The Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology (CMIST) translates research into actionable insights, informing policymakers and shaping the global conversation on war, peace, and emerging technology.
As a cross-university meeting place, CMIST offers a balanced perspective on critical debates around new technologies and their impact on security and policy. Leveraging Carnegie Mellon University's cutting-edge research in fields such as machine learning, robotics, and human-computer interaction, our multidisciplinary team of social scientists delivers expert analyses on the ethical, social, political, and economic implications of new and emerging technologies. Our researchers adopt a fresh approach to understanding how emerging technologies influence war and peace, and how best to harness their potential to create a more stable, equitable world.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENTS
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Date
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Event & Registration
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Speaker(s)
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Thurs, 1/16/2025
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Wed, 1/29/2025
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Matthew Fuhrmann
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Tues, 2/11/2025
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Scientists & Strategists - How Tech Firms Shape Geopolitics |
Adam Segal
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Mon,
2/17/2025
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Scientists & Strategists - How Can We Manage the Misuse Potential of Increasingly Powerful Technologies? - CANCELLED |
Jonas Sandbrink |
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Thurs, 2/20/2025
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Scientists & Strategists - Civil-Military Relations: Throughout History and in Modern Times |
Kori Schake |
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Mahadev Satyanarayanan and JustinFanelli |
Scientists & Strategists
Each semester, our Scientists & Strategists speaker series brings in experts on international relations, STEM, and national and international security to lead engaging and nuanced discussions surrounding the most pressing topics of our time. In fall 2024 we covered topics ranging from the impact of the clean energy transition on US security and industrial strategy to how military strategies are evolving in the age of AI and robotics. We kept these critical conversations going for spring 2025 with discussions on how tech firms are shaping geopolitics, as well as the benefits of unified cloud-edge for defense and critical infrastructure. All discussions in this event series are recorded and we encourage you to view the videos, linked below.
Cloud computing is everywhere, but it's not the answer to everything. Fundamental constraints of latency, bandwidth, privacy, data sovereignty, and resilience in adversarial environments increasingly challenge cloud-centric architectures. That's where "edge computing" comes in. CMU's Professor Mahadev Satyanarayanan and Justin Fanelli, CTO for the Dept of Navy, explore how public-private collaboration can accelerate innovation, addressing both the technical and organizational challenges of edge computing in adversarial and non-adversarial settings.
Almost every digital system of importance on Earth—from navigation and financial platforms to national security and the internet—now heavily depends upon space-based infrastructure. Yet satellites and space infrastructure face rising threats. Satellites are vulnerable to disruptive attacks, congestion and space debris. Complicating a growing threat plane, there are very few rules of the road in space. There is no sovereignty in space. Dr. DeNardis discusses cybersecurity and governance in space with CMIST's Lauryn Williams joining to add her viewpoints as a discussant.
As political leaders strive to implement new policies affecting the armed forces, they must carefully navigate the balance of power that underlines this crucial relationship. Dr. Kori Schake explores how recent events have brought the United States military into the forefront of America's political discourse. She delves into the history of American civil-military relations, examines their critical importance to the nation, and discusses how both military and political leaders can collaborate to preserve and strengthen this special relationship, now and in the future.
For decades, the innovation of US tech companies has allowed the US tech sector to dominate international competitors, supply critical technology for defense modernization, and promote American power. However, domestic political shifts and geopolitical competition, particularly with China, are reshaping this partnership. Dr. Adam Segal explores what this means for US national security and foreign policy interests.
How does nuclear technology influence international relations? Professor Matthew Fuhrmann discusses his recent book, Influence Without Arms: The New Logic of Nuclear Deterrence, which puts the spotlight on countries that have the technology to build nuclear bombs but choose not to. These weapons-capable countries, such as Brazil, Germany, and Japan, have what is known as nuclear latency, and they shape world politics in important ways. Fuhrmann navigates a critical yet poorly understood issue.
Dr. T.X. Hammes, distinguished fellow at the National Defense University’s Center for Strategic Research and adjunct professor at Georgetown, and Dr. Jeff Schneider, research professor in the Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science, address how key emerging technologies are transforming the nature of warfare. Moderated by CMIST Director Audrey Kurth Cronin, Hammes and Schneider explore how military strategies must evolve to keep pace with technological innovations, highlighting the balance between cutting-edge robotics and the human element in modern conflict.
