Caroline Garrod Shares Experience In Securing a Career With BAE Systems, Inc.

Caroline Garrod, a Cybersecurity Management and Analytics majors with a minor in PPE, shares her experience securing a career with BAE Systems, Inc. as a Licensing Analyst on their Global Trade Licensing and Sanctions team.

Caroline, can you tell us about you academic background at Virginia Tech?

I will graduate from Virginia Tech, May 2026, with a bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity Management and Analytics. I have two minors as well: Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) and International Business. I found that as I continued my academic career at Virginia Tech, I was less interested in the technical aspect of cybersecurity and very interested in the policy side.  During the summer of 2024, I interned for the Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). After that summer, I decided to add the PPE minor which would broaden my background and help me with moving into a career in policy and possibly law. At Virginia Tech, I am also a part of Pamplin’s Undergraduate Teaching Assistant Program where I have been a TA for two years for both Business Law and Cyber Law. I also volunteer with an organization called Capernaum where I put on events for teenagers with disabilities in the New River Valley.

Can you tell us about your position with BAE Systems, Inc. and what kind of work you will focus on?

I started working part-time for BAE Systems, Inc. in March of 2026. As a Licensing Analyst on their Global Trade Licensing and Sanctions team, I support compliance with U.S. export control laws, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations, by helping ensure that international transfers of technology, products, and information meet regulatory requirements. My work involves preparing and tracking export license applications and supporting internal reviews and inquiries to keep the business aligned with regulations. Through this role, I help reduce legal and security risks while enabling responsible global business operations.

Can you provide information about what the application and interview process was like, and what interested you in applying for this position?

I found the job posting through LinkedIn. The requirements of the position were close enough to the skills and knowledge that I had developed through my previous internships and coursework. After my internship with CISA, I spent the summer of 2025 at Leidos, a different defense contractor, as a Cybersecurity Compliance Audit Intern. I did not have any direct experience in global trade, but with the PPE and International Business coursework as well as an internship in the defense industry, I was able to get an interview. I had two interviews. One was with my supervisors and the second was with the rest of the team. They were both on Zoom and panel-based interviews. I was asked mostly behavioral questions. I had my first interview during finals week in December and the second in the first week of January, and I was offered the role in February!

How did PPE help set you up for success?

I think my PPE studies were very important and gave me the analytical skills to better understand frameworks, legal systems, and how policy-driven, rules-based processes work. In my interviews, I was able to talk about the process of writing my capstone paper which showed that I was able to work on projects long term. My PPE coursework helped further expand my critical thinking skills. Combined with my international business minor, it has provided a solid foundation for understanding Global Trade and how international relations affect business.

Do you have any insight or guidance for future graduates planning on entering the current job market?

Networking is so important. My network of people has helped guide me to where I am in my career now. They introduced me to new people who had perspectives on how I could reach my goals and steps I could take to make my career dreams attainable. I also think that it’s okay if you intern or work in a position you don’t enjoy as much. It is the experience that matters. My internships gave me opportunities to figure out the type of work I like to do and helped shape my career goals. Don’t be discouraged by rejection, remember that you only need one job. And that job will lead to the next one!

(Photograph provided by Caroline Garrod – used with permission)