, a training directorate develops essential skills for students, ensuring quality publications and overall professional growth.

Rising Practitioners
The second component, "Rising Practitioners," serves recent alumni. These individuals, perhaps not yet in their desired national security roles, can get more advanced, specialized training and publish their analysis in the journal as well, thereby strengthening their resume for future roles. 

“Breaking into the national security and intelligence field can be very challenging, even with advanced degrees,” said Hayley Page, co-founder and director of the Rising Practitioners initiative. “I wanted to create a space where recent graduates and early-career professionals could continue building applied skills, gain meaningful experience, and better position themselves in a competitive field.”

Advisory Board
The third pillar is the advisory board, comprising over 100 practitioners offering support, advice, and trainings to AURORA and its members. The board also facilitates a mentorship program, pairing graduating students with advisors, with plans to expand this to current students and recent alumni as well. "There's an incredible generosity in this field, of people who are willing to help the next generation of practitioners,” said Bacon. “And in times that can seem challenging, that has been a bright spot."

Program Details
AURORA’s model fills a unique gap in student development opportunities. It is not a traditional academic course, and it is not for every public affairs student. 

“This is a voluntary opportunity for students who are self-motivated to best position themselves to get national security jobs and succeed in them quickly, to reduce the learning curve that comes with working in this field,” Bacon explained. 

“The ability for students to connect with professionals in the national security field fills a critical knowledge gap for those hoping to break in,” said SPA alum and AURORA advisory board member Carly Sass, who now works in private-sector intelligence after years working in the Intelligence Community. “The opportunity to work with students and discuss how I have thrived and worked intel in both the government and private sector is so rewarding. I’m happy to be a part of the growing program."

Open-Source Analysis of International Intelligence
A key focus is on open-source intelligence analysis, which, while not classified, helps build the same skill set applied in a classified environment. This approach not only prepares students for government roles but also for the burgeoning private sector intelligence world. "Major League Baseball has an intelligence unit now,” said Bacon. “Intelligence units in the private sector are very common, and we are training members to work in those environments as well" 

A defining characteristic of AURORA’s analysis is its strict adherence to intelligence community analytic tradecraft standards, coupled with a commitment to objectivity and analytic rigor. The program leverages its extensive advisory board to foster relationships within the open-source analysis community. The board includes members from the private sector, U.S. government, former U.S. government, and NATO; around 40% are alumni. 

Application Process
The initiative has garnered significant student enthusiasm. Applications opened in the fall, and Bacon admitted an incoming founding cohort of 100 students. "We were blown away with the amount of interest,” she said. “A lot of students are hungry for these kinds of opportunities."

Students from a range of academic backgrounds and academic levels are eligible and encouraged. 

A Unique Solution
AURORA also stands out for its model, the only one of its kind in D.C. and the nation. 

"There are no other universities doing anything like this,” said Bacon. "While other institutions have open-source analysis centers, there is nothing like AURORA, where the students are serving as basically intelligence analysts." 

AURORA’s successful start is a classic SPA story of innovative problem-solving in higher education. Even in a difficult employment climate, such skill-focused initiatives can empower students with the practical credentials and experiences to thrive in the field of national security. 

Applications will re-open in Fall 2026. To learn more about AURORA, visit the website.