Global Security and Intelligence Studies: Making an Impact

When Tamhas Morgan (‘24) decided to attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and major in Global Security and Intelligence Studies (GSIS), he did so with his ideal career path at the forefront of his mind.

“I chose Embry-Riddle because there is no degree program like the GSIS program,” Morgan shared. “It’s pretty unique in its field and really prepares you.”

Aiming for Impact

Morgan, who is currently a junior on the Prescott Campus, has always wanted to end up in a field where he could help people. Majoring in GSIS has given him an excellent foundation to do just that, with coursework focused on real-world emergency response systems, international and domestic crises, global politics and more.

Morgan cites Terrorism and U.S. Foreign Policy as one course that particularly holds his interest.

“We get to learn about all these different terrorist groups. We learn why they do the things they do, why they commit the acts they do,” Morgan said. “It’s something I’ve always been interested in and wanted to do research in.”

Morgan interacts daily with professors and mentors who have experience working in the field. He shared that getting to hear the impact they’ve had on people’s lives is “really inspiring” and motivates him to continue his own journey.

“I want to be able to have that impact on someone,” he remarked.

Sheriff’s Office Internship

To coincide with his major, Morgan has been interning at the sheriff's office local to the Prescott Campus, an opportunity that came about through Morgan’s own ability to take initiative.

“Last year, I was writing to anyone who would listen at police departments, trying to find a summer internship. It ended up that I emailed the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office,” Morgan recalled, continuing, “They said, ‘Hey, we’ve got an internship about to open up...’ So, I talked to them and applied for it. I rode along with them that next week, which was awesome.”

In his internship since, he has had more opportunities to ride along with active-duty officers and regularly works on sorting through cold cases, searching for duplicates and any evidence that may need to be retested.

The internship, which typically lasts somewhere from a semester to one year, has turned into a larger opportunity for Morgan. He was asked to stay for the remainder of his education until his graduation in 2024.

Finding Purpose in Global Security and Intelligence Studies

Morgan shared his own advice for prospective students considering Global Security and Intelligence Studies.

“Find something that you love in the field. The thing that is beautiful about this program is you have so many options to choose from... There are so many different avenues that you can take within this,” he shared. “When you find something you really love and you want to do it as a career, you’ll put in the time and the research and it’ll pay off for you in the end.”

Majoring in Global Security and Intelligence Studies gives Tamhas Morgan a foundation in emergency response, international and domestic crises, and global politics.