David Robarge is an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University's Center for Security Studies. He holds a Ph.D. in American History from Columbia University with expertise in intelligence history and CIA operations. Research examines: Leadership and organizational evolution of the CIA Historical development of counterintelligence and technical collection Biographical analysis of intelligence leaders Publications include declassified biographies of CIA directors and studies of intelligence in the American Revolution. Teaches courses on intelligence history at Georgetown and George Mason University. Served as Chief Historian of the Central Intelligence Agency (2005-present), producing classified and unclassified historical works.
John R. Sano is an Adjunct Professor at The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, where he teaches courses on national security, covert action, and intelligence. He previously served as Deputy Director of the CIA’s National Clandestine Service (NCS), overseeing global covert operations and managing the Clandestine Service’s daily activities. With 28 years at the CIA, Sano held critical roles including Chief of the East Asia Division and directed operations in North Korea and the Balkans. He is a recipient of the CIA’s highest honors and the Republic of Korea’s Diplomatic Order of Merit. Education: Bachelor’s in Political Science, St. John’s University Master’s in Asian Studies, St. John’s University Master’s of International Affairs, Columbia University His research focuses on intelligence strategy, HUMINT, counterintelligence, and geopolitical dynamics in Northeast Asia. He currently serves on the Board of Garda Federal Services and the National Board of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO), where he is Vice President.
Dr Christopher Fuller serves as Associate Professor in the History Department at the University of Southampton, specializing in U.S. foreign policy from 1945 to the present. His research bridges historical scholarship and contemporary security policy through analysis of open-source materials and leaked documents. His academic journey began with a History degree from Cardiff University (2000), followed by a PGCE and seven years teaching A-level History. He developed the Learn with US outreach program while completing his Masters and PhD part-time, joining Southampton's History Department as a lecturer in 2014. Fuller's research examines critical intersections of technology and security: "The Hammer and the Scalpel" analyzes America's evolving precision warfare ethos "Net Gain?" investigates computer networks' impact on national security policy "Enemies of the People" explores media ecosystem contributions to political instability His publication record demonstrates consistent scholarly output focusing on drone warfare, cyber conflict, and counterterrorism evolution. Recent works include book chapters on CIA drone programs (2024) and foundational studies of U.S. cyber insecurity (2019). As an educator, Fuller teaches contemporary U.S. foreign policy with emphasis on terrorism studies, technology-security dynamics, and American empire concepts. He pioneered skill-based pedagogy incorporating policy briefs, podcast creation, and data visualization while championing 'applied history' for contemporary decision-making. Supervises five PhD candidates across History and Web Science programs Developed joint scholarship with Imperial War Museum on ISIS digital resources Former Head of Admissions who recreated Re-sourcing History program Fuller maintains significant policy engagement through documentary appearances and advisory roles for the United Nations and U.S. Congress, demonstrating his commitment to connecting academic research with real-world security challenges.
John Prados is a Senior Fellow at the National Security Archive, specializing in US intelligence and covert operations, presidential decision-making, and military policy. His work focuses on the National Security Council, CIA, Vietnam War, and broader international relations. He is affiliated with George Washington University, where he contributes to research projects and publications. Education: Ph.D. in Political Science (International Relations), Columbia University Prados’s research bridges historical analysis and contemporary national security debates. His publications examine CIA operations, Cold War dynamics, Vietnam War strategy, and intelligence ethics. His work often utilizes declassified documents to critique governmental secrecy and decision-making processes. His publications span military history, intelligence studies, and diplomatic analysis. Recurring themes include institutional accountability in intelligence agencies, strategic failures in US military interventions, and the intersection of technology and warfare during major conflicts like World War II and Vietnam. Scientific Awards: Pulitzer Prize nominations for multiple books New York Military Affairs Symposium Annual Book Prize (Combined Fleet Decoded) Notable Naval Book of the Year (Combined Fleet Decoded, Valley of Decision) Consortium for the Study of Intelligence Book Prize (The Soviet Estimate) Prados contributes extensively to academic and public discourse, with articles in Vanity Fair , Scientific American , and The New York Times . He serves as a contributing editor for MHQ: The Quarterly Journal of Military History and has advised on historical documentaries and policy discussions.
Gideon Remez is a Research Fellow at The Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His work focuses on Soviet military involvement in the Arab-Israeli conflict, Cold War history, and intelligence operations. He has collaborated extensively with Dr. Isabella Ginor and authored/co-authored multiple books and scholarly articles. Born: June 2, 1946, Tel Aviv Education: BA in Hebrew Linguistics and Philosophy (Hebrew University, 1973); MA in History of American Civilization (Brandeis University, 1978) Remez's research spans Soviet nuclear gambles in the Middle East, Cold War espionage, and superpower interventions in regional conflicts. His publications analyze Soviet-Arab alliances, intelligence-sharing dynamics, and historiographical challenges in Cold War studies. Remez's scholarly contributions include the award-winning book Foxbats over Dimona (2007) and works on Soviet veterans' memoirs, KGB operations, and Soviet-Israeli military interactions. He has received prestigious awards like the Nahum Sokolov Award (Israeli Pulitzer) and Boris Smolar Award. As a veteran journalist, Remez served as Head of Kol Israel's Foreign News Desk and originated The International Hour , a pioneering program on foreign affairs. His career bridges academia and media, with teaching experience at Sapir Academic College (2003-2005).
