Military

Biodefense Graduate Programs

Science, Service, and Strategy: How One Soldier Is Shaping the Future of Biodefense

Andrew J Schappert — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 15:55:13 +0000

Science, Service, and Strategy: How One Soldier Is Shaping the Future of Biodefense Andrew J Schappert Wed, 04/23/2025 - 11:55

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Gregory Koblentz

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For Army Major Geoffrey Mattoon, the path to and through higher education wasn’t a straight line; it was a deliberate decision shaped by years of military service, a background in science, and a desire to meet the rising challenges of national security in a tense world.

Army Major Geoffry Mattoon: ‘I knew I wanted something focused on biodefense and policy—not just technical STEM training. The Schar School offered that balance.’ Photos provided.

“I’ve always had an interest in chemistry,” he said. “But once I realized that the math side wasn’t where I wanted to focus, I started looking at how science could be applied more practically. I eventually found that the military and higher education could give me that path.”

Mattoon started his career through a four-year Army scholarship and earned his undergraduate degree in biology from the Rochester Institute of Technology. His first 10 years of service saw him take on various roles, such as logistics, until he found his way to a field that was both intellectually challenging and urgently relevant: the Nuclear and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) functional area and its Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) defense and response efforts.

“CBRN really caught my attention because it requires a different level of critical thinking,” he said. “It’s science through the lens of national security, and that intersection has always fascinated me.”

After a decade of field experience, he was selected for Advanced Civil Schooling, an Army program that allows officers to pursue graduate education in specialized fields aligned with military needs. George Mason �鶹��’s Schar School of Policy and Government stood out when choosing where to study.

“I knew I wanted something focused on biodefense and policy—not just technical STEM training,” Mattoon said. “The Schar School offered that balance.”

Mattoon received his diploma at the 2024 Schar School Degree Celebration.

Unlike other programs in the area he considered, the Schar School’s master of biodefense program provided a curriculum that combined the technical depth of biodefense with the broader strategy of international security. It wasn’t just about how biological threats work; it was about how governments respond, how policy is made, and what happens when things go wrong.

“The reality is, biological defense is one of the hardest CBRN domains to detect and respond to,” Mattoon said. “It’s ambiguous. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. And that makes it both incredibly challenging and incredibly important.”

The transition from full-time service to graduate school could have been jarring, but for Mattoon, it was energizing. He credits the Schar School with providing an environment where real-world experience wasn’t just welcomed but essential.

“I didn’t come in with a deep academic background in policy,” he said. “But I found a program that helped me bridge my experience in the armed services with deeper insight.”

That bridge started with foundational courses in nonproliferation and strategy, taught by faculty with both academic and operational experience. Professors including Master of Biodefense graduate program Director Gregory Koblentz helped frame current and future biological threats within a historical and geopolitical context, giving Mattoon tools he could immediately apply—not just in theory but in future roles that directly impact national readiness.

“I remember working on a literature review about postattack biodetection systems,” Mattoon said. “It was my first time looking at open-source analysis from a policy angle. That process helped me get back into academic writing, and more importantly, it grounded me in how programs work—or don’t work—at the federal level.”

The Schar School’s location in Northern Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., was another key advantage. Evening classes and hybrid course options allowed Mattoon to balance academic demands with ongoing professional development. Being close to federal agencies, think tanks, and laboratories gave him a clearer sense of how policy is made, debated, and implemented.

“You’re not just studying theory,” he said. “You’re meeting people who are doing the work.”

Mattoon received his master’s degree in May 2024. He is now serving as an Army CBRN plans officer for the U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is in a position where everything he has studied will translate directly into the defense of the homeland through management of the CBRN Response Enterprise (CRE).

“We talk a lot in this field about preparedness—about saving lives, minimizing human suffering, and ensuring our forces are ready for what comes next,” he said.

He also pointed out that the journey isn’t only for those already in uniform. One of the things he hopes prospective students take away from his story is that there’s no wrong time—or background—to pursue occupations in CBRN defense or response or for the military.

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Master of Biodefense

Master of International Security

Alumni

Wargame Prepares Students for the Next International Security Crisis

Andrew J Schappert — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 20:07:18 +0000

Wargame Prepares Students for the Next International Security Crisis Andrew J Schappert Mon, 02/03/2025 - 15:07

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Ellen Laipson

Lee Roberts

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“When we decided to close the Suez Canal, everyone else in the room had to change their plans, especially the United States.”

