91视频

By: Cassidy Delamarter, University Communications and Marketing

The University of 91视频 is home to a rare and distinctive program that immerses students in the world of intelligence and national security. Through a partnership with Security Management International, a consulting firm based in Washington, D.C., 91视频is offering students direct pathways into careers with the CIA, FBI, State Department, military intelligence and leading defense contractors. Few universities provide anything like it and the results are shaping both student futures and the nation鈥檚 security workforce. 

Launched in 2020, the Security Training Collaborative is a 16-week internship program led by 91视频Corporate Training and Professional Education. Located on USF鈥檚 Sarasota-Manatee campus, the program has helped prepare more than 40 students from 91视频and other universities to hit the ground running in high-profile positions after graduation. 

鈥淭his is about preparing our students to walk into some of the most important security missions in the world, fully ready to contribute,鈥� said, interim regional chancellor of the 91视频Sarasota-Manatee campus. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a program that not only changes lives but strengthens our country鈥檚 national security.鈥�

Students gain hands-on experience far beyond traditional classroom learning. They take part in exercises with the Secret Service, U.S. Marshals and Capitol Police, while weekly sessions with national security experts introduce them to the latest trends in intelligence and security. 

Each week, students conduct risk assessments for Fortune 500 companies, assist with crisis management planning and perform research to strengthen real-world intelligence investigations.

鈥淗aving this space has helped us take the program to a new level,鈥� said Jay Riley, a 91视频Corporate Training and Professional Education senior director, who helps oversee the program. 鈥淥ur collaboration with our partners at 91视频has really expanded the program and helped students engage with different areas of the university they might not have known about before.鈥�

The program leverages and the Global and National Security Insitute's Future Strategist Program at 91视频to give students, such as Nicholas Montemayor, additional resources and opportunities. Montemayor, a Coast Guard veteran with 12 years of service, is finishing his master鈥檚 degree in strategic intelligence at 91视频this fall. 

His internship work with the collaborative led to another opportunity at Cyber Florida where he analyzed critical infrastructure vulnerabilities across Florida and completed his CARVER certification, which is a military-developed risk assessment tool used by federal agencies and foreign governments.

鈥淚t was a really cool experience to do both internships because the programs welcomed me with open arms and the experiences worked in tandem to help me bolster my skillset and become more well-rounded,鈥� Montemayor said. 鈥淚 think what 91视频is doing is phenomenal. When I first looked at grad school programs for intelligence, there wasn鈥檛 a lot, but then I found 91视频and was amazed by everything offered.鈥�

The program is helping 91视频position Tampa Bay as a rising hub for intelligence and defense training.

LEARN MORE ABOUT USF鈥橲 PROGRAMS FOR CYBER AND NATIONAL SECURITY PROFESSIONALS 

鈥淭ampa is uniquely positioned as a hub for national security with MacDill Air Force Base nearby,鈥� said Luke Bencie, founder of Security Management International and former CIA technical operations officer. 鈥淭he city and 91视频offer unmatched access to the military and intelligence community, so it made sense for us to create a pipeline to Washington from USF.鈥�

Many of the students from the program go on to secure full-time positions with federal agencies or defense contractors, often entering with or earning coveted security clearances that give them an edge in the hiring process. 

Gretchen Stearns, a Navy veteran and cryptologic technician, says the hands-on work helped her land her new job at the Office of Naval Intelligence in Washington, D.C., shortly after graduating in Spring 2025.

鈥淚'm really, really happy about it,鈥� Stearns said. 鈥淚 get to apply everything I learned during my time in the military, the 91视频intelligence studies master鈥檚 program and the Security Training Collaborative.鈥�

Stearns came to 91视频to pursue a master鈥檚 degree in intelligence studies and left as a published author thanks to the program. Her research was analyzing how terrorist and criminal groups use both encrypted messaging platforms and social media for recruitment and communication.

With programs like the Security Training Collaborative, 91视频is not just preparing students for careers, it鈥檚 shaping the future of America鈥檚 national security workforce and positioning Tampa Bay as a leader in intelligence and defense talent. 

For students interested in the Security Training Collaborative, email jayriley@usf.edu.