United States Marshals Service Celebrates National Intern Day

For many college students, summer is a time to think about their future careers by working internships in their desired field. This summer the United States Marshals Service (USMS) has over 25 interns out of its headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. On July 25th, the USMS is celebrating the contributions and projects they have completed during their programs thus far as a part of National Intern Day.

Each intern is assigned to a supervisor within a staff office or division. Interns work on projects like revamping internal practices, writing policy memos, reviewing case studies, and creating communication materials.

“It’s a lot more than just administrative work,” said Nyla Souffrant, a political science and international affairs major at the University of Georgia. “Here, I get to be hands-on with what I actually want to do career-wise. That’s how I know I’m in the right career field.”

“It’s absolutely worth getting involved because it’s so hands-on,” said Alexander Williams, a biology and history student at Yale University. “In my experience, it’s been to hit the ground running and just sprint.”

In addition to working on their projects, USMS interns have the opportunity to go on field trips, attend information sessions, and meet with executive officers. Interns this summer have visited with employees at the Secret Service, Interpol, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the DC Superior and District Courts, the Supreme Court, the U.S. Capitol, and the FBI.

“We try to gauge the interest of the students so that it truly is the best use of their time,” said Jonathan Ocana, Chief Diversity Officer. “We want them to be exposed to things that are of actual interest to them and not what we are projecting on them.”

“Being here has given me an opportunity and a platform to learn stuff that I would have never learned at any other internship,” said Javier Simpson, a political science student at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

The USMS internship program is well-established and can lead to permanent employment opportunities within the agency.  

“There are countless executives who have been here for close to 20 years, and they talk about having an internship experience here,” said Ocana. 

Each year the USMS headquarters has students from over 50 colleges partake in its internship program. Some of the interns from this summer’s cohort are from Virginia Tech, Arkansas State University, Florida State University, University of Georgia, The Citadel, St. Lawrence University, University of Maryland, Rutgers University, George Washington University, and Southern Methodist University.

“You’re always working on the next generation,” Ocana said. “Interns are the population that we’re going to be recruiting later in life, why not start earlier.”

Students interested in the USMS internship program can learn more here.