Harry Krejsa, former assistant national cyber director for strategy and research at the White House Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD), and Costa Samaras, director of CMU’s Scott Institute for Energy Innovation, discuss the new era of U.S. industrial policy and the clean energy transition. Moderated by CMIST Director Audrey Kurth Cronin, Krejsa and Samaras address new vulnerabilities, threats from adversaries, and frameworks to mitigate risks and maximize potential in the clean energy transition. Together they explore the intricacies of this transformative era and how to blaze the path forward.
Renowned journalist and author Kate Zernike discusses her captivating book, The Exceptions: Nancy Hopkins and the Fight for Women in Science. Zernike explores the true story of Dr. Nancy Hopkins, a brilliant scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) who led a group of sixteen female faculty members in collective action that ultimately resulted in MIT's historic admission of discrimination against women in the male-dominated field of science. Zernike engrosses the audience with a national conversation about unconscious bias and gender inequities in STEM.
For over half a century, the language we have used to identify and govern security concerns in science and technology has often revolved around the term "dual use." The term, however, has substantial limitations that hinder our ability to even see, let alone govern, security concerns in today’s geopolitical, social, and technical environments. Dr. Sam Weiss Evans outlines the reasons why the term has such purchase with a wide range of governing mechanisms today, provides examples of its limitations, sketches some alternatives, and explores how changes in language can be part of a bigger shift in security governance.
Dr. Sarah Percy discusses the historic role of women in combat, the subject of her recent book, Forgotten Warriors: The Long History of Women in Combat. From Boudicca’s rebellion to the war in Ukraine, battlefields have always contained a surprising number of women. Some formed all-female armies; some fought disguised as men; some mobilized in times of national survival. International relations expert Percy unearths the stories of these forgotten warriors, setting the historical record straight and revealing that women’s exclusion from active combat is a blip in a much longer narrative of female inclusion.
Based on her award-winning book, Power to the People: How Open Technological Innovation is Arming Tomorrow's Terrorists, Dr. Audrey Kurth Cronin discusses how individuals and small groups have shared and used accessible lethal technology in the past, and how they are likely to do so in the future. The diffusion of modern technologies—digital media, robotics, additive manufacturing, synthetic biology, autonomous systems, machine learning, and artificial intelligence—makes them accessible to a broader range of people, and that alters war. The evolution of conflict is changing and we must adapt.
Boomers, Doomers, and the Politics of Technology
Dr. Sarah Kreps examines debates about the speed and impact of the most disruptive and influential technologies or technological trends since nuclear weapons—nuclear weapons themselves, social media, AI, crypto, and commercial space like SpaceX. In debates about new technologies, boomers develop technologies that they believe will deliver benefits and doomers fear the catastrophic consequences of these technologies. Kreps's analysis reveals patterns that explore the divide of theory and practice and lead to an optimistic assessment about the past, present, and future of tech governance.
Lawfully Speaking
To complement its new American Politics and Law minor, CMIST launched Lawfully Speaking: A Forum on Law & Ethics in the spring of 2024. This lecture series fosters open dialogue on legal and ethical issues, offering a learning environment for those curious about the intersection of law and ethics. The debut lecture was delivered by international lawyer John Bellinger, who currently handles a range of cutting-edge international legal dilemmas—from questions of state sovereignty to laws of war and trade disputes.
In his lecture, Who’s Afraid of International Law? Why the Senate is Approving Fewer Treaties, Mr. Bellinger discussed why US presidents are entering into more international agreements that do not require Senate approval.
In our fall 2024 installment of Lawfully Speaking, the Honorable Judge James E. Baker discussed the future of artificial intelligence regulation and national security in his presentation entitled, Promise and Peril: The Next Ten Years of National Security AI and its Regulation.
More recently, William Renn Gade, deputy general counsel for intelligence and security with the Department of Defense, explored the impact of technological advancements on the law of warfare in his talk, The Revolution in Military Affairs, Law, and the Future of Warfare, for CMIST's spring 2025 event.
Conversations with Senior Leaders
Conversations with Senior Leaders is a speaker series hosted by CMIST that provides a unique platform for emerging leaders to gain insights from seasoned professionals in the fields of national security and technology. Our series brings together distinguished figures who have made significant contributions to their respective fields, providing invaluable perspectives on leadership, strategy, and the challenges and opportunities facing our world today. The events provide insights into the strategic thinking and decision-making processes that have shaped their careers. During these candid discussions, these leaders share their leadership philosophies, strategies for success, and hard-earned lessons learned, offering invaluable guidance to those seeking to navigate complex challenges and achieve their own professional goals.
