LANG partners with college student in Governor’s Fellow Program

By: Sgt. 1st Class Scott D. Longstreet, Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs Office

PINEVILLE, La.– The Louisiana Army National Guard along with the Louisiana Governor’s Office, have partnered together to support Prairieville, Louisiana, native Harun Vemulapalli in the Governor’s Fellow Program. The program runs from the first week of June until the first week of August.

The Governor’s Fellow Program provides college and university student leaders with the opportunity to experience public policy in action while learning history and current affairs in Louisiana’s government. While participating in the program, fellows have the opportunity to observe the Governor’s leadership strategies, how state policies are developed and collaborate with different government agencies’ leadership.

“We get paired with a department and get to intimately understand the inner workings of the department,” Vemulapalli continued. “We also take a public administration class to prepare us for public policy that we present to the Governor at the end of our program.”

In order to be selected for the program, fellows must submit an application that includes a resume, college transcript and letters of recommendation.

“Applicants also have to choose a House or Senate bill from the 2022 Louisiana regular session and write an essay on whether the Governor should support or oppose the legislation,” said Vemulapalli.

Once selected for the program, fellows are assigned to a state organization that mirrors their interests on their applications.

Harun was paired with the Louisiana National Guard for his fellowship. This is the first time LANG has been assigned a fellow.

“I think that a lot of the fellows in future years should be getting sent to LANG. It is a highlyunderrated department and it is important for future fellows to be open minded and be willing to absorb all of the information the department has to offer,” said Vemulapalli.

While working with the LANG, Vemulapalli was assigned to help develop a policy involving emergency management.

“His understanding of our programs throughout LANG will assist him in developing an overall understanding of how LANG is funded, organized and trained for our state and federal missions,” said Col. Greg St. Romain, director of LANG Joint Directorate of Military Support. “The complexity of LANG will assist Harun in developing this policy to present to our Governor that shows the capabilities of our organization and how we support multiple state and federal partners.”

Harun learned quite a few valuable lessons during his time with the Louisiana National Guard.

“I think everyone in LANG is very reflective. They understand that it is important to look back at what they have done and to constantly find ways to improve. Being involved with the Governor’s Fellow Program is one way to continue that process. These small improvements are what saves lives, and I think I have been trying to adopt that mindset of constant reflection and self improvement,” said Vemulapalli.

“Staying cool during a crisis and the importance of communicating with others are important lessons to grasp and I think it would be very easy to lose focus on the bigger picture during an all-hazards event without staying cool,” he continued.

St. Romain speaks highly about Harun and his work ethic.

“He operates well above his age and is a true professional,” St. Romain said. “He has a wealth of knowledge and has much respect for what we do and will be an advocate for Guardsmen in whatever career profession he decides to pursue.”

As a non-military member, Harun sees value in learning about the military and its policies.

“I have learned what feels like an infinite number of acronyms with regards to military terms and procedures. Asking a lot of questions in order to improve your knowledge base is vital,” Vermulapalli said. “Often times people within the department might assume that you know something, and it’s easy to pretend you know what is going on rather than asking questions or trying to fully gain an understanding of the department.”

Harun explained that the most important lesson he learned from the program is to take initiative, speak up and ask questions when he does not know the answer.

Harun is currently attending the University of California at Los Angeles, where he is majoring in Political Science and Data Theory. With an interest in international relations, he writes for a political science journal at UCLA, the Bruin Poltical Review. When he is not attending classes in California, Harun coaches debate at Isidore Newman High School in New Orleans as well as teaches debate summer programs across the United States.