Daniel Brode

I can honestly say that given my background and interests, my Master degree at Tel-Aviv University in Security and Diplomacy studies was a perfect fit. Since I was a young, growing up in Pittsburgh, I knew I wanted to have something to do with military, security, or intelligence fields – you know something cool like that. Pursuing this further, upon graduating from high school, I matriculated at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) and was enrolled as a cadet there from 2005 to 2008. During that time I received first-hand experience in international security and military relations, as I enrolled in a military exchange program between VMI and the German government. In the end, I spent some seven months at a German military university in Hamburg with four cadets from West Point and another from VMI, and it was there I realized I would like my career to be involved with geopolitical security studies.

With that being considered, after my time with VMI, I decided to narrow my focus to the Middle East following a year at the Hebrew University in Jerusalemin 2008-2009. Mind you this was all during my B.A… It’s complicated I know, but after graduation in 2010, I somewhat immediately headed back to Israelto begin my Master’s studies at Tel-Aviv University.

Before entering TAU, I knew my career choice and knew how I wanted to get there. For me, choosing Israel to study security as well as diplomacy studies was an easy decision. Instead of getting 100% academics at other universities around the world regarding security and diplomatic studies, here – most if not all of your professors have had pretty extensive impacts on the aforementioned fields in Israel. Needless to say, their stories are fascinating. Above all, other schools might have the same fields of study; however, they lack the direct experience in it.

While at TAU I chose to specify my studies in the security field, more so than the diplomatic one. That was a personal choice based upon my overall interests and future career path. In addition to the fun Tel-Aviv offers, including my great roommates – who should come back to Israel by the way – I did find enough time to find a quality internship with a world renowned strategic think-thank, just minutes from TAU.

After a demanding year at TAU, I entered the work-force here in Israel. Soon after, I found myself working with a private geopolitical risk-consulting firm here in Tel-Aviv as an Intelligence Analyst. Truly, the skills I learned in my Masters have all been completely relevant and beneficial to my career, as much of the skills I employ during everyday work, I learned directly from the program. I’m only half a year out of the degree, but I already know that my time in the Security and Diplomacy Masters, the things I’ve learned, and the people I’ve met there, have enabled me to find a career choice that I am truly passionate in and love doing…which in the end is the most important thing!