Prof. Cronin and Ambassador Nathaniel Fick discuss the field of tech diplomacy, his current role in shaping U.S. cyberspace and digital policy, and the importance of careers in public service.
Audrey Kurth Cronin
CMIST Director; Trustees Professor of Security and Technology
Nathaniel C. Fick
Inaugural U.S. Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy.
Prof. Cronin and Dr. Dixon discuss the critical impact of public service in advancing national security and lessons learned from Dixon's incredible career at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).
Audrey Kurth Cronin
CMIST Director; Trustees Professor of Security and Technology
Stacey A. Dixon
Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence
General Laura Richardson and Lieutenant General Jim Richardson offer insights into their esteemed careers, navigating married life in the military, and the art of turning challenges into opportunities.
Audrey Kurth Cronin
CMIST Director; Trustees Professor of Security and Technology
Laura J. Richardson
United States Army General
Commander, U.S. Southern Command
Jim Richardson
Retired, United States Army Lieutenant General; CMU Distinguished Executive in Residence
Lieutenant General Jim Richardson shares what he has learned in his career, his thoughts on future technology challenges, and what's next at The Army Artificial Intelligence Integration Center (AI2C).
Audrey Kurth Cronin
CMIST Director; Trustees Professor of Security and Technology
Jim Richardson
Retired, United States Army Lieutenant General; CMU Distinguished Executive in Residence
Admiral James Foggo discusses the origins of his naval career, what submarine life is really like, and his thoughts on evolving perceptions on artificial intelligence and unmanned systems.
Patrick Cronin
CMIST Scholar in Residence
Asia-Pacific Security Chair, Hudson Institute
James Foggo
Dean, Center for Maritime Strategy of the Navy League; Retired, Admiral U.S. Navy
Introduction by: Audrey Kurth Cronin, CMIST Director; Trustees Professor of Security and Technology
Digital Diplomacy
Carnegie Mellon University and the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology hosted a thought-provoking event—Digital Diplomacy: Building Solidarity in Cyberspace. The evening kicked-off with welcomes by CMIST Director Audrey Kurth Cronin and CMU Provost Jim Garrett. Keynote speaker Nathaniel Fick, inaugural US ambassador at large for cyberspace and digital policy, explored worldwide trends in tech and digital diplomacy. A panel featuring international diplomats Minister Paula Bogantes Zamora of Costa Rica and Ambassador Benedikt Wechsler of Switzerland followed the keynote and was moderated by CMIST Director Audrey Kurth Cronin.
Deeper Conversations
Deeper Conversations, which President Farnam Jahanian launched in January 2024, is a university-wide initiative aimed at promoting the power of civil discourse. It spans a range of programming options—from scholarly lectures to cultural events—to engage members of the Carnegie Mellon community in studying and discussing some of the most complex challenges facing society today. Each wave of programming explores a specific divisive issue and is open to CMU students, faculty and staff.
For the 2024-2025 academic year, CMU is focused on exploring critical topics related to democracy and the election. Here's a look at CMIST's involvement in Deeper Conversations.
Cyber-Enabled Nation-State Influence Operations: Are Russia, China and Iran Interfering in the U.S. Election?
On October 28, this session examines recent evidence of nation-state interference in U.S. elections and discusses strategies to protect our democratic process from these threats. Panelists include Bret Schafer, Bryan Prior, and Darren Linvill and is moderated by CMIST Director Audrey Kurth Cronin.
Bridging the Divide: Understanding and Addressing Political Polarization in America
On September 11, this panel, featuring Professors Kevin Zollman, Jonathan Cervas (CMIST), and Karina Schumann and moderated by Dean Richard Scheines, delved into the structural forces driving this polarization and explored potential solutions.
OUR WORK
Publications
CMIST's inaugural white paper from Director of Studies Harry Krejsa, Sun Shield: How Clean Tech & America’s Energy Expansion Can Stop Chinese Cyber Threats, discusses how the United States can lead the charge on clean energy while protecting our infrastructure from rising cyber threats. With China's influence in critical energy supply chains growing, it’s time to rethink how we modernize and protect our energy systems. Get insights on upgrading the electrical grid with digitally-native tech, leveraging clean energy deployment to strengthen our cybersecurity, and boosting American leadership in the technologies that will power tomorrow’s economy.
