It’s no secret that START interns bring diverse backgrounds to their projects. Case in point: Edward Boettcher, an intern working with the Unconventional Weapons and Technology team. Boettcher, an Australia native, traveled to the United States this summer to work with the START team.
Boettcher studied security, terrorism and counterterrorism, with a minor in security management, at Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia. When Boettcher returns to Australia post-internship, he will pursue a master’s degree in strategic studies at Australian National University, in Canberra, Australia.
“My undergraduate background fit really well with START’s internship, so it was a great opportunity for me to apply some of the things I’ve learned,” Boettcher said. “During my undergraduate career, it sometimes was difficult to find others with similar interests and goals. START feels like a great place to collaborate with people who are just as interested in the security and intelligence fields as I am.”
This is not the first time Boettcher has traveled internationally to work on a project. In 2004, he flew to Sri Lanka with his family to support tsunami victims. His family worked with a group of international volunteers helping to clear rubble from houses along the coast.
“The tsunami had a deep personal impact on my family. My aunt and uncle were in Sri Lanka during the disaster. I was young when I traveled to there for volunteer work, but I think the experience definitely sparked an interest in international travel,” Boettcher said.
This semester, Boettcher is working with the Unconventional Weapons and Technology team, researching nuclear detection architecture, specifically nuclear facilities and materials in Russia. Boettcher will also participate in a simulation designed to understand smuggling routes into the United States from Russia, North Korea and other countries.
“I’m looking forward to working with a team throughout the simulation exercise, especially as we begin to bounce ideas off each other,” Boettcher said. “Once my master’s is finished, I’d love to work in the counterterrorism/defense field or for the federal police. START is a great way to gain real-world experience in a professional environment.”