Amber Mullins

Amber Mullins

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My writing, editing, and critical thinking skills are constantly used. Understanding how to craft a clear message, analyze an audience, and adapt my writing style is crucial in everything I do. The ability to research, synthesize information, and present it in a compelling way is invaluable.

Name:

Amber Mullins

MSU Degree:

BA in English, with Minors in Marketing and Spanish, 2024

Any other degrees, with dates of graduation and institution:

Defense Information School Basic Public Affairs Qualification Course, 2025

Favorite memories of being an undergraduate English major:

My favorite part of being an undergrad English major at MSU was the people. I loved the wide range of students that an English major attracts. Unlike other majors where everyone's on a similar career path, the English degree is so versatile. I loved getting my degree alongside future lawyers, authors, and teachers. I also loved how the program was small enough for each of my professors to get to know me personally. It made going to class fun each day because I got to surround myself with a supportive community of professors and friends.

Apart from the people, I loved how the program was designed to expose me to a wide range of writing. I got to read academic papers, modern-day novels, comic books, Middle English epic poems, and early American biographies. With all the different subjects, I was never bored!

Current Position:

Public Affairs Specialist, Palace Acquire Internship

Organization:

Space Operations Command

 

When you graduated with a degree in English from MSU, what were your plans for your future? Has your career path mostly realized those early plans, or have you discovered new plans and goals along the way?

When I started my English degree, I didn’t really have a plan! I just wanted to choose a major I'd enjoy.

When I was in my Senior year, I knew I wanted to do Public Affairs for the military. However, I was hesitant about becoming an active-duty member. I knew I'd like the job elements like writing stories, communicating with the media, and taking photos, but I was intimidated by the tough physical standards.

It was right before graduation that I discovered the Palace Acquire program for Public Affairs, which allowed me to become a Public Affairs Specialist as a civilian.

 

What is the Palace Acquire Program?

The Palace Acquire Internship program is a paid with full benefits, full-time, three-year training program for recent college graduates interested in careers in Science and Engineering, Financial Management, Cyber/IT, Civil Engineering, Intel, Public Affairs, Law, Security, Acquisitions, Contracting, and more. It's like a fast track to a federal career!

The program places you at a field command for two years and at a wing/delta command for one year, allowing you to get experience at both the tactical and strategic levels.

The training includes scheduled promotions, moving from a GS-7 to a GS-9 after one year and then from a GS-9 to a GS-11 at the completion of the program when you are outplaced to a location/position of your choosing for full-time, permanent employment.

Plus, there are educational perks, like the opportunity to get a master’s degree up to a $35,000 value! You are also sent to the Military’s Defense Information School to complete the Basic Public Affairs Qualification Course (PACS-Q) as well as the Visual Information Management course (VIM).

 

What is your current occupation, and what does your work mostly consist of?

I am currently a Public Affairs Specialist for Space Operations Command, which is one of three field commands for the United States Space Force.

As a Palace Acquire, my job and duties shift throughout the program. In the three years I'll work here, I will get experience in all four sections of Public Affairs: Command Information, Strategic Outreach, Media Operations, and Plans and Implementation.

Under the Command Information section, I mainly took photos, created video products, and managed websites and social media accounts. Under Strategic Outreach, my main duties were to communicate with community leaders and facilitate speaking engagements and community outreach engagements for our command staff. In this section I got to collaborate with companies like Disney and attend events like the NFR Open at the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo! I am currently working in Media Operations, where I work with media outlets to answer queries and prep Subject Matter Experts for interviews. In this section, I work with national and international media outlets, such as BBC, New York Times, and CNN. I will finish my internship in Plans and Implementations, where I will write Communication Plans and Public Affairs Guidance to guide strategic communication actions for SpOC.

 

Which skills that you learned as an English major do you use most in your job?

My writing, editing, and critical thinking skills are constantly used. Understanding how to craft a clear message, analyze an audience, and adapt my writing style is crucial in everything I do. The ability to research, synthesize information, and present it in a compelling way is invaluable. 

 

What additional skills did you need to learn in order to do your job, and how did you learn them?

While my English degree gave me a strong foundation, I had to learn more about visual communication, public relations strategies, and military protocols. The Palace Acquire program provides excellent training in these areas, and I learned a lot through on-the-job experience and mentorship.

 

Are there common misconceptions about your career field, which current English majors might share, that you have learned the truth about?

One misconception is that Public Affairs is just about writing press releases or responding to questions when they come in. It's so much more! For this job, you have to be proactive. It involves strategic communication, crisis management, community engagement, and visual storytelling. It requires creativity, adaptability, and a deep understanding of your audience.

 

In what ways does your career enrich your life and help you to achieve your personal as well as your professional goals?

For aspiring English majors seeking a career that blends travel, purpose, and community, a role supporting military operations like those within SpOC presents a unique and rewarding path.

One aspect of my job that I find incredibly enriching is the opportunity to travel! Whether I'm supporting a SpOC Subject Matter Expert presenting their expertise in another country, documenting SpOC's presence at national and global conferences, or coordinating SpOC's involvement in community events and trainings, my role takes me to fascinating places and allows me to connect with a diverse array of people.

Beyond the allure of travel, I find immense satisfaction in contributing to the vital mission of SpOC. Knowing that the work of our Guardians and Airmen directly impacts the lives of people around the globe is incredibly motivating. They protect and operate America’s space assets, ensuring that both Americans and our international partners benefit from essential satellite capabilities that are often taken for granted.

Finally, working within the military environment fosters a strong sense of community that I deeply value. Additionally, the constant rotation of personnel on military installations offers ample opportunities to forge new friendships!

 

What advice do you have for undergraduate English majors right now who might want to follow the career path you did?

Be enthusiastic! This program is designed to hire students with high leadership potential and then to train them and retain them for the future. If you show genuine interest in the position and express how you are willing/eager to do it as a life-long career, then you are more likely to get hired.

Broaden your horizons! You will not need to be an expert at anything for this program, but it will help you stand out if you can at least show that you have been exposed to tools/skills used in public affairs. For example, if you can say you have a classroom/elementary knowledge of the following, it could help you stand out:

    • Microsoft Suites: I used Outlook, Microsoft Word, and Excel for my student job with the Office of Research Development.
    • Adobe Suites: I used Adobe Premiere Pro in my TV Production class, and Adobe Acrobat for my student job with the Office of Research Development.
    • Media exposure: I took Writing for the Media and Intro to Mass Media.
    • Writing/editing: This is heavily used in the English major! I also did editorial and compliance reviews for the Office of Research Development as a student worker.
    • Photography & Videography: I learned videography in my TV Production class.
    • Foreign language: I got a Minor in Spanish and did a Study Abroad in Spain.
    • Social Media: I took several social media classes for my Marketing minor.
    • Public relations: I did a free internship with a local non-profit called Starkville Strong, which is always looking for interns and volunteers!

Learn how to write a resume! You will need to showcase that you have experience with the above skills and tools in an easily digestible format. I used a one-page resume format that I found on CANVA. The Portfolio and Reflective Writing class will help with resume writing.

So, if you're an English major looking for a challenging and rewarding career where your skills are truly valued, consider the Palace Acquire program for Public Affairs. It might just be the perfect launchpad for your future!

 

[Updated August 2025]