Interview by Isabella Elias

Sometimes, Baylor IST alumnus Drew Cassibry spends moments at work jumping out of planes. Along with his fellow officers and soldiers, Drew occasionally leaps from these aircrafts at an altitude of 1000 feet or less with an additional 150 pounds of equipment strapped to his body. Yet, as a military intelligence officer within the 2nd Battalion of the US Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, this is only a snapshot of Drew’s responsibilities. After graduating from Baylor, he chose this path in military intelligence to serve his country. Indeed, with a desire to continue his family’s legacy of service, his experience abroad, and a background in international studies, this choice came naturally.

Drew always knew he wanted to be in the army. Coming from a military family, he wanted the opportunity to continue in their footsteps, serving as they have. Both his dad and uncle are former officers and his brother currently so. An officer himself, he is pleased to contribute to that legacy and serve the country.

His specific path of service is that of intelligence, which is international in nature and draws on much of what international studies teaches. This career was a fitting progression from his education since he enjoyed all that the IST discipline brought with it – the study of culture, language, history, and research. As a testament to his love of such subjects, he has visited eleven countries ranging from Canada all the way to the region of the West Bank. The elements of international studies above and time abroad contribute to the passion that translates into his career.

As a military intelligence officer, one must research and aggregate information quickly and well. One also needs to separate what is important from the “noise” – the disinformation and inaccuracies – around core details. Once Drew gathers intel, he does just this. He makes assessments and analyzes what comes his way to guide the decision-making of commanders. This area of research and discernment is where international studies – a literature and research-laden discipline – helped equip him for his duties.

For those interested in a similar profession, Drew has some words of advice: read well, speak confidently, and be familiar with military history. In the intelligence world, broad knowledge is a must, and you often need to become an expert in something virtually overnight. This comes from reading and knowing how to do it well. Drew noted advice he once heard himself: “good leaders never stop reading.”

Confidence in public speaking is also vital in this occupation. For a commander to take you seriously and glean information from your intelligence, you must brief confidently and trust your own assessments. Especially when commanders have limited time, clear and effective communication makes a significant difference.

Finally, a thorough understanding of military history augments the intel gathered and is a necessary requirement for those drawn to this career. As seen in international studies, history indeed informs the present and often provides lessons learned for the future.