Gus Vazquez-Milan

I changed my major once during college.

I started out in Kinesiology thinking I wanted to go the Sports Medicine route; mostly because most of my family was in the medical field. As I got older and began seriously contemplating what I enjoyed doing and could do as a career, I realized that protecting others gave me a sense of fulfillment. Ultimately, I changed my major to Sociology with an emphasis in Criminology and began my path to Federal law enforcement.

• Track & Field: Mid-distance Sprinter
• Midwest Equity Assistance Center
• Corrections Corporation of America
• Graduate Assistant

Yes. I received a scholarship and internship opportunity with Corrections Corporation of America; this was a detention facility in Leavenworth, KS. During this internship, I was trained in security measures, PPC (defensive combat), surveillance, triage, and many more areas. This training benefited me greatly in gaining experience and knowledge in the security field for the future.

After I graduated from Kansas State, I attended The Citadel to work on my Masters. During my time there, I was able to build some amazing professional relationships with professors and guest speakers that had previously worked for the United States Government and our military branches. Through these networks, I was referred to the Department of Defense and ultimately accepted a position in D.C with them.

As a security specialist, I investigate individuals related to matters of National Security.

I enjoy knowing that my job leads to the direct safety of the citizens of the U.S. We are proactive in preventing vulnerabilities and threats; and I believe that is more valuable than being reactive.

It can be extremely difficult to be offered a position with certain security agencies. I would recommend that when applying for jobs, make sure to cast a wide net and be open to a variety of positions. Once you get your foot in the door in one federal agency, it will make it much easier to eventually shift into another.

My education was definitely the key factor that led to my position with the Department of Defense. Keeping my grades above a 3.5 GPA in my Bachelors and above a 3.75 GPA in my Masters allowed me to stand out among thousands of candidates. Along with that, I was assertive in building relationships with mentors and professors within my program to find the networks that eventually led me to my current career.

One major change is making money unlike any part-time jobs during college. It is important to live within your means and be smart with the new benefits provided to you.

It may sound cliché, but simply balancing all of my responsibilities was the biggest impact on my path. I was able to balance my studies, my track & field performance, and simply being a college student and having fun. It is important to keep your grades strong in today’s world; but it is just as important to enjoy the journey.

I would highly recommend taking advantage of any Career and Employment Services office provided on campus. Even if you have no clue what to ask, just walk in the office and sit down with someone; they are there to help you!

I have two classes that clearly stand out for me. One was a Criminology course taught by Dr. Sue Williams and the other was a Sociology course taught by Andrea Button. More than the class itself, it was the way these professors taught that led me to the path I am on today. They connected so well with all of us students and taught us that our world is not black and white; and that it was up to us to ask questions and become leaders within our communities.

Sometimes the majors that companies look for would not be easy to guess. For example, if someone wants to work for the FBI or CIA, one of the most sought after majors by those agencies are accountants. So if your goal is to work for that agency, it may be smart to start out in accounting and then shift to another position once already working in the agency. I now know how different seemingly-unrelated majors can connect to certain jobs; I was unaware of any of that during my college years.