Friday, April 14, 2017

Internship Opportunity - Financial Action Task Force’s new Training and Research Institute (FATF TREIN)

Interested in interning for The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) intern to work at their headquarters in Busan, South Korea this summer? 
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 by the Ministers of its Member jurisdictions.  The objectives of the FATF are to set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system.  The FATF is therefore a “policy-making body” which works to generate the necessary political will to bring about national legislative and regulatory reforms in these areas.
The FATF has developed a series of Recommendations that are recognised as the international standard for combating of money laundering and the financing of terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.  They form the basis for a co-ordinated response to these threats to the integrity of the financial system and help ensure a level playing field.  First issued in 1990, the FATF Recommendations were revised in 1996, 2001, 2003 and most recently in 2012 to ensure that they remain up to date and relevant, and they are intended to be of universal application.
The FATF monitors the progress of its members in implementing necessary measures, reviews money laundering and terrorist financing techniques and counter-measures, and promotes the adoption and implementation of appropriate measures globally.  In collaboration with other international stakeholders, the FATF works to identify national-level vulnerabilities with the aim of protecting the international financial system from misuse.
The FATF's decision making body, the FATF Plenary, meets three times per year.  
If you are interested in an internship opportunity, please send your resume and cover letter to education@start.umd.edu

Call for Papers: The University of Texas at Austin Announces the 2017 "Bobby R. Inman Award" for Student Scholarship on Intelligence

The Clements-Strauss Intelligence Studies Project announces the third annual competition recognizing outstanding student research and writing on topics related to intelligence and national security. The winner of the “Inman Award” will receive a cash prize of $5000, with two semifinalists each receiving a cash prize of $2500. This competition is open to unpublished work by undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in degree programs at accredited U.S. higher education institutions during the 2016-17 academic year. The deadline for submitting papers is June 30, 2017.
 
The Intelligence Studies Project was established at The University of Texas at Austin in 2013 as a joint venture of the Clements Center for National Security and the Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law with the LBJ School of Public Affairs. The Project’s mission is to improve understanding of intelligence activities and institutions through research, courses, and public events bringing intelligence practitioners together with scholars, students, and the public.
 
The Bobby R. Inman Award recognizes more than six decades of distinguished public service by Bobby R. Inman, Admiral, U.S. Navy (Ret.). Admiral Inman served in multiple leadership positions in the U.S. military, intelligence community, private industry, and at The University of Texas. His previous intelligence posts include Director of Naval Intelligence, Vice-Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Director of the National Security Agency, and Deputy Director of Central Intelligence. He continues to serve as a teacher, advisor, and mentor to students, faculty members, and current government officials while occupying the Lyndon B. Johnson Centennial Chair in National Policy at the LBJ School of Public Affairs. His areas of teaching and research are focused on political, economic, and military activities, policy processes and institutions, international affairs and diplomacy, and intelligence and national security. 
 
Additional information about the Inman Award competition and the Intelligence Studies Project is available at www.intelligencestudies.utexas.edu/inman-award




Thursday, April 13, 2017

Baltimore Council on Foreign Affairs Upcoming Event

The Trustees of the
BALTIMORE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Cordially Invite You to an Address by

His Excellency Yasser Reda

Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt
to the United States

Thursday, April 27, 2017
Reception: 5:15 p.m.      Address: 6:00 p.m.
WORLD TRADE CENTER BALTIMORE
Members: Free of Charge* – Guests: $10.00 – Non-Members: 25.00**

“United States-Egypt Relations”

As a key Middle East power, a friend of Israel, an encourager of a resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, and an ally of the United States, Egypt’s stability and prosperity is of great interest. However, her military regime disconcerts many Americans. Internally, she is plagued by an inadequate economy, destabilizing unemployment, and aggressive Islamist extremism as illustrated by recent bombings of Coptic churches. As we seek to better understand Egypt’s circumstances today, her foreign policy, and relations with the United States, we are fortunate to be joined by Egypt’s voice in the United States, Ambassador Yasser Reda.

