BA in Russian and Eurasian Studies

Tom Jordon, 2005

What work are you doing now?

Serving as the Marine Cryptologic Linguist MOS Specialist at Intelligence Department, Headquarters, United States Marine Corps. I manage the human capital for all of the Marine Corps' cryptologic linguists, helping to ensure that there are enough Marines trained in the right Foreign Languages to meet the needs of the Marine Corps.

What do you like about it?

There is always a new and unexpected challenge; and I directly impact Marine Corps policy and the future status of the force.

How did your degree in the college prepare you to do this work?

Although my degree doesn't bear directly on this work, it contributed to my success in previous assignments that led to this one: as an interpreter and arms control inspector working at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and as a Russian Military Instructor at the Defense Language Institute. I am also currently enrolled in law school, and of course that would not have been possible without my degree.

What advice would you give current students about developing their careers?

Knowledge about another culture greatly increases your chances of finding interesting and exciting work, no matter what field.