Dr Rod Thornton is a Senior Lecturer in Russian Defence and Security Studies at King’s College London, affiliated with the Defence Studies Department and School of Security Studies. He specializes in the Russian military's kinetic and sub-threshold warfare, with a focus on cyber capabilities, space warfare, and UK homeland resilience. His research includes recent British Academy-funded work on UK civil defense capacity during the pandemic, advocating for dedicated civil defense organizations. He has published extensively on Russian military tactics in Ukraine, AI-cyber integration, and space-based deterrence. Russian military cyber operations Space warfare dynamics UK resilience capacity gaps Scientific awards include a British Academy grant (2020). His students focus on asymmetric warfare, AI, cyber, and regional security issues. He teaches at the UK Defence Academy and has collaborated with institutions in Finland, South Korea, and the Freeman Air and Space Institute.
Dr. Herb Lin is the Hank J. Holland Fellow in Cyber Policy and Security at the Hoover Institution and Senior Research Scholar for Cyber Policy and Security at the Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC), both at Stanford University. He also serves as Chief Scientist, Emeritus for the Computer Science and Telecommunications Board of the National Academies, where he worked from 1990 to 2014, and as Adjunct Senior Research Scholar and Senior Fellow in Cybersecurity at Columbia University's Saltzman Institute for War and Peace Studies. Dr. Lin received his doctorate in physics from MIT, providing him with a strong technical foundation that informs his policy work at the intersection of technology and national security. His academic background bridges the gap between deep technical understanding and policy application in the cybersecurity domain. Dr. Lin's research focuses on the policy dimensions of cybersecurity and cyberspace, with particular emphasis on offensive cyber operations as instruments of national policy, information warfare, and influence operations affecting national security. His work addresses critical challenges at the intersection of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and their implications for nuclear security, election integrity, and democratic processes. He has been instrumental in analyzing how cyber capabilities are transforming traditional security paradigms and how policy frameworks must adapt to these changes. His extensive publication record reveals a consistent focus on the evolving relationship between cyber capabilities and national security strategy. Lin's work demonstrates increasing attention to the implications of artificial intelligence for warfare, the vulnerabilities created by quantum computing for current cryptographic systems, and the growing threat of cyber-enabled information warfare to democratic institutions. His research trajectory shows a progression from traditional cybersecurity issues toward the broader implications of digital technologies for national and international security. Member of Science and Security Board of Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Served on President Obama's Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity (2016) Regular congressional testimony on cybersecurity matters Contributor to Stanford Emerging Technology Review As a mentor and collaborator, Dr. Lin works extensively with policymakers, military officials, and technology experts to translate complex cybersecurity concepts into actionable policy recommendations. His approach emphasizes practical solutions to emerging threats while recognizing the technical limitations and policy constraints that shape real-world security outcomes. Dr. Lin is associated with multiple research initiatives including Stanford's Center for International Security and Cooperation and the Stanford Emerging Technology Review, which aim to connect technological advances with policy considerations for national security decision-makers.
Dr. Marina Miron is a post-doctoral researcher at King’s College London’s Department of War Studies and Honorary Research Fellow at the Centre for Military Ethics. Her work focuses on military strategy, cybersecurity, and ethical education in conflict contexts. She holds a PhD from the University of New South Wales (Australian Defence Force Academy) and has taught at institutions like the NATO School and Colombian War College. Current projects include analyzing Russia/China’s information warfare strategies and developing country-specific military ethics programs for Colombia’s armed forces. She also advises on cyber defense, AI in military contexts, and drone technology impacts. Research interests span counterinsurgency, hybrid warfare, cyber operations, and ethical dilemmas in modern conflict. She co-leads a British Academy-funded project on Western countermeasures against information warfare and contributed to NATO’s counterterrorism training programs. Her work bridges technological advancements with ethical considerations, particularly in unmanned systems and medical ethics. Publications analyze Russian cyber capabilities, drone public perception, and historical conflict resolution cases like Peru. She frequently appears in media discussions on Ukraine and cybersecurity threats. Professional networks include King’s Cybersecurity Centre and Freeman Air & Space Institute.