The Ambassador is a seasoned diplomat, having joined the Foreign Service after receiving a B.A. degree in Commerce from Cairo University. He has served in Egypt’s embassies in Italy, Iraq, Cypress, China, as Deputy Chief of Mission in Germany, and as Ambassador to Israel. He has twice served as Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chief of the Minister’s Cabinet, most recently from 2013-2015, before his appointment as Ambassador to the United States.

It is an honor and pleasure to welcome his Excellency Yasser Reda to the Council.



Mail to:            Reservations for the address by Ambassador Reda, 4/27/17 may be made by mail, phone, fax, or email, or through the link on the event page on our website – www.bcfausa.org.

BALTIMORE COUNCIL                                 Please reserve ______ seats.
ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
401 E. Pratt Street, Suite 1611            
                                                          Member’s Name: _____________________
Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone 410-727-2150                           
                                                         Guest’s Name: _________________________
Fax 410-727-2174
E-mail: programs@bcfausa.org                     
Guest’s Address:_______________________________________

City: ____________________________ State: ______ ZIP: _______

Reservations accepted on a first come first served basis. Please pay guest fees in advance with your reservation. Checks can be made out to: Baltimore Council on Foreign Affairs. *For membership information, please contact members@bcfausa.org or phone or write the Council office.
**Student non-member tickets are $10, Student guest tickets are $5.

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Apply to be a Research Assistant (Congress) - Congressional Research Service

The Congressional Research Service’ (CRS) Government and Finance Division is seeking a Research Assistant (Congress) to perform data analysis, research, writing, and quality control duties in support of research analysts and managers developing CRS products and otherwise addressing congressional requests for information and analysis. 
Duties include, but not limited to:
  • Preparing contributions to comprehensive or complex analytical and descriptive products that inform congressional understanding of public policy issues and consideration of policy proposals; may author or co-author analytical or descriptive and background reports, memoranda, and other types of written responses for congressional committees, Members, and staff;
  • Participating in group efforts on research projects as a member of a collaborative team and undertakes research and data analytical tasks in support of the development of an array of analytical and descriptive products or components;
  • Locating, extracting, collecting, and/or compiling quantitative data and other information; interpreting and evaluating data for accuracy, relevance, authoritativeness, and usefulness; working with division staff to identify and resolve problems with data; and formatting data to meet targeted, well-defined research needs;
  • Creating and populating databases and spreadsheets, reformatting and standardizing data from different sources, and performing data input, calculations, and analysis;
  • Preparing materials for use at consultations, briefings, and seminars for congressional clients; attending consultations, briefings, seminars, and outreach activities to gain familiarity with CRS’s information and analytic capabilities, record questions, gauge audience engagement, and capture audience suggestions for future sessions; may present analytical information, factual information, or research findings to congressional clients.      

The ideal candidate will have experience conducting research on Congress and American national government and must be able to work as part of a collaborative team. Strong research, writing, and presentation skills are essential.

Candidates with strong data analysis skills (e.g., STATA, SAS, SPSS, Excel) are especially urged to apply. 

This is an indefinite position - not-to-exceed three years and is being offered at the GS-9 level ($54,972 to $71,467), with promotion potential to the GS-11 level ($66,510 - $86,460).

Applications must be received by Friday, April 28, 2017.

CRS works exclusively for the United States Congress, providing policy and legal analysis to committees and Members of both the House and Senate, regardless of party affiliation and is well known for analysis that is authoritative, confidential, objective, and nonpartisan.  Its highest priority is to ensure that Congress has immediate access to the nation's best thinking on public policy issues of interest to its Members and Committees. 

As a legislative branch agency within the Library of Congress, CRS has been a valued and respected resource on Capitol Hill for more than a century and is fully committed to workforce diversity.