Just a year after graduating, Madeline Field has begun her career in Washington, D.C. as an assistant editor at War on the Rocks, a publication focused on defense and national security. She is now involved in leading the outlet’s new Cogs of War section, which reports on U.S. defense technology and industry.
In her position, Field handles various editorial tasks such as editing early drafts, scheduling podcasts, conducting research, copyediting, and creating social media content. She also keeps up with current events and attends defense industry briefings in Washington. “There’s a ton of behind-the-scenes work that goes into a publication,” she said. “I do a little bit of everything.”
Field’s path to her current role included internships that began with an editorial position at the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point after her sophomore year. She later worked at the Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS) at the University of Maryland during and after her senior year before joining War on the Rocks.
While managing commitments as a member of the Women’s Swim and Dive team, holding leadership roles in the Buccino Leadership Institute, and serving as Student Government Association Vice President, Field credits writing for Seton Hall’s Diplomatic Envoy for helping her secure her first internship. “Writing for the Envoy gave me the samples I needed to get my first internship,” she said.
Reflecting on her time at Seton Hall University, Field identified professors Moremen, Huddleston, and Balestrieri as important mentors. “Being busy taught me to multitask which is now essential in my job now,” she added. She also noted that faculty helped guide her through job search options.
Field advised current diplomacy students to take advantage of opportunities: “Yes to club meetings, yes to think tank events, yes to coffee with someone new,” she said. “Most people don’t know exactly what they want to do when they graduate. Focus on being excellent at what you’re doing now and building meaningful relationships — the opportunities will follow.”
