Pallas Foundation Awards $7,000 Admiral Mike Mullen Scholarship to Arizona State University Cybersecurity Student

Scholarship Recognizes Emerging National Security Leader Committed to Defending America's Critical Infrastructure

Olivia Pratt

TEMPE, AZ — Pallas Foundation is proud to announce the award of the $7,000 Mullen

Scholarship to Olivia Pratt, a senior cybersecurity student at Arizona State University whose academic excellence and professional dedication exemplify the next generation of national security leadership.

Named in honor of Admiral Mike Mullen, the 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the scholarship reflects the Foundation's enduring commitment to the education and professional development of emerging leaders who will defend the values, institutions, and infrastructure that define the United States.

Olivia currently serves as a security analyst intern at Freeport-McMoRan (FCX), a Fortune 200 mining company, where she works on the front lines of protecting critical industrial infrastructure from an increasingly sophisticated and dangerous threat landscape. In that role, Olivia has developed firsthand expertise in securing the network-connected systems and automated machinery that modern mining operations depend upon—systems that, if compromised, could have far-reaching consequences for American industry and national security.

Beyond her professional work, Olivia is completing a university capstone project in collaboration with General Dynamics, supporting the maturation of the company's network infrastructure—a real-world engagement that bridges academic study and mission-critical national defense work.

"Security, to me, is a profession that requires a value system," said Olivia. "It's about doing the right thing even when no one is watching, protecting systems most people never need to notice, and working to ensure the safety and livelihoods of my community. I aspire to work in government or national defense, contributing to the resilience of our digital infrastructure and the protection of democratic institutions—and this scholarship brings me one step closer to that mission."

Sue Gordon, President of the Pallas Foundation, offered the following in recognition of the award: "Admiral Mullen dedicated his career to the security and strength of this nation, and this scholarship is our way of investing in those who carry that commitment forward. Olivia embodies exactly the kind of principled, mission-driven leader we need protecting our nation's most vital systems. We are proud to support her academic journey."

Olivia plans to pursue a career in government or national defense, where she hopes to contribute to the resilience of America's digital infrastructure.

About Pallas Foundation 

The Pallas Foundation is dedicated to empowering the next generation of leaders in global and national security through education, mentorship, and professional development opportunities.

The Mullen scholarship is named for Adm. Mike Mullen, who served as the 17th Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2007 to 2011.