ISIS degree launches 8,000-mile journey
Stout's travels take him from Bozeman to Bellevue to Bagram
A degree in International Security and Intelligence Studies helped Bozeman, Montana, native Alex Stout pursue an exciting new career on the other side of the world. His most recent assignment, monitoring international workers to secure American assets at Bagram Air Base—one of the largest U.S. military posts in Afghanistan.
Stout's 8,000-mile journey from Bozeman to Bagram, included many intermediate stops, including public and private colleges in Iowa, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Illinois.
"I attended four different colleges before finding Bellevue University and truly finding my niche," he said in an email interview from Bagram, where he works for URS Corporation www.urscorp.com an engineering, construction and technical services provider for government agencies and private organizations.
Stout is part of Bellevue University's Intelligence Community (IC) Scholar Program, a national organization seeking to develop students with knowledge of international and cultural issues, foreign languages, analysis, and critical thinking skills needed to serve in the 16 federal agencies that make up the U.S. Intelligence community. Stout, who completed studies in the undergraduate ISIS program in March 2012, visited Jordan in 2011 as part of the IC Scholars Abroad program.
Shortly before leaving for Afghanistan, he expressed appreciation to ISIS Program Director Dr. Matthew Crosston for his assistance.
"I would like to personally thank you for all your assistance, guidance, and everything you taught me at Bellevue University," he told Crosston. "You have truly opened my eyes to a career field and an educational path, which have undoubtedly changed my life in the most positive of ways."
Commenting on Stout's success, Crosston said, "All of us here in the ISIS program and at Bellevue in general are extremely proud of Alex, who I consider to be not just a fine student but an outstanding citizen. He is a shining example to other ISIS students about how to persevere, remain positive, and be willing to sacrifice in order to achieve their highest goals. I have nothing but superior expectations for all of Alex's future accomplishments."
Currently sidelined by an accidental injury at Bagram in mid-June, Stout is back home in Bozeman with his wife, Megan, and hopes to return to work soon.