Myriam Dunn Cavelty serves as Deputy Head of Research and Teaching at the Center for Security Studies (CSS) at ETH Zurich, where she leads significant academic initiatives in cybersecurity and digital governance. She holds formal affiliations as an associate researcher at the Center for Advanced Security Theory at the University of Copenhagen, and has held prestigious visiting positions at Brown University, the University of Darmstadt (as a Mercator Fellow), and the Central European University. Her research expertise centers on how digital technologies influence political behavior and societal values, with particular attention to governance arrangements for digital technologies and their embedding in social, political, and economic processes. Her scholarly contributions span cybersecurity politics, cyber warfare, critical infrastructure protection, and strategic foresight, reflecting an interdisciplinary approach that bridges political science, international relations, and technology studies. Dunn Cavelty's publication record demonstrates remarkable consistency and impact, with works spanning from 2008 to the present. Her research shows an evolution from early analyses of cyber-threat construction to contemporary examinations of AI in security contexts and the political dimensions of cybersecurity governance. Her work consistently addresses the intersection of technological capabilities and political constraints, examining how states and other actors navigate security challenges in the digital domain. Mercator Fellow at the University of Darmstadt Editor-in-Chief of Contemporary Security Policy Advisory work for governments, international institutions, and corporations As an academic leader, she has advised numerous doctoral students and supervised research projects examining the political dimensions of cybersecurity. Her work with the Center for Security Studies involves directing research programs that connect academic inquiry with policy relevance, particularly in the areas of risk analysis and strategic foresight. She has established herself as a leading voice in European cybersecurity scholarship, with particular expertise in the Swiss context and broader European security frameworks.
Dr. Nerijus Maliukevičius serves as an Assistant Professor at Vilnius University's Institute of International Relations and Political Science, where he conducts research and teaching within the Department of Political Behavior and Institutional Studies. His expertise centers on information warfare, strategic communication, and Russian geopolitical strategies, with extensive publications analyzing disinformation campaigns targeting Baltic and European states. Maliukevičius' research interests focus on Information Warfare , Russian Studies , and Propaganda Countermeasures , examining how technological advances reshape conflict dynamics. His work investigates Kremlin influence operations across media ecosystems, emphasizing social resilience frameworks and psychological defense mechanisms against hybrid threats. Key contributions include foundational studies on Russian information geopolitics and contemporary analyses of operations like Ghostwriter that exploit digital vulnerabilities in democratic societies. His publication trajectory reveals a strategic evolution from theoretical frameworks (2002-2008) toward actionable counter-strategies, with recent work prioritizing social resilience metrics and Nordic-Baltic defense coordination. This shift reflects escalating geopolitical tensions following Crimea's annexation and Ukraine's invasion, where his analyses of Russian media tactics have gained critical policy relevance across NATO and EU institutions. Maliukevičius has secured major research funding including the IARPA-funded SAGE project (2016-2019) for geopolitical forecasting and Lithuania's national disinformation study (2021). He regularly advises governments through high-impact presentations at NATO StratCom CoE, NED forums, and Lublin Triangle initiatives, translating academic insights into operational countermeasures against active measures. As co-leader of Vilnius University's Politics of Technology Research Group and Belarus Research Group, he directs collaborative investigations into AI-driven disinformation and authoritarian influence networks. His teams develop early-warning systems for hybrid threats while training next-generation analysts through specialized courses like Information Warfare and Strategic Political Communication.
Aybars Tuncdogan is a Reader in Digital Innovation and Information Security at King’s Business School, King’s College London. He holds affiliations with the King’s AI Institute, King’s Cybersecurity Centre (Informatics), and King’s Cybersecurity Group (War Studies). A Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, he also serves on the editorial review board of Industrial Marketing Management . Education : PhD in Management, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University MPhil in Business Research (Distinction), Erasmus University Bachelor’s in Business Management & Computer Science (Honors), Earlham College Research Interests : His work focuses on three pillars of digital innovation: generation (crowdsourcing, AI), marketing (digital brand personality, sales ambidexterity), and protection (information security, corporate espionage). He integrates psychology (individual differences, social identity) and computer science (machine learning/AI) frameworks. Publications Trends : Recent work addresses cybersecurity challenges in retail, AI ethics in healthcare, and interdisciplinary innovation. He frequently publishes in top-tier journals like Journal of Management and Scientific American , blending academic rigor with practitioner impact. Awards & Contributions : 2015 Best Paper Award (shared) Edited books including Oxford Handbook of Individual Differences and Strategic Renewal Teaching & Pedagogy : Develops innovative teaching methods like inquiry-based learning to foster student creativity. Taught modules on digital marketing, consumer behavior, and research methods. Labs/Teams : Contributes to cybersecurity initiatives at King’s, focusing on AI-driven defense mechanisms and organizational cyber resilience strategies.
