 Back at home, he completed a master's degree in Communications at the Dublin City University (DCU) and joined the Defence Forces Press Office (DFPO) as a press officer.Between 1996 and 2000 Clonan was given formal written sanction – by the Chief of Staff and the Director of Training at Defence Forces Headquarters – to undertake a PhD at DCU as the first equality audit of the Irish military, titled ""The Status and Roles Assigned Female Personnel in the Permanent Defence Forces"".http