RealClearEnergy
AI Power Demand Is Remaking Our Energy Ecosystem – While Painting a Target on Its Back
By Harry Krejsa and Mark Montgomery
Washington Examiner
It’s Time to Get Real About Fueling the AI Arms Race
By Harry Krejsa and Chris Barnard
The National Interest
Donald Trump 2.0 and The Next Era of Superpower Competition
By Patrick M. Cronin
Previous Work:
2025
Schwartz, Joshua A., John Chin, and Haleigh Bartos. "How Drones Make Civil Wars Worse." Lawfare, March 16, 2025.
Chin, John. "An Unlikely Democracy: The Legacy of Mongolia’s 1990 Revolution." The Diplomat, March 13, 2025.
Wright, Joe, and John Chin. "What Happens When Leaders Have Loyalists in Charge of Men with Guns: Lessons for the US from Nicaragua, Syria and Other Authoritarian Countries." The Conversation, March 11, 2025.
Chin, John, and Mirren Hibbert. "Hungary and the Future of Europe." The Loop, March 3, 2025.
Cronin, Patrick M. "Rewind and Reconnoiter: Soft Power Shouldn't Be Taken Lightly." War on the Rocks, February 26, 2025.
Bartos, Haleigh, and John Chin. "The Congo’s Fork in the Road: If the West Won’t Intervene, Russia Will." Modern War Institute, February 26, 2025.
Chin, John J. "How Tragedy Sparked a Protest Movement." Journal of Democracy, February 6, 2025.
Chin, John, and Ellie Kim. "Promoting Poland’s Democratic U-turn." The Loop, February 4, 2025.
Chin, John J. "Why Slovakia is Rising Up in Protest." Journal of Democracy, January 30, 2025.
Chin, John, and Noel Overby. "Moldova versus Russian Sharp Power." The Loop, January 22, 2025.
Cronin, Patrick. "Donald Trump 2.0 and The Next Era of Superpower Competition." The National Interest, January 20, 2025.
Chin, John, and Anastasia Kim. "Georgia's Second Rose Revolution." The Loop, January 9, 2025.
2024
Chin, John, Mirren Hibbert, and Staten Rector. "The Legacy of Romania’s 1989 Revolution." The Loop, December 18, 2024.
Horowitz, Michael, and Joshua Schwartz. "Stealth and Scale: Quality, Quantity, and Modern Military Power." War on the Rocks, December 18, 2024.
Bartos, Haleigh, John Chin, and Sydney Laite. "Assad’s Downfall in Syria: Who Wins and Who Loses?." Modern War Institute, December 10, 2024.
Chin, John J. "Why Ghana’s Election Matters Across Africa." Journal of Democracy, December 9, 2024.
Chin, John Joseph, and Joe Wright. "What Is a Self-Coup? South Korea President’s Attempt Ended in Failure − A Notable Exception in a Growing Global Trend." The Conversation, December 5, 2024.
Canfil, Justin Key. "Can They Control the Weather? How the Secretive History of Weather Weapons Fuels Conspiracy Theories." Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, November 22, 2024.
Chin, John, Haleigh Bartos, and Aleksaundra Handrinos. "What Burkina Faso’s Tragic History Teaches Us." Journal of Democracy, October 31, 2024.
Cronin, Audrey Kurth. "Sinwar Is Dead, but Hamas Will Survive." Foreign Affairs, October 19, 2024.
Arana, Ignacio. "Why Do 7 States Decide the U.S. Presidency?." Latinoamérica21, October 14, 2024.
Blair, Christopher W., and Joshua A. Schwartz. "Diplomatic Double Standards: The Sexism a President Kamala Harris Would Face." Australian Outlook, October 1, 2024.
Bartos, Haleigh and John Chin. "Three Reasons to Tread Lightly in Sudan." The National Interest, September 4, 2024.
Silverman, Daniel, Anna Pechenkina, Austin Knuppe, and Yehonatan Abramson. "America Has More Latitude With Israel Than It Thinks." Foreign Affairs, August 28, 2024.
Kostyuk, Nadiya and Joshua A. Schwartz. "'House of the Dragon' Tells Us to Worry About More than Dragons." Good Authority, August 16, 2024.
Schwartz, Joshua A. "The Nuclear Taboo Is a Myth." Lawfare, July 7, 2024.
