UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — This spring, a unique event will connect Penn State alumni with organizations in the defense and intelligence sector that have employment opportunities in the greater Washington, D.C., and Baltimore metro and surrounding areas.
The Penn State Defense and Intelligence Career Summit takes place April 6 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the District Winery in Washington, D.C.
With 12 top-10 rankings in key fields like aerospace engineering and computer science, Penn State ranks third in the nation in the breadth and depth of its research enterprise, which includes seven interdisciplinary research institutes, the Applied Research Laboratory, and 18 colleges, which all perform research from STEM to the arts, law, and communications.
“As a longstanding leader in defense and intelligence research, Penn State is known for producing some of the nation’s top graduates in related fields,” said Tom Hammond, executive director of engagement for the Penn State Alumni Association. “This summit will bring together Penn State alumni who already have relevant experience and defense and intelligence organizations that have active career opportunities.
“Attendees will be able to engage with potential employers who are specifically seeking the expertise and skills of Penn State alumni,” said Hammond. “It’s an opportunity for alumni to leverage their education by engaging within a community that uniquely values Penn State and its graduates.”
Recruiting organizations represented at the event will include the Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State, Omega Minds, Accenture Federal Services, Lockheed Martin, GA-CCRi, Naval Intelligence Activity, Naval Nuclear Laboratory, Raytheon, Navy Strategic Systems Programs, and Warriors Recruiting. Defense and intelligence organizations wishing to participate in the summit can find more information on the event page. Limited spaces remain.
The Defense and Intelligence Career Summit has been designed to prioritize one-on-one interactions, enabling both Penn State alumni and participating organizations to explore how their goals and needs might match current and future opportunities. Alumni with security clearances or niche technical capabilities are particularly encouraged to attend.
Attendees will also gain valuable insights about new developments in defense and intelligence from an expert panel discussion on critical issues affecting the defense and intelligence sector, with former U.S. STRATCOM Commander (Retired) Gen. Robert Kehler and distinguished national security experts from organizations including Lockheed Martin, the Department of the Navy, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, U.S. Strategic Command, and the National Science Board.
“This is much more than a career fair,” Hammond said. “Attendees will engage with panelists who are international leaders in the intelligence and defense sector. Whether they are actively looking for a new role, just beginning to explore new fields, or they simply want to keep connected with the Penn State community, this event will support the professional journeys of our alumni.”
The Defense and Intelligence Career Summit will immediately precede the Navy League’s 2025 Sea-Air-Space Maritime Exposition at the National Harbor, and the District Winery is conveniently located near the Washington Navy Yard.
The event is being hosted by the Penn State Alumni Association, in partnership with World Campus, the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School, the College of Information Sciences and Technology, Penn State Global, the College of Health and Human Development, Penn State Dickinson Law, the Penn State School of International Affairs, the College of Agricultural Sciences, the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, the Smeal College of Business, the College of Engineering, and the Penn State Intern Pipeline Links to Navy Engineering (PIPELINE) program.
All beverages will be supplied by the Penn State Alumni Association.
Admission, which includes appetizers and beverages, is $15 for current members of the Penn State Alumni Association and $25 for guests who are not association members.
Get more information and register.
For more than 150 years, the Penn State Alumni Association has provided alumni with a strong and welcoming community representative of the Penn Staters it proudly serves. The association keeps alumni connected to the University and to each other, while upholding Penn State traditions and supporting the University’s mission of teaching, research, and service. The association also produces the award-winning Penn Stater magazine and other publications, and offers alumni and friends volunteer opportunities, educational programming, and many other services. Learn more about the Alumni Association.