George Mason alum Jerad Harper (far left), an associate professor at the U.S. Army War College, leads students in the Middle East crisis simulation. Photo provided

So commented one Schar School of Policy and Government student who represented Egypt during a Middle East crisis simulation hosted by George Mason �鶹��’s Center for Security Policy Studies (CSPS).

One year after the beginning of fighting in Gaza, CSPS trained students to anticipate the next crisis and how countries might respond. This simulation, which took the form of a daylong matrix board game, was part of an annual series held by the Schar School, including a defense and security research forum and a Gettysburg battlefield tour.

“We offer these ‘out of the classroom’ opportunities,” said Ellen Laipson, director of CSPS and the school’s Master of International Security program, "because they help students move from conceptual thinking and scholarly writing to actually imagining what it would be like to operate in a crisis decision-making environment.”

Ellen Laipson, director of the Schar School’s Center for Security Policy Studies

Reflecting on her extensive career, which includes time as vice chair of the National Intelligence Council and on the staff of the National Security Council, Laipson believes that these simulations can help participants better understand what careers suit them.

“Some people are more suited to being the analyst, with deep knowledge of different world regions, or of specific political and military issues,” she said. “Others enjoy the ‘gaming’ of weighing different policy options; those who think more in terms of ‘now what do we do?’”

George Mason alumni Lee Roberts, PhD Political Science ‘22, an adjunct professor and U.S. Army strategic intelligence officer, and Jerad Harper, PhD Political Science ‘20, an associate professor at the U.S. Army War College, led the simulation in which three years had passed since the fighting in Gaza and Lebanon ended in a ceasefire. They painted a picture in which the new leadership of Fatah and Hamas had formed a united front against Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and were demanding a full withdrawal to the 1967 “Green Line.” Students were then divided into eight teams representing the United States, the European Union, Israel, Iran, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, and given packets describing their countries’ respective goals and interests.

Meredith Hutchens, CSPS fellow and international security master’s student, helped facilitate the simulation.

"Designing and facilitating exercises like this gives us an opportunity to merge our experience as practitioners with the curriculum," said Roberts. "Seminar discussion is great, but it can't really recreate the pressure of prioritizing limited resources, options, and time against multiple urgent challenges. We compress that sensation as best we can into the game and the students report that it makes the concepts much more tangible to them."

During the simulation, each team took turns during which they could take any action incorporating one of the “instruments of national power” identified by the Defense Department’s DIME framework (i.e., diplomatic, informational, military, or economic). They then had to defend the viability of their preferred action. Every other team was given the option of either arguing in favor of or against that action's chances of success. The adjudicator—Roberts or Harper—then used dice to determine whether that team was successful. The relative strength of the arguments for and against the proposed action determined the threshold that the dice roll must reach for the action to be successful.

“It's really great to see how quickly people get into their roles,” said Meredith Hutchens, a CSPS fellow and international security master’s student. “Most people are not timid about stepping into the role, regardless of which country they’ve been assigned.”

As a CSPS fellow, Hutchens volunteered to help facilitate the simulation and was able to observe how her peers navigated the scenario. She was especially intrigued by the negotiations that took place as groups of teams sought to coordinate their actions to achieve common goals and outmaneuver other groups.

“Your decision and your actions can have a lot of consequences, and if you choose to leave someone out of your action plan, that really impacts the game,” she said.

The Schar School’s security studies graduate programs are ranked No. 4 by U.S. News & World Report and include degrees in biodefense and international security as well as a national security track in the master of public policy program and an emergency management and homeland security concentration in the master of public administration program.

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Schar School News for February 2025

Schar School Student Spotlight

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Systems Engineering and Operations Research

Driving Innovation: DELTA-FORCE steers army vehicles into the digital future

Nathan Kahl — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 18:58:03 +0000

Driving Innovation: DELTA-FORCE steers army vehicles into the digital future Nathan Kahl Wed, 01/29/2025 - 13:58

The U.S. Army relies on numerous ground vehicles for successful operations, requiring vehicles that can navigate a variety of terrains and allow soldiers to be effective and safe. This creates a challenging set of requirements for new vehicle design, engineering, and operations that must be cost-effective.