Kalin Kalinov serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Communication, Public Relations, and Advertising at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski's Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication, concurrently holding the position of Deputy Dean for International Affairs and Erasmus Coordinator. His academic profile centers on modern historical scholarship within a journalism faculty framework, with reception hours held Tuesdays 3–5 p.m. in Cabinet 67 (III floor). His research specializes in 20th-century Bulgarian history, particularly examining Bulgarian-Turkish relations, communist-era minority policies, Balkan diplomatic history, and cultural diplomacy during the Cold War period. Key focus areas include the 'Revival Process' assimilation campaigns, Bulgaria's post-WWII peace treaty negotiations, Yugoslav-Bulgarian relations regarding Macedonia, and the role of external factors in communist regime establishment. His methodological approach combines archival analysis with diplomatic history frameworks to dissect state-minority interactions and international relations. Analysis of his recent publications reveals sustained scholarly engagement with Bulgaria's complex historical trajectory through three dominant thematic streams: (1) minority policy evolution (especially Turkish communities), (2) Cold War-era diplomatic maneuvers within Balkan and Eastern Bloc contexts, and (3) post-communist transitional justice mechanisms. His work consistently interrogates the interplay between domestic political imperatives and international constraints, demonstrating particular expertise in deconstructing state narratives around sensitive historical episodes.
Sarah-Jane Corke is Associate Professor of Historical Studies at University of New Brunswick, specializing in post-1945 American history, US foreign relations, and intelligence history. She earned her PhD from UNB in 2000 and returned after 18 years at Dalhousie University. Corke co-founded and served as president of the Society for Intelligence History. Research Focus: Examines domestic roots of Cold War policy, intelligence community development, and biographical approaches to intelligence history. Current projects include a biography of John Paton and Patricia Davies (supported by SSHRC Insight Grant) and a history of the Director of National Intelligence. Teaching: Offers courses on Cold War, Vietnam War, Cuban Missile Crisis, Watergate, and History of the CIA. Employs innovative pedagogies including intelligence briefings with former CIA analysts and board game development for historical simulation. Publications: Authored US Covert Operations and Cold War Strategy: Truman, the CIA and Secret Warfare (Routledge, 2007) and co-edited Secrets on Display: Stories and Spycraft from the International Spy Museum (forthcoming 2025). Recent articles analyze intelligence leadership and historical methodology.
Margaret Manchester is a faculty member in the Department of History and Classics at Providence College, where she teaches and researches Cold-War U.S. foreign relations, intelligence history, and the intersection of business and covert operations. Her recent work re-evaluates high-profile espionage cases—such as the Vogeler/Sanders affair in Hungary—through the lens of corporate participation, while her earlier publications explore Puritan family life in the Atlantic world and the integration of digital tools in history pedagogy. Across her corpus, three thematic strands emerge: (i) the corporate dimension of Cold-War intelligence, (ii) the cultural history of Puritan communities, and (iii) the scholarship of teaching and learning in the digital age. Articles from 1994 to 2024 trace an evolving focus from diplomatic alliances in the Middle East to micro-historical studies of conscience and family, and finally to experimental classroom technologies. No awards, grants, student lists, or laboratory affiliations are mentioned in the supplied materials.
Hugh Wilford is a Professor of History at California State University, Long Beach, within the College of Liberal Arts' History Department. A celebrated intelligence historian, he specializes in the history of the CIA and U.S. foreign policy with particular focus on Middle Eastern relations and Cold War operations. His research interests center on intelligence history, CIA operations, U.S. foreign policy formation, Middle East history, and the legacy of Western imperialism in intelligence operations. Wilford examines how historical intelligence practices continue to shape contemporary U.S. foreign policy and global interventions, with particular attention to covert operations and their long-term geopolitical consequences. Wilford's scholarly publications demonstrate consistent focus on intelligence history and CIA operations across multiple decades. His works analyze the evolution of U.S. intelligence practices from the early Cold War period through contemporary operations, revealing patterns of covert action, regime change, and the enduring influence of imperial thinking on American foreign policy. His research methodology combines declassified government records, private papers, and personal interviews to reconstruct complex historical narratives. As an academic advisor, Wilford has mentored students in historical research methodology and intelligence studies, though specific advisees are not documented in the available materials. His scholarly contributions have established him as a leading voice in intelligence history, with particular expertise in CIA operations in the Middle East.