Clémence Poirier is a Senior Researcher in the Cyberdefense Project within the Risk and Resilience Team at the Center for Security Studies (CSS) at ETH Zurich. She previously served as a Research Fellow at the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI) in Vienna and as a Researcher for Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia. She also holds the position of Space Generation Advocacy and Policy Platform's Lead on Responsible Space Behavior at the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC). Her educational background includes a Master's degree in International Relations, International Security and Defense and a Bachelor's degree in Foreign Applied Languages (English, Russian, Spanish), both from University Jean Moulin Lyon III, France. Dr. Poirier is multilingual, which supports her international research collaborations. Dr. Poirier's research focuses on the critical intersection of space operations and cybersecurity, with particular emphasis on geopolitical implications of cyber conflict in outer space. Her work examines how terrestrial conflicts like the Ukraine war impact space security architecture and explores policy frameworks for protecting space infrastructure from cyber threats. She has conducted extensive research on space cybersecurity policy across multiple jurisdictions including Australia, Europe, and the United States. Analysis of her publication record reveals a clear progression from foundational space policy research toward increasingly specialized work on space cybersecurity. Her recent publications demonstrate growing attention to practical policy implementation challenges, with several papers addressing specific national and regional approaches to space cybersecurity governance. There's also a notable trend toward multidisciplinary collaboration, particularly with technical experts in space systems engineering. Dr. Poirier has established significant research partnerships with major space institutions including the European Space Agency, with whom she collaborated on climate policy research examining the integration of space-based data in European environmental policies. Her work with SmartSat CRC in Australia demonstrates international research coordination on space infrastructure security. She leads research initiatives focused on responsible space behavior and has contributed to policy development through her work with the European Economic and Social Committee. Her current Cyberdefense Project at ETH Zurich's CSS represents the culmination of her expertise in space security policy development.
Inga Kristina Trauthig is a dual-affiliation academic serving as a Research Professor at Florida International University’s Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy and a Visiting Fellow at King’s College London’s Institute of Middle Eastern Studies (IMES). She holds a PhD in War Studies from King’s College London, focusing on Libya, and an MLitt in Middle East Security from the University of St Andrews. Her research spans terrorism, disinformation, emerging technologies, and Middle Eastern political dynamics, with particular expertise in Salafism and security sector analysis. She has authored over 80 peer-reviewed publications and policy-focused articles, including work in Conflict, Security & Development and Political Research Quarterly . Her consulting work addresses causes of war and insecurity for UN bodies, governments, NGOs, and private firms. She has provided oral evidence to the UK Parliament and appeared on platforms like BBC’s Digital Human and Lawfare Blog . Trauthig convenes King’s MENA Research Group within IMES and has held student representation roles across faculty levels. Her research highlights include analyzing generative AI’s political risks, disinformation strategies in MENA, and the role of messaging apps in authoritarian governance.
Professor David Sarpong is a leading academic in Strategy and Organisation at Aston Business School, part of Aston University's College of Business and Social Sciences. He currently serves as Head of the Marketing and Entrepreneurship Department and Director of Research for the Marketing and Strategy Subject Group. His research focuses on strategy-as-practice, relationalism, innovation management, and temporality in organizational processes. He holds adjunct roles at KNUST Business School and Bristol Business School, and is actively involved in professional organizations like EURAM and CABS. His work employs qualitative methods including ethnographic interviews and microstoria approaches. Professional Activities: He serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Strategy and Leadership, and on editorial boards for Technology Analysis & Strategic Management and European Management Journal. His external roles include UK Country Representative for EURAM and Board Membership at The Milestones Trust. He has held prior academic leadership positions at Brunel University London and visiting roles at HSE Moscow and University of KwaZulu-Natal. Research Interests: Prioritizes cross-level management problems using Heideggerian-Wittgensteinian frameworks. Key themes include second-order technology management, business tournament rituals, strategic foresight, and discursive practices in European cosmopolitan marketplaces. Methodologically innovative in combining narratives, digital datasets, and performative routines analysis. Collaborations: Active in global research networks with scholars across Africa, Europe, and Asia. Recent work addresses mining-industry partnerships, gender dynamics in extractive economies, and ethical dimensions of corporate governance. His research outputs number over 110 publications in top journals like Technovation and Journal of Business Research. Awards/Affiliations: Recognized through editorial leadership roles and visiting professorships. His research has policy implications for sustainable development, innovation ecosystems, and organizational resilience in global contexts.
