Alum reflects on his career journey in security and defense
At a time of geopolitical uncertainty, transatlantic affairs remain of the utmost importance to global affairs practitioners. As a student in the Master of Arts in Transatlantic Affairs degree program, a dual-degree program between The Fletcher School and the College of Europe, Gauthier Parthon de Von, F24, studied these issues closely. He shared an update on what life since Fletcher has held.
While pursuing the Master of Arts in Transatlantic Affairs (MATA) degree at The Fletcher School, I hoped to begin a career in transatlantic security and defense after graduation.
At the time, I did not know exactly what form that career would take.
I had long been passionate about the European Union and international cooperation. Before Fletcher, I did a fellowship at the United Nations in New York. I knew that I wanted to contribute to European affairs, but I did not yet imagine that security and defense would become the central thread of my professional life.
Looking back, one of the turning points occurred in a classroom.
An Unexpected Encounter in the Classroom
One of the great advantages of studying at Fletcher was the freedom to explore different academic environments across the Boston area. During my time in the MATA program, I was able to cross-register at Harvard Business School and take a course on war and peace with Professor Deepak Malhotra.
The class examined conflicts not simply as abstract geopolitical events but as deeply human and political realities. We discussed negotiation, strategy, escalation, and the difficult choices faced by leaders in times of crisis.
One day, Lisa Yasko, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament, joined our class to share her experience. She spoke candidly about public service during Russia’s war against Ukraine. She also described the challenges of pursuing a political career as a woman, and how much harder those challenges become during wartime.
It was a powerful discussion. Questions that we had approached through readings and case studies suddenly became much more tangible. I later completed my MATA internship in Lisa Yasko’s office.
From the European Parliament to European Defense
After graduating from MATA, I joined the European Parliament as a parliamentary assistant to a retired French lieutenant general and former director of military intelligence.
The role placed me at the intersection of geopolitics, parliamentary work, and European policymaking. It required the ability to move between different levels of analysis: from long-term strategic questions to the practical details of European legislative files.
Alongside my professional career, I also decided to serve as an officer in the Belgian Navy Reserve.
This engagement has given me another perspective on the questions I work on professionally. Security and defense are not only policy areas. They also involve institutions, responsibilities, and people preparing to act in uncertain circumstances.
Today, I work at the Aerospace, Security and Defense Industries Association of Europe (ASD), where I am responsible for economic, legal, and trade issues.
My work involves helping European companies develop common positions on subjects such as security of supply, critical raw materials, industrial resilience, intellectual property, and international trade.
Building Common Ground in a Changing Transatlantic Relationship
My work at ASD has also brought me back to the central theme of the MATA program: the transatlantic relationship.
Europe and North America remain closely connected, especially in the field of security, but that relationship cannot be taken for granted. Europeans increasingly need to reflect on their own responsibilities, strengthen their capabilities, and define common positions while maintaining a strong dialogue with their partners across the Atlantic.
This is not always straightforward. European companies, institutions, and governments may agree on broad objectives while approaching individual questions from different perspectives.
Building consensus requires patience. It also requires the ability to understand why others see a problem differently before trying to identify a common solution.
That is one of the most valuable lessons I took from Tufts. Fletcher’s value does not end at Commencement. It continues through the habits of thought, the relationships, and the sense of purpose that students carry with them into their professional lives.
Gautier Parthon de Von, F24, is an alum of the Master of Arts in Transatlantic Affairs (MATA) degree program. Read more here.