Concord · Spring 2027 Recruitment
Do real national security work while you’re still a student.
Concord analysts research, write, and brief alongside mentors and peers, then turn that work into published analysis and real projects for outside partners.
Key dates
August 26
Meet us at CAB Fair.
September 15
September 18
Info sessions.
September 19
October 2
October 10
October 17
Lecture series.
October 23 @ 11:59pm EDT
Applications due.
October 25
Decisions and team placement.
What you’ll do
01
Join a research or project team.
Every analyst joins a team. Research teams write open-source briefs you can cite on applications. Project teams spend the semester working on a project for an outside partner.
02
Get out of the classroom.
Hear from practitioners at speaker events, see the work up close on site visits, build skills in workshops, and get to know the team at free dinners and social events.
03
Build your network and résumé.
Meet practitioners across government, think tanks, and industry, and gain the research and project experience that internship and job applications look for.
How to apply
The whole process takes about a month, from the first lecture to your team placement.
1
Attend our lecture series.
Four lectures on the fundamentals of national security, built for newcomers.
2
Write a short response.
A 200-word written response on what you learned in the lectures.
3
Get placed on a team.
We match you with a team based on your interests and our needs this semester.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I need national security experience?
No. Most analysts join with an interest and learn the rest through training and their team.
How much time does it take?
About 2-3 hours a week, including a weekly team meeting.
Can international students join?
Yes. All Concord work is unclassified and based on open-source information.
Can I be on more than one team?
Currently, you are not able to join multiple teams. However, depending on popularity and team sizes, there may be special circumstances that allow you to join more than one team.
Who can apply?
Any Georgetown undergraduate or graduate student, in any year and any major. International Politics students are a natural fit, but our teams on AI, space, and emerging technology especially benefit from students with technical, economic, or language backgrounds.
What does the lecture series cover?
Four lectures on the fundamentals of national security, such as: how the U.S. national security enterprise is made up, how to implement AI into your workload, how startups are created and developed, and how to research and write for policymakers. They’re built for newcomers, so no background is needed.
If you have a conflict with a lecture, email info@concordnatsec.org and we’ll share the materials.
What is the test like?
A short written response, about 200 words, on what you took away from the lectures. We’re looking for clear thinking and clear writing. If you attended and engaged, you’ll be ready.
Where does my research get published?
Every brief a research team finishes is published in the Concord Research Library on our website, with your name on it, so you have work to point to on applications. Standout pieces may also be submitted to outside publications with help from our connections.
Is project work confidential?
Project teams work only with open sources. Depending on the partner, some final deliverables stay private, and your team lead will tell you what you can share, such as your role and the work you’ve done.
Why Concord instead of other national security clubs on campus?
You don’t have to choose. Georgetown has great international affairs and security organizations, and we encourage you to explore them. What Concord adds is everything in one place: research published under your name, semester projects for real partners like AFWERX and Amazon LEO, speakers and site visits across the national security community, and a network that helps you prepare for internships and jobs. We’d like Concord to be your home base.
Will Concord help me get an internship?
We can’t promise a placement, but we give you what employers look for: published work, real project experience, and networking opportunities with practitioners at our speaker events and site visits. Our internship tracker also keeps national security internships and their deadlines in one place.
Do I need a security clearance?
No. All Concord work is unclassified and based on open-source information.
Do I need to reapply every semester?
No. Returning analysts re-commit each semester using the re-commit link at the top of this page.
Are there leadership opportunities?
Yes. Analysts can eventually become team leads or join our board. Leadership applications open each semester, depending on available positions.
Does it cost anything to join?
No. Concord is free to join, and our dinners and events are covered. However, if you participate in any social events, a mandatory fee of $15 is required so we can purchase provisions.
Applications Close on October 21.
Questions first? Come to an info session or email info@concordnatsec.org.