William Reno is Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science at Northwestern University's Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. With a PhD from the University of Wisconsin (1992), he has established himself as a leading scholar in African politics, conflict studies, and international relations. His career spans over three decades of research on state collapse, insurgency, and security assistance in fragile states, with particular expertise in West Africa and the Horn of Africa. His educational background includes a B.A. from Haverford College (1984), M.A. from the University of Chicago (1985), and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin (1992). Reno has held significant administrative roles including Director of the Program of African Studies (2012-2018) and currently serves as Department Chair since 2019. He previously served as non-resident Fellow at the Modern War Institute of the US Military Academy and has extensive experience as the department's graduate director. Reno's research focuses on the comparative politics of Africa, politics of violent conflict, political effects of foreign military assistance, and asymmetrical warfare. His work examines how patronage-based regimes operate in weak states, the evolution of insurgency in Africa, and security assistance strategies in fragile contexts. He has conducted extensive field research in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria, and Congo, with particular attention to how state collapse reshapes political authority and armed group behavior. His scholarship reveals critical insights about why contemporary African insurgencies differ from earlier anti-colonial movements in their organizational capacity and political programs. Reno has supervised numerous doctoral students who have gone on to prominent positions in academia, government, and military institutions. His advisees include scholars examining topics ranging from minority communities in conflict zones to military effectiveness in African states. Many of his students have military backgrounds or policy experience, reflecting Reno's own engagement with practical security challenges. He has secured significant research funding including Fulbright-Hays Fellowships, Boren Fellowships, and support from organizations like the Social Science Research Council. Reno maintains active research collaborations with scholars globally, particularly through his work with the Program of African Studies. His current projects focus on the politics of security force assistance, political economy of jihadism, and armed groups in contexts of state collapse. His scholarly approach combines deep area expertise with theoretical innovation, often challenging conventional wisdom about conflict dynamics in fragile states.
Dr. Marco Longobardo is a Reader in International Law (equivalent to Associate Professor) at the University of Westminster's School of Law. He holds a master's degree from the University of Messina (2012) and a PhD from Sapienza University of Rome (2016). In 2023, he served as a Visiting Professor at the University of Trento, University of Messina, and Université Libre de Bruxelles. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. His research specializes in Public International Law , with emphasis on International Humanitarian Law, International Criminal Law, Law of Armed Conflict, and Peacekeeping. Current projects examine military occupation, ICC jurisdiction, and ICJ procedures for community interests. His work is cited by the ICC Prosecutor, UN Special Rapporteurs, and national courts. Longobardo has published monographs with Cambridge University Press and articles in leading journals including the American Journal of International Law and European Journal of International Law . His scholarship analyzes trends in occupation law, IHL compliance, peacekeeping legitimacy, and human rights in conflict zones. Awards & Honors: Paul Reuter Prize (ICRC, 2021) Lieber Prize Honorable Mention (ASIL, 2023) Italian Society of International Law Prize (2021) Rosalyn Higgins Prize (Third Place, 2020) He mentors PhD students in international law topics and serves on editorial boards for the Journal of International Humanitarian Legal Studies and International Community Law Review . He is a member of the European Society of International Law and International Law Association.
Paul Ward is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo and a faculty fellow at the IBM Centre for Advanced Studies. He holds a PhD (2002) and MASc (1993) from Waterloo and a BScE (1998) from the University of New Brunswick. His research focuses on distributed systems management, dependable systems, autonomic computing, wireless networks, and IoT. Key areas include fault detection in web services, service-oriented networking, and optimization of wireless mesh networks. Ward's publications span computer networks, cognitive science, and sports analytics, reflecting interdisciplinary applications of computational methods. He holds two patents in mobile web services and fault resolution.