Ali Raz. Photo by Creative Services

George Mason �鶹�� is now an important contributor for researching novel approaches and development of new vehicles, thanks to a $1.6 million grant from the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences under Digital Enterprise Technology for Maintenance and Sustainment Improvements—Phase II effort, sponsored through the Army’s Ground Vehicle Systems Center.

The George Mason project, called DELTA-FORCE (Digital Environments for Life-Cycle Test and Evaluation For Off-Road Combat VEhicles), is a joint effort between the College of Engineering and Computing’s (CEC) Center for Excellence in Command, Control, Communications, Computing, Cyber, and Intelligence and the College of Science’s Center for Collision Safety and Analysis. Ali Raz of the Systems Engineering and Operations Research (SEOR) Department is the principal investigator (PI) and Steve Kan, a professor in Mason Science, is the co-PI.

This project aims to develop a comprehensive digital engineering methodology for new vehicle concepts. “It's a very unique opportunity for George Mason in that we're going to be building a complete digital environment for life cycle testing and analysis," Raz said. "Life cycle elements have their own domain-specific models, and analysis tools that are not linked. We are building a digital environment to connect them.”

Steve Kan. Photo by Creative Services

The different phases of the vehicle life cycle, from conceptual design, preliminary design, detailed design, manufacturing, and maintenance, each have their own models and analysis tools that do not “talk” to one another. A key aspect of this project is creating an ontology and model-based systems engineering (MBSE) foundation that will connect the different domain-models, providing a common language for integrating the models and building interfaces in a digital environment.

“In order to produce new advanced complex systems, we need to transition into digital environments; the Department of Defense has been laying the groundwork for that for five years or so,” said Raz. “So essentially we will build a digital twin for modeling the off-road vehicle and environments, that is connected to a physical twin via reverse engineering.”

Kan said that “This project will enable us to work in the digital engineering field in a holistic way by integrating different system-level requirements, design, and performance, to the physics level of materials and geometry using reverse engineering technologies. In this project, we build upon our expertise in automotive and aerospace safety engineering and collaborate with colleagues in both CEC and Mason Science at George Mason to develop this digital engineering platform.”

Raz added that DELTA-FORCE will provide an opportunity through new undergraduate courses for George Mason students to get hands-on experience in building digital twins and conducting analysis.

Although this effort is sponsored by the Department of Defense, its content does not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the government; no official endorsement should be inferred..

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Ali K. Raz

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U.S. Department of Defense

George Mason joins elite defense research network

Martha Bushong — Sun, 15 Dec 2024 14:25:04 +0000

George Mason joins elite defense research network Martha Bushong Sun, 12/15/2024 - 09:25

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Art Pyster

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The Systems Engineering Research Center (SERC) and the Acquisition Innovation Research Center (AIRC) recently added George Mason �鶹�� as a member. Both managed by Stevens Institute of Technology, SERC and AIRC leverage the research and expertise of more than 25 universities nationwide.

The SERC and AIRC are two of more than a dozen �鶹�� Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs), which are sponsored by the Department of Defense (DoD). Art Pyster, associate dean for research for the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC), has a long history with SERC. He served as the proposal manager at Stevens when that institution won the initial designation in 2008 and subsequently served as Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer until 2016 when he joined George Mason. “We now have a full seat at the table, participating in meetings with DoD sponsors and helping to set the SERC/AIRC agenda.”

According to Mike Bunting, assistant dean for research in CEC, “Each UARC, composed of one or more universities, has a long-term strategic relationship with the DoD in a specific research area.” Bunting added the structure facilitates collaboration, and the UARC contract mechanism allows for an “easy button” to perform research for the DoD.

Most UARCs are just a single university. The SERC formed in 2008, and AIRC, formed in 2020, are different because they are university consortia. Now that George Mason is a full member, it can receive unlimited tasking from the government and collaborate with other SERC/AIRC members on their research and other activities.

“It's about having a set of resources that the government can rely upon from a trusted agent,” Bunting added. “As an R1 university, George Mason has hundreds of faculty, staff, and students who conduct research in areas of interest to the DoD. George Mason teams can propose and lead new research tasks and be part of joint projects with other members of the SERC/AIRC consortia.”

Stevens recently renewed the SERC/AIRC contract for five years, at which point they were able to add new members, including George Mason. John Shortle, chair of the Systems Engineering and Operations Research Department (SEOR), and Jerry McGinn, executive director of the Greg and Camille Baroni Center in the Costello College of Business, were instrumental in adding George Mason.