Chin, John and Joseph Wright. "Can Bolivia Ever Escape the Coup Trap?." Journal of Democracy, June 28, 2024.
Cronin, Audrey Kurth. "How Hamas Ends: A Strategy for Letting the Group Defeat Itself." Foreign Affairs, June 3, 2024.
Bartos, Haleigh, John Chin, and Tyler Ashner. "Haiti: A Best-Case Scenario." War on the Rocks, April 30, 2024.
Schwartz, Joshua A. "What Iran's Drone Attack Portends for the Future of Warfare." Modern War Institute, April 30, 2024.
Schwartz, Joshua A and Christopher Blair. "Why More Female Leaders Won't Lead to More Peace." Lawfare, March 17, 2024
Cronin, Patrick. "Is North Korea Getting Ready for War? No, and the Reason Is Obvious." The National Interest, February 1, 2024.
Cronin, Audrey Kurth. "Hamas’s Asymmetric Advantage: What Does It Mean to Defeat a Terrorist Group?" Foreign Affairs, January/February 2024.
Cronin, Patrick M. and Audrey Kurth Cronin, "Will Artificial Intelligence Lead to War?" The National Interest, January 30, 2024.
Cronin, Patrick. "What to Make of Kim Jong Un’s Latest Threats of War." The Messenger, January 5, 2024.
2023
Bartos, Haleigh and John Chin. "What Israel Can Learn from U.S. Intelligence Failures." The National Interest, December 31, 2023.
Cronin, Patrick. "North Korea-Russia Cooperation Will Further Deteriorate World Order." The Messenger, December 15, 2023.
Silverman, Dan. "Decolonizing Israel-Palestine is a Dangerous Delusion." The National Interest, December 12, 2023.
Chin, John Joseph and Haleigh Bartos. "How New Reports Reveal Israeli Intelligence Underestimated Hamas and Other Key Weaknesses." The Conversation, December 7, 2023.
Spagat, Michael and Daniel Silverman. "Who and How Many People are Getting Killed in Gaza?" AOAV, November 1, 2023.
Bartos, Haleigh and John Chin. "What Went Wrong? Three Hypotheses on Israel's Massive Intelligence Failure." Modern War Institute, October 31, 2023.
Cronin, Audrey Kurth. "How Israel Can Win: Defeating Hamas Will Require a Strategy That Goes Beyond Revenge." Foreign Affairs Magazine, October 15, 2023.
Bartos, Haleigh and John Chin. "Biden's Africa Policy Trilemma." The Duck of Minerva, October 12, 2023.
Cronin, Patrick M. "Failure to Launch: The Problem With the Putin-Kim Strategy." The Messenger, September 15, 2023.
Fischhoff, Baruch, Steven Woloshin, Tamar Krishnamurti, and Barry Dewitt. "Patients might finally receive practical information with prescriptions — if the FDA doesn’t blow it." STAT, September 12, 2023.
Cronin, Audrey Kurth. "Open Source Technology and Public-Private Innovation Are the Key to Ukraine's Strategic Resilience." War on the Rocks, August 25, 2023.
Arana, Igancio and Carolina Guerrero. "Guatemala’s Elections Could Give the Presidency to Another Former First Lady." Latinoamérica21, August 19, 2023.
Cronin, Patrick M. "The Promise of Camp David: Trilateral Summit is a Watershed for Asian Security." The National Interest, August 16, 2023.
Cronin, Patrick M. "US soldier Travis King's Mad, Doomed Dash to North Korea." New York Post, July 19, 2023.
Cronin, Audrey Kurth. "United States and China are Taking Opposite Approaches to AI." Fox News, July 18, 2023.
Media Mentions
The Union of Concerned Scientists convenes the first meeting of an interdisciplinary group of experts, including Baruch Fischhoff, to consider new strategies to reduce reliance on nuclear weapons.
