Omid David Townsend

Omid David Townsend is a PhD candidate at King's College London's Department of War Studies and a member of the King's Intelligence and Security Group (KISG). He serves as a lead instructor for the University of West Florida’s Intelligence Analysis Program while working in cybersecurity within the private sector.

• MA in International Affairs (Georgetown University, 2011)
• BA (Portland State University)

His research explores the intersection of technology and human intelligence (HUMINT) operations, focusing on the Russian illegals program. Additional interests include tradecraft, Russia, Iran, KGB/GRU/SVR, HUMINT, counterintelligence, cybersecurity, and regional security dynamics.

Recent publications analyze Iranian intelligence activities against religious minorities, European counterintelligence education frameworks, and stress simulation methodologies. Employing mixed-method approaches, his work bridges academic inquiry with operational security practices.

• King's Centre for the Study of Intelligence: Collaborates on intelligence research and scenario development
• Defence & Intelligence Community: 12+ years of military and contractor experience in counterterrorism, threat finance, and sanctions enforcement