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Marine Corps Congressional Fellowship

After Earning a Master of Public Policy Degree, Marine Captain Staton Is Headed to Congress

Andrew J Schappert — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 15:49:58 +0000

After Earning a Master of Public Policy Degree, Marine Captain Staton Is Headed to Congress Andrew J Schappert Mon, 11/11/2024 - 10:49

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Since 2018, the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason �鶹�� has welcomed a cohort of United States Marine Corps officers to campus as Master of Public Policy (MPP) students. The officers chosen for the prestigious Marine Corps Congressional Fellowship Program will complete their fellowships by working for elected representatives on Capitol Hill. Captain Naquan Staton is among the 2024 cohort.

Captain Naquan Staton has a very simple reason for applying to the Marine Corps Congressional Fellowship Program. As a financial management officer, the Charlottesville native sees firsthand how the congressional legislative process directly affects military strategic planning for resource allocation. In short, he wants to be able to do his job more strategically and successfully.

“As Congress passes authorizing and spending bills, I—at the receiving end—have to continually forecast how such activities will impact military operations and requirements,” he said. “When I learned that the Marine Corps had a program that allowed its members to gain firsthand experience in the legislative process, I was eager to apply.”

Captain Naquan Staton: ‘It's an honor to undergo such an essential preparation process at George Mason.’ Photos provided.

After more than 17 years in the Marine Corps, Staton is back at college for the third time. He earned a BS in business administration from Regent �鶹�� in 2017 and an MBA from Baylor �鶹�� in 2021. Now he’s at George Mason’s Schar School studying for a master of public policy degree. He said he appreciates the school’s support to the Marines cohort.

“Beginning with the application process until now, my second semester, the admissions staff, the advisors, the professors, and even the school's dean have provided us with strong academic support, preparing us for our time on Capitol Hill next year,” he said. “It's an honor to undergo such an essential preparation process at George Mason.”

The MPP program has so far delivered what Staton was hoping for when he applied. In particular, the course taught by Adjunct Professor Andrew Pavord called National Budgeting Process fit right in his professional wheelhouse.

“He is an oracle for all things budget,” Staton said. “He did more than teach the students about the federal budgeting process—he went deep into its history, explaining cause and effect from yesterday to today.”

Pavord is an example of the accomplished practitioners who make up much of the adjunct and affiliated Schar School faculty. In addition to teaching at George Mason, Pavord, a former executive at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, is CEO at Federal Consulting Alliance, a Virginia-based, veteran-owned consultancy. He and others on the faculty bring their experience into the Schar School classrooms and provide an extra dimension of learning.

Naquan Staton was promoted in 2022 to captain in a ceremony at Marine Corps Recruit Depo in San Diego.

Knowing more about how public policy is developed and deployed is important to Staton who said the appropriations process is the segment of public policy that interests him the most.

“Most policy problems that Congress attempts to solve are solved with money and by appropriation,” he said. “Policy initiatives often come with a price tag, which demands congressional consensus before arriving at the president's desk. So many policy proposals and great ideas flow through Congress. Still, the appropriations pie is only so large, and it's fascinating to see which ideas actually take flight.”

Next year, as he serves on Capitol Hill, Staton will be able to see how the fabled “sausage is made” by legislators and their staffs, and by the end of his Hill tour, he hopes to be well-versed in the congressional culture and understand the key areas of policy, politics, and process.

“It's one thing to have a fundamental understanding of how a bill becomes a law, but until you have been in the kitchen, it's difficult to truly appreciate how the ingredients come together,” he said.

With a regime change in Washington arriving in January, things could be less than normal in official Washington for the Marine Corps fellows, but Staton isn’t concerned.

“I believe every Marine's best attribute is composure under chaos,” he said. “We are taught to be flexible, fast, and to constantly consider all risks to the mission. Being somewhat aware of how high-tempo the halls of Congress are, I'm confident any Marine Fellows will thrive.”

More than 4,700 of George Mason’s more than 40,000 students are military or veteran-connected. The university is designated a Military Friendly ^TM institution and has been rated as a top college for veterans by U.S. News and World Report. In fall 2024, the university’s incoming freshman transfer cohort was 20 percent military connected, and the incoming graduate cohort was 19 percent military connected. See this webpage to learn about the Military, Veterans, and Families Initiative at George Mason.

