Interior Assistant Secretary Kia’aina Announces Internship Opportunity in Washington at the Office of Insular Affairs

Washington, D.C. – The Department of the Interior’s Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas Esther Kia’aina today announced Summer 2015 openings in the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) for post-secondary level students to participate in an Insular Affairs Internship Program. The program is modelled closely after President Obama’s Pathways Program launched four years ago to improve recruiting efforts, offer clear paths to Federal internships for students, and to provide meaningful training and career development opportunities for individuals who are at the beginning of their Federal service.

“We are pleased to extend this opportunity through the Department of the Interior to help build the professional capacity of students interested in the U.S. territories or Freely Associated States,” said Assistant Secretary Kia’aina. “Through this important initiative we aim to provide federal government work experience and teach the importance of public service with a particular focus on Insular Area issues.”

Student applicants, who have completed 2 full years of post-high school study will learn about the workings of Washington, D.C., through first-hand experience at the Office of Insular Affairs and work closely with the Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas and other OIA leaders on federal issues impacting the insular areas. Those interested may apply online through USAJOBS at https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/390291100, Job Announcement OS-RC-15-MM1291483 (PW).

The application period opens on January 8th, 2015, and closes on January 23rd, 2015. Students from the U.S. territories and Freely Associated States who have completed 2 full academic years of post-high school study or an associate's degree are highly encouraged to apply. The Department of the Interior is responsible for coordinating federal policy with respect to the territories of American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and administering and overseeing U.S. federal assistance provided to the Freely Associated States of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau under the Compacts of Free Association. The Office of Insular Affairs mission is to foster economic opportunities, promote government efficiency, and improve the quality of life for the people of the insular areas.