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In the middle of a foreign country, I walked past the big iron gate, armed guards brandishing their weapons, and an intense security checkpoint when it finally dawned on me; here I am–an Aggie engineer–interning at the U.S. embassy in diplomacy and foreign policy. Never did I think this was possible!
As part of Texas A&M’s Public Policy Internship Program, I had the incredible opportunity to intern at the U.S. Embassy in Madrid, Spain. I experienced first-hand foreign policy in action and the inside operations of an embassy. Engineering and public policy may appear contradictory, but here are 3 ways I found how engineering skills seamlessly translate into the world of diplomacy.
1. Facilitate technical global trade
As part of my work with the International Trade Administration, we had frequent clients, including American and Spanish CEOs, entrepreneurs, and government officials. My engineering background facilitated my understanding behind their technical products/ services. For example, the chief public policy analyst of an American eCommerce company sought help to improve their brand reputation in Spain. I assisted the designated eCommerce trade specialist at the embassy by explaining the functions of the company’s software that they were trying to promote. Similarly, the embassy hosted an event for an American nonprofit. I could interact with guests from across the world on the event’s topics of industrial design and human factors because they are key components of my industrial engineering curriculum.
2. The engineering-policy impact cycle
I met many diplomats within the embassy. These experts ranged from political and economic advisors to high-ranking Department of Defense officers to special agents. I had an enjoyable conversation with a NATO policy analyst who had a physics background. He reiterated how often engineers impact policy and how policy impacts engineers.
I saw this firsthand when I applied my manufacturing knowledge to draft a technical policy report on semiconductor manufacturing in Spain. The CHIPS Act of 2022 outlines new policy for augmenting America’s semiconductor industry, including creating manufacturing partnerships abroad. The report I wrote went to the CHIPS Act’s international office in Washington D.C. and then to the Secretary of Commerce herself. It was rewarding to see the impact of my work: the Secretary of Commerce visited Spain with semiconductors as a top agenda item! It was humbling to see how an Aggie engineer was able to tangibly impact international relations in such a significant way.
3. Science & technology, a catalyst for peace and international cooperation
Another unique opportunity at the embassy was to tour NASA’s Deep Space Network, a partnership between the USA, Spain, and Australia that allows NASA to operate antennas worldwide to retrieve real-time data from satellites. This data pipeline is why NASA can share its findings with the rest of the world, including the beautiful images from the Hubble Space Telescope.
The lead NASA official in Spain noted how foreign nations may eagerly work with NASA, even if they are not too friendly with the US government, because of mutual passion for space technology. As such, NASA can be an effective—albeit unconventional—diplomatic force. I mean, who wouldn’t want to add a couple moon rocks to their collection?! It was fascinating to witness how science and technology can be used as a catalyst for peace and international cooperation. What made the experience more surreal was that Spain’s President Sanchez visited President Biden in Washington D.C. the very same day to discuss the NASA site I was standing in as a key part of future American-Spanish relations.
Engineers have a place in policy and diplomacy. Their technical skills are useful, and Uncle Sam encourages them to serve in diplomacy through jobs like the Security Engineering Officer. My experience opened an entirely new perspective on diplomacy, policy, and engineering—one I never imagined when I first walked past the big iron gate and armed guards on my first day as an embassy intern.
Industrial Engineering, Class of 2023
If you found this blog post interesting, you may consider reading “Redefining Space with Engineering and Business” and “Tips and Tricks for an Out-of-State Internship.”