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Master of Public Policy

Schar School News for November 2024

Costello College of Business News

U.S. Army Vet and MBA alum credits Costello for expanding his dreams

Jennifer Anzaldi — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 14:31:18 +0000

U.S. Army Vet and MBA alum credits Costello for expanding his dreams Jennifer Anzaldi Mon, 11/11/2024 - 09:31

After eight years in the U.S. Army, Allen Taber, MBA ’22, was looking for a way to grow in his career. The Donald G. Costello College of Business at George Mason �鶹�� provided him the tools he was seeking. Taber came to George Mason for an MBA, and left with a new dream of pursuing a doctorate.

Allen Taber, MBA ’22

“George Mason was an awesome experience, especially for someone who wasn’t in school for over a decade,” says Taber. A parent of a young child, Costello offered him the location and flexibility he was seeking. “Professors worked with us. Almost every single professor you had was out there to help students out.”

Prior to coming to Costello, Taber served as a computer detection specialist in the U.S. Army. “I brought the skills I learned in the military to the workplace, which allowed me to become a program manager within the information technology industry,” says Taber. While working as a project manager he quickly realized that if he wanted to grow in his company, he needed an advanced degree.

For Taber, learning the theory behind what he was doing in his position helped to make him a better manager. Taber says his Management Consulting course with Jim Wolfe, associate professor of management and entrepreneur in residence at Costello, was particularly impactful. “We bounced ideas off of each other in the class that I could implement in my current position,” says Taber.

Allen Taber, MBA ’22, in Chile on his MBA Global Residency.

In addition to Wolfe’s class, Taber says his most memorable experience during his time at George Mason was the Global Residency Program to Chile. “We had the opportunity to learn different business operations, and more importantly how a different country operates, both similarities and differences. It was amazing to study in a place you normally would never go,” says Taber. “It was the first time I left the country in 20 years.”

Taber says that not only was the business education experience impactful, but exploring the city and learning about the culture left a lasting imprint as well.

Allen Taber, MBA ’22, spent eight years in the U.S. Army.

After completing his MBA, Taber continued on for his doctorate in business administration at Walden �鶹��. “Professor Wolfe was a catalyst to push me into my doctoral studies,” says Taber. “You talk about it, you think about, but having someone who’s been doing it for so many years say ‘Go for it’ is pretty awesome.”

Taber says the MBA program prepared him well for his doctorate. Taber is currently the senior technical project manager for Monture, LLC, and working on completing his doctoral study.

Taber’s advice to students considering the program: “It is never too late to go back to school. While I had great accomplishments in the workplace, having an advanced degree will open up future opportunities that would not be possible without it.”

Photos provided by Allen Taber.

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Costello College of Business Alumni

MBA Program

Alumni

Learn more about the Veterans Co-enrollment (VCE) program.

Bringing a Veteran’s Global Perspective to Nursing

Taylor Thomas — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 16:47:40 +0000

Bringing a Veteran’s Global Perspective to Nursing Taylor Thomas Fri, 11/08/2024 - 11:47

The School of Nursing here at George Mason is #1 in Virginia for veterans for a reason. Who better to attest to this than students who are veterans and pursuing their nursing degree?

Veteran Frankie Farmakis is pursuing his BSN at George Mason after 30 years in the Marine Corps. Learn why.
To all our veterans, thank you for your service.

During his 30 years of military service in the U.S. Marine Corps, Frankie Farmakis witnessed the differences across international health care systems and was exposed to cultural contexts across the globe. In this next chapter of his career, Farmakis applies these experiences to the field of nursing.

“My service brought immense internal and external gratification. There are many similarities to the U.S. health system across the world and also pieces I think would be beneficial to incorporate [into how we do things]. A major example is ensuring people have access to long-term care and don’t only seek care when their health is in serious decline,” Farmakis said.

Farmakis says George Mason is excellent at opening doors for veterans to attain higher education. “George Mason is undoubtedly veteran-friendly. They have the process down. You talk to real people well-versed in veteran needs and how to apply military benefits in a streamlined manner,” Farmakis said. “This is where to go to make your life easier.”

He entrusted the George Mason School of Nursing to nurture this journey and is currently a student in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Veterans Co-enrollment (VCE) program. Students complete a BSN degree online while simultaneously enrolled in an Associates of Applied Science nursing degree (AAS Nursing) program at a partner community college.