Dr. Jack McDonald is a Senior Lecturer in War Studies at King’s College London’s Department of War Studies, and Director of the Centre for Science & Security Studies. He holds affiliations with the Environmental Security research group, Military Innovation Network (MIN), and the Leverhulme Centre for Research on Slavery in War. His research examines the intersection of ethics, law, technology, and warfare, focusing on issues like targeted killings, autonomous weapons, and the legal frameworks governing modern conflict. Education details are not explicitly stated, but his academic output demonstrates expertise in international law, military strategy, and technology’s role in warfare. He has authored two major books and contributed to peer-reviewed journals and policy papers for entities including Chatham House and the UN Mine Action Service. Recent publications emphasize digital technology’s impact on warfare ethics, including works on data privacy in conflict zones and the legitimacy of remote warfare tactics. His research also addresses emerging challenges like climate change’s role in conflict dynamics and the slavery-war nexus. Dr. McDonald supervises PhD students in his specialist areas and teaches courses such as Dirty Wars and War, Technology, and Innovation . He regularly participates in international conferences and public discussions on modern warfare trends, including panels on drones, cyber warfare, and the Ukraine conflict’s strategic implications.
Professor Julian Richards is a leading academic in security and intelligence studies at the University of Buckingham, where he serves as Director of the Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies (BUCSIS). He holds a PhD in Political Violence from the University of Cambridge (1993) and spent nearly two decades in British Government intelligence roles before transitioning to academia in 2006. His roles include Programme Director for three MA programmes and supervising BUCSIS’s MPhil/DPhil research students. Education: PhD in Political Violence (Cambridge University, 1993). Prior to academia, he held senior intelligence positions with the UK Government. Research focuses on global security, extremism/radicalization, intelligence analysis techniques, and cyber threats. He has authored four books and numerous articles, including works on counter-terrorism, cyber-warfare, and Far-Right extremism in Europe. His media commentary spans BBC, Sky News, and international outlets. His articles explore contemporary security challenges such as post-Brexit intelligence dynamics, cyber resilience, and extremist propaganda in digital spaces. He emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, combining political science, technology, and ethical considerations in intelligence practices. Awards: None explicitly listed, though his contributions to security discourse are widely recognized. He advises on policy and has testified in government inquiries on privacy-security balances. Advising & Grants: Supervises doctoral researchers in security studies and leads BUCSIS’s research initiatives. His work intersects academia and policy, addressing real-world security challenges through rigorous analysis. Labs/Teams: Directs BUCSIS, fostering collaborative research on global security threats. The Centre hosts interdisciplinary projects on intelligence analysis, cyber security, and counter-extremism strategies.
Professor Noam Lubell is a leading academic in International Law of Armed Conflict at the University of Essex, where he also serves as Director of the Essex Armed Conflict and Crisis Hub (since 2017). He previously held the Swiss Chair of International Humanitarian Law at The Geneva Academy (2013–2019) and was Head of the Law School at Essex (2014–2017). His roles include Rapporteur of the International Law Association's Committee on the Use of Force (2010–2018) and Senior Research Fellow at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (US), focusing on legal aspects of new military technologies. Lubell has collaborated with the ICRC on IHL investigations and works extensively with governments, UN bodies, and NGOs on issues like occupation law, self-defense, and autonomous weapons systems. Education: Ph.D. in Law LL.M. B.A. in Philosophy Research Interests: International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Human Rights Law in Armed Conflict Legal Frameworks for Use of Force Cyber Warfare and Emerging Technologies Occupation Law and Transnational Conflicts Accountability Mechanisms for Violations of IHL His work analyzes modern warfare challenges, including the application of proportionality, fragmented conflicts, and the impact of AI and cyber capabilities on legal boundaries. He advocates for ethical and lawful military practices while engaging with interdisciplinary topics like neuroscience in warfare. Publications highlight trends in cyber warfare, autonomous systems, and IHL's evolving role in contemporary conflicts. His research bridges traditional legal principles with modern technological and strategic realities, emphasizing accountability and human rights protections. Scientific Awards: None explicitly listed, though his work has received widespread academic and professional recognition. Advising & Grants: Principal Investigator on a project addressing cumulative civilian harm and proportionality (2024–present) Co-led ICRC partnership producing IHL investigation guidelines (2013–2019) Consultancies with military, governments, and media organizations Member of expert groups on occupation law, autonomous weapons, and battlefield scope No formal advisees (PhD/Master’s students) are listed in the provided texts. Labs & Teams: Essex Armed Conflict and Crisis Hub Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (Senior Research Fellow) International Law Amicus Curiae Clinic (Co-Director at Concord Research Centre)
