Anderson School students selected for prestigious FBI program
Two students from the graduate Information Assurance program at the University of New Mexico, Kevin Rodriguez and Leila Potts, were selected to participate in the 2009 FBI Honors Internship Program. Every year the Federal Bureau of Investigation selects a unique group of students to participate in its FBI Honors Internship Program. The highly selective process is very competitive with a very small percentage of applicants from universities admitted each year.
The 10-week summer internship program is open to both undergraduate and graduate students. While most interns are assigned to the Washington D.C. region, students with a concentration in Information Technology or a related discipline may be assigned to one of 14 FBI led Regional Computer Forensics Laboratories (RCFL) located throughout the United States.
While the students were exposed to many facets of the Bureau their primary project was supporting a team involved in the testing and validation of digital forensics tools. The project is a key element in sustaining the FBI’s capability to examine digital evidence and continuously evolving systems and media.
“I received some very unique and specialized technical training in digital forensics,” Rodriguez explained about his work experience. “I learned a lot about digital evidence and the vital role that it plays in contemporary investigations. Aside from the valuable technical experience, I also learned a lot about the inner workings of the FBI. I learned things such as how investigations are conducted and the amount of work that goes into each one. Seeing how the FBI works from the inside was really a neat experience for me.”
The internships provide a window into this otherwise somewhat cloistered world. The staff is always willing to answer questions and provide additional insight.
“They really made me feel like I was a part of the FBI," said Rodriguez. "Seeing the work of each person and how it fits into the overall mission of the FBI was something that I really enjoyed.”
SSA Darrin Jones, from the local FBI office and director of the New Mexico Regional Computer Forensics Lab (NMRCFL) added, “We were very impressed with the interns from UNM. They were exceptionally bright, highly motivated and easily applied their already significant digital forensics skills to FBI training and actual casework.”
UNM provides unique opportunities in the field of Information Assurance, including digital forensics, through its graduate program and partnership with the FBI led NMRCFL.
For more information contact Alex Seazzu, director, UNM Center for Information Assurance Research and Education (CIARE) at (505) 277-8451; via e-mail - alex@mgt.unm.edu or visit: Information Assurance.
Posted by scarr at November 12, 2009 12:00 PM