After earning his BSN, Farmakis intends to specialize in medical-surgical (med-surg) or emergency department (ED) nursing.

“I became interested in med-surg and ED nursing during my clinical rotations. I’ve been in chaotic environments, which I feel will lend well to handling the stress that comes with these specialties,” said Farmakis.

He is also eager to empower patients to continue their care once they are no longer under his. “Relationship building with patients is crucial positive outcomes. Engaging patients increases their desire to participate in continuity of care,” he said.

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bachelor of science in nursing

Marine Corps Fellow Captain Desiree Peterson: Studying to Improve Military Processes

Andrew J Schappert — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 13:21:09 +0000

Marine Corps Fellow Captain Desiree Peterson: Studying to Improve Military Processes Andrew J Schappert Fri, 11/08/2024 - 08:21

Since 2018, the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason �鶹�� has welcomed a cohort of United States Marine Corps officers to campus as Master of Public Policy students. The officers chosen for the prestigious Marine Corps Congressional Fellowship Program will complete their fellowships by working for elected representatives on Capitol Hill. Captain Desiree A. Peterson is a member of this year’s cohort.

Marine Corps Captain Desiree A. Peterson’s military and academic journey has led her from undergraduate studies at the United States Naval Academy, where the communications officer earned her BS in Honors English in 2019, to George Mason’s Schar School where a Master of Public Policy degree awaits. After she dons her cap and gown next year, the Paterson, New Jersey, native will head to the halls of Congress.

Peterson’s path is not only about personal growth but about gaining the insight needed to bring tangible improvements to the Marine Corps, she said. In fact, her drive to join the Congressional Fellowship Program grew from her curiosity about the inner workings of policy and how it impacts the processes within the Marine Corps.

“I wanted to gain a more comprehensive understanding of policymaking to bring back insights that could improve Marine Corps processes,” Peterson said. “The fellowship offers a unique chance to see the legislative process from the inside, which I believe is essential for enhancing our effectiveness as a force.”

Captains and Marine Corps Congressional Fellows Desiree A. Peterson, left, and Elizabeth Hosie at the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. Photo provided.

Equally, she views this as a pathway to becoming a more well-rounded leader, balancing her technical expertise with equally crucial skills of communication and policy understanding.

“As someone who has worked in a highly technical field, it remains important to me to maintain balance and continue to pursue to develop both technical skills and the ability to communicate complex material effectively,” she said.

Her ultimate goal is not just to understand policy but to use it to shape and optimize processes within the military. As officers advance in their careers, she said, understanding the “why” behind decisions can dramatically influence operations within the Corps.

By comprehending how processes—like the authorization and appropriations that influence military spending—directly impact the way the Marines are trained and equipped, Peterson sees a chance to act as a bridge, capable of explaining decisions and their impact to those under her leadership.

“It is my goal to better understand the legislative processes that inform the design of our force, but also to integrate myself within a cohort of scholars, leaders, and staff and members of Congress who possess the latitude to not only understand, but influence, the way we prepare for and respond to future national security concerns,” she said.

One of her favorite classes has been Technology, Culture, and Commerce, taught by Adjunct Professor Mark Langevin, an expert in global commerce and policy.

“This course expanded my understanding of how Congress intersects with evolving industries and technology, as well as the broader cultural impacts of technological change,” Peterson said. “This intersection is especially relevant to my background, highlighting the challenges the military faces in rapidly adapting to new technological landscapes.”

In addition to her professors and fellow classmates, Peterson has received academic encouragement from previous Schar School Marine Corps fellows.

“I am deeply grateful for the mentorship I've received throughout my journey to join this program,” she said. “Marines who previously completed this fellowship have shared invaluable insights that shaped my understanding of the experience, providing a realistic view of what it entails and helping me determine if it would be the right fit.”

Her upcoming service on Capitol Hill is a far cry from her typical duties in uniform, but Peterson is ready for the transition.

“Military training has prepared me to stay mission-focused and resilient, qualities that will be crucial when navigating the complexity and pace of Congress,” she said. “My hope is that this experience [at the Schar School] will provide the opportunity for me to represent the Marine Corps in a small capacity so that we can connect the needs of the service with the realities of the legislative process to foster better understanding and outcomes.”

In This Story

Mark Langevin

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Topics

Marine Corps Congressional Fellowship

Master of Public Policy

Schar School News for November 2024