Averell Schmidt is an Assistant Professor at Cornell University, affiliated with both the Department of Government and the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy . His research spans international relations, human rights, and security studies, focusing on treaty withdrawal, norm contestation, and transnational legal dynamics. Education: Ph.D., Harvard University (2024) Master of Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School Research Interests: Schmidt's work explores how treaty withdrawal disrupts international cooperation and how states contest global human rights norms. He combines quantitative and computational methods with historical case studies to analyze legal and diplomatic shifts. Publications: His recent articles examine treaty withdrawal's impact on diplomacy (2025), gender trends in transitional justice (2024), and norm erosion via U.S. torture policies (2018-2019). A 2022 book chapter contextualizes post-9/11 norm contestation. Scientific Awards: Best Article of 2023 Award, APSA International Collaboration Section Lawrence S. Finkelstein Prize, ISA International Organization Section Teaching & Affiliations: He teaches courses on global governance and advanced quantitative methods. Affiliations include the Belfer Center, Carr Center, and Transitional Justice Evaluation Tools (TJET) team. Prior roles include a Peace Corps volunteer and forest firefighter.
Timothy Ward Nichols serves as a Visiting Professor of the Practice at Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy, where he directs the Counterterrorism and Public Policy Fellowship Program and acts as Faculty Representative for the Master of National Security Policy Program. A retired Lieutenant Colonel with over 21 years of service as a Marine Corps intelligence officer, Nichols brings extensive field experience from deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, East Africa, Central America, and the Pacific. His educational background includes: M.B.A. from North Carolina State University (2010) M.A. from University of South Florida (2000) A.B. from University of Virginia (1989) Nichols specializes in national security policy with research interests spanning counterterrorism, intelligence operations, interagency coordination, and great power competition. His work bridges academic theory with practical military experience, particularly evident in his analysis of ISIS strategy and special operations forces in modern geopolitical contexts. His publications consistently address the intersection of military operations and policy formulation in complex security environments. His recent scholarship demonstrates evolving focus from immediate counterterrorism responses (2014-2015) toward strategic considerations in great power competition (2020), reflecting broader shifts in national security priorities. This progression highlights his ability to adapt expertise from counterterrorism operations to emerging geopolitical challenges. Nichols actively contributes to national security education through courses including PUBPOL 881: Professional Practice in National Security, PUBPOL 507S: Intelligence for National Security, and PUBPOL 505S: National Security Decision Making. He has led significant academic initiatives such as the Undergraduate Winter Forum's South China Sea crisis simulation, involving over 25 faculty mentors.
Isabella Ginor is a Research Fellow at The Harry S. Truman Research Institute. Born in Ukraine (then USSR) in 1948, she has resided in Israel since 1967 and earned her DMD from Tel Aviv University in 1982. Her expertise lies in USSR/Russia's role in the Middle East, particularly the Arab-Israeli conflict and Cold War dynamics. Educated at Tel Aviv University (DMD, 1982) Her groundbreaking research focuses on Soviet military involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts, including the 1967 Six-Day War and 1973 Yom Kippur War. She co-authored Foxbats over Dimona , which received the Washington Institute for Near East Policy’s Silver Medal and was named a Foreign Affairs 'Book of the Year' in 2008. Her work combines declassified archives, veterans' memoirs, and Cold War intelligence analysis. Her publications span Cold War history, military interventions, and Soviet espionage networks. Awards include the Aharon Yariv Memorial Prize (2004) and recognition from the Virginia Military Institute (2010). Ginor has presented at major academic institutions worldwide, including the Wilson Center, London School of Economics, and Hebrew University. Aharon Yariv Memorial Prize (2004) Silver Medal, Washington Institute for Near East Policy (2007) Foreign Affairs 'Book of the Year' (2008) Honorable Mention, Virginia Military Institute (2010)
Averell Schmidt is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Brown University’s Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, specializing in international cooperation, global governance, and human rights. He will join the University of Southern California’s Department of Political Science and International Relations as an Assistant Professor in 2026. Previously, he held fellowships at Harvard University’s Carr Center, Belfer Center, and Notre Dame’s International Security Center, alongside roles in policy research and the Peace Corps. His research combines quantitative methods with historical analysis to examine treaty withdrawal impacts, institutional effectiveness, and the consequences of US foreign policy actions. Key projects include studying how treaty exits shape international relations and the effects of torture policies on global norms. He received his Ph.D. in Public Policy from Harvard (2024) and an MPP from the Harvard Kennedy School (2023). His work has been recognized with the APSA Best Article Award (2023) and ISA’s Lawrence S. Finkelstein Prize (2024). He teaches courses on global governance, security strategy, and quantitative methods, emphasizing policy applications and causal inference.
Raphael Sam is Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at the University of Westminster, affiliated with the Centre for the Study of Democracy. His research investigates state violence through two interconnected frameworks: analysis of US-led military interventions sustaining global power structures, and examination of covert national security operations violating human rights. He directs The Rendition Project (ESRC-funded), an internationally recognized investigation revealing operational details of CIA extraordinary rendition and torture programs. This open-source research collaboration with human rights organizations has produced peer-reviewed publications and public educational resources documenting post-9/11 human rights violations.
