Detecting, Deterring, and Defeating Terrorism: Cailee Murphy’s Internship
When a drug cartel in South America makes headlines, Cailee Murphy ’21 is reporting on it.
The homeland security/criminal justice double major is currently interning with The Counterterrorism Group, a unit of the global risk consulting and security firm Paladin 7, which works to detect, deter, and defeat terrorism around the world.
“All my classes, especially with Dr. Yayla, have prepared me,” Murphy says. “One of the things we really look closely at is the different terrorist organizations around the world. Knowing the geography and where these different groups are located made it easier for me to speak intelligently on the topic.”
To make the cut, Murphy was selected from hundreds of applicants around the globe. She completed a three-week virtual training program learning about report writing, open-source intelligence, social media intelligence, and threat monitoring. Murphy’s team is responsible for tracking big events in South America and the Caribbean—everything from drug trafficking to deforestation.
“All my classes ... have prepared me. ... Knowing the geography and where these different groups are located made it easier for me to speak intelligently on the topic.”
“We do focus mainly on violent threats, but we monitor countries overall,” she says. “Right now, we’re looking at the different drug cartels. Two of my teammates and I are also writing a report on the Amazon rainforest, what’s going on with climate change, and how it’s affecting different countries in South America.”
Murphy’s internship lasts until the end of the year, but she has the option to stay on, which she plans to do for the foreseeable future. She’ll also join DeSales’ Master of Arts in Criminal Justice (MCJ) program next semester, pursuing a graduate degree in homeland security and counterterrorism investigations.
“It’s a good opportunity,” she says. “There are so many different ways that a homeland security degree can be used. It’s definitely something that’s good to have on my resume.”
