I’ve enjoyed research and academic life for as long as I can remember. As someone who has been naturally curious about nearly everything and enjoys teaching, my academic life has always paralleled my professional career. While I had originally started off in undergrad thinking that I would pursue a doctorate in the long-run, I came late to this action in my life – beginning my MBA as I was approaching my 40th birthday and then shifting to a second masters program and a path to a PhD in my mid-40s.
As a Senior Fellow at Auburn University’s Center for Cyber and Homeland Security and a postgraduate student in the Department of War Studies at King’s College, London, my research interests center on the intersection between intelligence operations and disinformation campaigns that aim to amplify discord and influence elections through electronic means, such as social media – and collaboration between the public and private sectors related to cybersecurity and national/homeland security issues, particularly in the use of intelligence, the rise of private security involvement in public conflicts, and coordination in national-scale disruptions.
MA Dissertation
In 2021 for my MA program in International Relations & Contemporary War, a significant portion of time will be spent on my dissertation. I’ve always been interested in the intersection between intelligence operations and contemporary events, particularly how disinformation campaigns can be wielded by foreign intelligence agencies, non-state actors, or even by national leaders and politicians against their own citizens. My dissertation focuses on recent and contemporary events that are right in the crosshairs of that intersection of forces.
Working Title
Defending the feed: How states can deter, detect, and counter disinformation campaigns from intelligence agencies and non-state actors seeking to amplify discord and influence elections
You can read the introduction to my MA Dissertation Proposal in this blog post.
Education
- Master of Arts, International Relations & Contemporary War, Department of War Studies, King’s College, London (Expected January 2022)
- Dissertation (Working Title): Defending the feed: How states can deter, detect, and counter disinformation campaigns from intelligence agencies and non-state actors seeking to amplify discord and influence elections
- Associateship of King’s College (AKC), King’s College, London (Expected January 2022)
- Masters, Business Administration (MBA), Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota (2014)
- Executive Certificate, National Preparedness Leadership Initiative Executive Program, JFK School of Government, Harvard University (2012)
- BS, Criminal Justice Administration, University of Phoenix (2008)
Current Appointments
- Senior Fellow, Center for Cyber and Homeland Security, Auburn University (2017 – Present)
- Member, Academic Board, King’s College, London (2020 – Present)
- Managing Editor, Strife Blog, Strife Blog & Journal, Department of War Studies, King’s College, London (2019 – Present)
- Associate Member, Forum for Private Security Research, Department of Defence Studies, King’s College, London (2019 – Present)
- Academic Representative, Department of War Studies (2019 – Present)
Previous Appointments
- Humphrey Policy Fellow, Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota
- Member, Executive MBA Alumni Board of Advisors, Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota