SPRINGFIELD, Va. – The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency hosted college students from several local universities April 18 for a debate tournament and career expo at NGA Washington.

“Debate teaches public speaking, grace under pressure and critical thinking,” said NGA Director VADM Frank Whitworth. “Those are skills that are vital to any professional career, and absolutely paramount to a career in the federal government – especially the field of intelligence.”

Twenty-seven students and six faculty members from George Mason, Georgetown, Howard, James Madison and Johns Hopkins universities visited NGA for a debate tournament and knowledge-sharing about NGA careers and mission.

“I was really surprised to learn about the number of different opportunities that NGA provides,” said Georgetown sophomore and member of the winning debate team, Connelly Cowan. “There are many different positions and opportunities that I hadn’t even thought about before.”

The debate judges – current and former NGA employees – underwent a brief introductory orientation to learn criteria for assessing debaters’ performances. The judging criteria included:

• Solid logic, reasoning and analysis
• Compelling evidence
• Persuasive storytelling
• Overarching presentation of facts and arguments
• Eloquent, organized and civil communication

“I think it was very inspiring seeing these young people be so professional,” said Dr. Anna Rubinstein, a debate judge and NGA’s chief of artificial intelligence assurance. “We would be very lucky to recruit these students at NGA.”

Throughout the tournament, teams argued for and against the resolution, “The U.S. should establish substantial restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions via a carbon tax.”

“I think the most important skills in debate are to the ability to see an issue from every angle,” said George Mason debate team member, Noah Reed. “You need to be able to conduct second and third level research – which is not only understanding the topic, but understanding the opposite of the topic...and then forming an opinion based on the synthesis of those two differing positions.”

The event highlighted how the skills required to be successful in debate are also essential for intelligence work.

“I think this is the beginning of a burgeoning area that is necessary beyond our agency,” said NGA’s acting director of human development, Jo-Ellen Adkins. “Hopefully it will catch on for the entire intelligence community.”