Inside Embry-Riddle's One-of-a-Kind Global Security and Intelligence Program with Christina Muchow

For Christina Muchow (’26), intelligence and global security are top priorities. Diving into her incredible involvement on campus and professional development, Christina shares how Embry-Riddle has shaped her future.

With a strong interest in subjects such as political science and history and a desire to protect her community and country, Christina Muchow (’26) envisioned a career where she could make a difference.

But before she could make an impact on national and global scales, she needed to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in the high-stakes field of global security and intelligence.

After discovering Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s B.S. in Global Security and Intelligence Studies, Christina decided to take the first step toward her future through the College of Business, Security and Intelligence at the Prescott Campus.

“I chose Embry-Riddle because it has one of the very few undergraduate intelligence programs in the country, many extremely qualified and dedicated professors and ample opportunity to get involved in intelligence before graduating through research opportunities, Eagle Eye and the capstone program,” she said.

Uniting Students (and Nations) at the Prescott Campus

After taking Russian-U.S. Relations with adjunct professor and former U.S. ambassador Larry Napper, Christina felt inspired to start a Model United Nations chapter on her campus.

“My desire was to provide more opportunities for students to learn about and practice diplomacy and international political analysis,” she shared. “I found several other students who were also interested in this topic, and we followed the process prescribed by the Department of Student Engagement.”

“One of our biggest challenges was reaching out and advertising to the wider student body,” she explained. “I learned that it is important to cast a wide net and try to reach a variety of people, but what’s even more important is to have a clear, discernible purpose and vision."

Christina is also the treasurer of the Eagle Emergency Readiness Club and a student-tutor for first-year Russian language courses.

An Eagle Eye for the Details

Since her first year on campus, Christina has been involved with Eagle Eye Intelligence, a student-run research and intelligence organization that publishes reports and analyses of current geopolitical issues.

“As a freshman, I was interested in joining Eagle Eye for the opportunity to practice intelligence writing and receive guidance from the more experienced upperclassmen,” she shared. “I later became an editor to continue developing my skills and to give back to the organization that was helping me grow.”

Throughout her career at Eagle Eye, she has had 22 articles published in issues of Eagle Eye and began serving as editor-in-chief during the 2025 fall semester.

“As editor-in-chief, I am responsible for overseeing the editorial and officer teams, leading our general meetings, creating and disseminating the final publications and performing the administrative tasks that go into running a club,” she explained.

Reflecting on the unique ability Eagle Eye offers to publish ideas and analysis as an undergraduate student, Christina felt incredibly grateful for this opportunity.

“This has allowed me to work with an amazing, dedicated group of fellow students,” she said. “We push each other and ourselves to dig deeper and develop both technical and analytical skills and learn from each other’s criticism.”

Soaring High with FIFA26

Working in a joint effort with professors and other students from Embry-Riddle, the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) and Anahuac University in Mexico, Christina had the opportunity to participate in an open-source intelligence assessment for the 2026 FIFA World Cup that will be held in Vancouver, Canada. The project was organized by the International Association for Intelligence Education (IAFIE).

With her student partner and mentor from JIBC, Christina conducted a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis. Christina primarily focused on the weaknesses and threats, and the team presented their findings at the Security on the Field Conference, which was organized by IAFIE and Anahuac University.

“The Canadian and international team behind the safety and security planning for this event has thoroughly prepared for the events next year,” she said. “However, our research, which was shared with several of the key stakeholders, identified more avenues for increasing security, safety and community engagement, helping to ensure that the tournament is successful.”

This experience also gave Christina insight into the real-world work she could be doing after she graduates.

“One of my biggest takeaways from the project is that there is a lot of time, expertise and international cooperation that goes into events of this magnitude,” she shared. “When successful, all this work will largely remain behind the scenes and out of the public’s consciousness, but it is vital for preventing tragedies.”

Professional Gains at the U.S. Central Command

As a sophomore, Christina became involved with the Virtual Student Federal Service program with the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) as an intern conducting open-source intelligence collection and analysis.

“I started on the Russian Activities in the Middle East and Central Asia team, worked briefly on the Pakistan-India Task Force when tensions flared following the Pahlagam terrorist attack and now work on Captagon smuggling,” she explained.

“My biggest point of growth comes from developing an understanding of who intelligence analysis seeks to serve and how we can truly contribute to furthering stakeholders’ goals,” she said. “This is a point that is highlighted in many of my intelligence and security classes, but my work experience at CENTCOM is what allowed me to truly understand and implement these principles.”

Keep Pushing Forward

After Christina graduates, she hopes to find a job in intelligence analysis or law enforcement. Eventually, she plans to further her education with a law degree.

Christina noted that her time at Embry-Riddle has been greatly shaped by her involvement in her program and the impactful mentorship from faculty members, including Alan Saquella, Certified Protection Professional, Certified Polygraph Examiner and assistant professor in CBSI.

“My best advice for fellow or future students is to fully dedicate yourself to learning and developing in the (relatively) short time you will be here,” she said. “Classes, clubs, office hours and interacting with other students will all be incredibly beneficial, both for personal and professional development. Everyone at Embry-Riddle is very open and willing to help you achieve your goals if you are willing to engage them.”