“The Insight Reflections on my DOJ Internship”

The first 50-hours of my internship with the Department of Justice (DOJ) has given me insight into the work that is done within the agency, and it has improved my knowledge of how cybersecurity functions in a federal organization. From my start date until today (January 13th through February 12th), I participated in a variety of weekly team meetings, individual training sessions, and technical assignments that increased my academic understanding and skills.

I focused on initial training duties in the beginning section, which included the onboarding process of obtaining my work laptop and DOJ badge, completing the IT configuration software, and resolving PIV badge access problems. Going through this process reintegrated the importance of IT support and system security in a federal office. I finished introductory training required by DOJ, such as the DOJ Records and Information Management (RIM) and Continuity of Operations Overview (COOP), which gave me a basic understanding of agency procedures and emergency preparation.

I arranged a weekly schedule with my supervisor and team leader that works around my academic schedule and other activities. I log in every day from 10am-1pm, Monday through Friday. As my internship went on for these first 50-hours, I became more involved in cybersecurity-related tasks and training. I completed courses on cyber threats and attacks, social engineering, and insider threat detection. Meetings with my team leader, Mr. Dondrea Minus, and supervisor, Mr. Christopher Barker, gave me important insights into actual cybersecurity issues. I also read documents like the CIO CS Weekly Status Report and the JCAM tool device report, and I took part in conversations about the EOIR Security Posture.

My knowledge of government cybersecurity strategies and the significance of proactive threat management has increased because of these experiences. In addition to improving my professional skills, the internship helped my ability to work with other colleagues in the industry. Meeting with coworkers, asking questions, and discussing cybersecurity policies highlighted the importance of teamwork and continuous learning in this evolving field.

In conclusion, this internship is helpful in preparing me for a career in cybersecurity. My desire to work for a government agency is in the beginning phases now that I am aligned with gaining experience with the Department of Justice EOIR Operations and Cybersecurity office and procedures. I am looking forward to applying these skills throughout the rest of my internship and to furthering my career goals post-graduation.