Caitlyn Egan

Degree & graduation year: 4+1 Master of Public Affairs, 2024

What I do: My job consists of writing, awarding, and administering federal government contracts for various types of services. I work under multiple different Contracting Officers on different projects, who have the authority to obligate government funds and sign the contracts. Right now I work specifically on cybersecurity contracts.

How I ended up working there: I found this position by just searching for internships in the federal government via USA Jobs. I started as an intern in this position in 2023 while I was a student in SPP, and was offered a position as a full time employee after graduating in 2024. 

The best part of my job: The best part of my job is that I learn something new every day. I came into this position with no background in contracts, but I was lucky enough to be placed in a team of professionals who were willing to teach me everything I know today. There is always something new and exciting happening in my work, and I love learning about what each contract is for and how it supports, either directly or indirectly, the American public.

Lessons learned from the program I use often: Learning how to analyze regulations and policy is definitely something that I use on a daily basis. All federal contracting is governed by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), which is made up of 53 parts. Learning how to read and interpret regulations has helped me apply the FAR to my own contracts. Knowing how to work with a team is also very important in my position, and my experience in SPP working on group projects has definitely been applied to my daily work. I work with many different types of people in different positions for each contract, and managing these relationships is one of the biggest parts of my job.

How the School of Public Policy prepared me for my career: SPP definitely helped prepare me to understand how policy is applied to the real world, which I now see every day. Even learning about the basics of how the federal government works, especially the budget process, is something I see daily, especially now with the budget issues we are currently facing. Many people in GSA have business degrees or law degrees, but having a degree in public administration has given me the ability to carefully analyze a regulation, understand what it means, and apply it to my contracts. Overall, my experience in SPP was integral to my success in my current career.

What advice would you give to current or future students? I would recommend that students keep an open mind when looking for their next career. I had no idea what I was getting into when I applied for my position, only that I wanted to work in the federal government. Now I truly enjoy my job, and I’m excited to see what’s in store for the future. It’s easy to get discouraged with the job search process, especially now, but keeping an open mind about what you are looking for will open up many more opportunities that could lead to your dream job.