Disinformation — information spread with malicious intent — is “designed to incite, sometimes to conceal as well, but predominantly to escalate emotions in content that’s very engagement friendly,”
“The next South Korean president must ensure the South Korean military is prepared for simultaneous, multifaceted crises,”
Additional Media Mentions:
2024
- Jonathan Cervas via FactCheck.org, Speaker Johnson's Partisan Spin on Gerrymandering in the 2024 Election, 16 December 2024
- Kathleen Carley via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, What's Next in AI: Why Artificial Intelligence Didn't Disrupt the Election, 10 November 2024
- Kathleen Carley via Reuters, Musk and X Are Epicenter of US Election Misinformation, Experts Say, 11/4/2024
- Jonathan Cervas via The Washington Post, In Las Vegas, A Latino-Heavy Labor Union Blows on the Dice, 11/1/2024
- Audrey Kurth Cronin via The New York Times, Has Hezbollah Been Weakened by Israel’s Recent Attacks?, 10/25/2024
- Jonathan Cervas via Salon, Democrats' "Wasted Votes" and "Cheap Seats": Where You Live Impacts How Much Your Vote Counts, 10/23/2024
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Jonathan Cervas via Salon, Gerrymandering in 2024: How "Deeply Steered" Districts Benefit Republicans, 10/19/2024
- Jonathan Cervas via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, How to Avoid Getting Misled by Political Polls,10/6/2024
- Audrey Kurth Cronin via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Diplomats from the U.S., Switzerland and Costa Rica Meet in Pittsburgh to Discuss New Tech and Ethics, 9/27/2024
- Jonathan Cervas via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Curiosity and Controversy: The Political Mood on College Campuses in Pittsburgh, 9/19/2024
- Audrey Kurth Cronin via Mirage, King's, Partners Hold Key Global Security Talks in D.C, 9/19/2024
- Jonathan Cervas via State Affairs, NCSL: Experts Say Start Building 2030 Redistricting Checklist Now, 8/7/2024
- Jonathan Cervas via France24, Biden, Trump Battle for Blue-Collar Voters as Steel Merger Looms, 6/29/2024
- Kathleen Carley via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Increase in False Online Content Spurs Need for New Detection Tools, 6/22/2024
- Patrick M. Cronin via International Business Times, US-Japan-Philippines Alliance: A Trio With Bitter Past Now Threatens China's Maritime Ambitions, 4/30/2024
- Daniel Silverman via Nautilus, The Age of Rebellion: The Surprising Relationship Between Age and Success in Rebellions, 4/23/2024
- Audrey Kurth Cronin via The Atlantic, U.S. Support for Israel’s War Has Become Indefensible, 3/26/2024
- Audrey Kurth Cronin via The New York Times, What Would You Have Israel Do to Defend Itself?, 3/24/2024
- Jonathan Cervas via New York Daily News, Leave the Maps Alone: N.Y. Congressional Districts Should Stay About the Same, 2/16/2024
- Audrey Kurth Cronin via Just Security, How Israel Took the Terrorists’ Bait, 2/13/2024
- Kathleen Carley via WION, China’s Massive Bot Army Battled with US on X in Clash over Spy Balloons in 2023: Study, 2/5/2024
- Kathleen Carley via New Scientist, Armies of Bots Battled on Twitter over Chinese Spy Balloon Incident, 2/2/2024
- Jonathan Cervas via Wisconsin Public Radio, Wisconsin Supreme Court Consultants Say Republican-Drawn Legislative Maps Are Gerrymanders, Don’t Deserve Consideration, 2/1/2024
- Jonathan Cervas via Associated Press, Wisconsin Redistricting Experts tell Supreme Court Republican Map Proposals Are Gerrymanders, 2/1/2024
- Kathleen Carley via The Hill, Fake Biden Robocall ‘Tip of the Iceberg’ for AI Election Misinformation, 1/24/2024
- Baruch Fischhoff via Pscyhology Today, Risk Is Influenced by Conscious and Subconscious Decisions, 1/3/2024
- Jonathan Cervas via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, What to Know About Bernard Grofman and Jonathan Cervas, Wisconsin's New Map Consultants, 1/2/2024
2023
- Daniel Silverman via The Canberra Times, 'Fake News' Claims Open Up New Front in Middle East War, 12/10/2023
- Audrey Kurth Cronin via El Pais, Elon Musk, Greeted in Israel as A Head of State: The Geopolitics of Big Tech, 11/28/2023
- Jonathan Cervas via Mid Hudson News, State’s Highest Court Hears Congressional Redistricting Case, 11/19/2023
- Daniel Silverman via CBC News, The Challenges of Counting the Dead in the Ongoing Israel-Hamas War, 11/18/2023
- Jonathan Cervas via Warwick Daily Dispatch, New York’s Top Court to Make Redistricting Decision with National Implications, 11/16/2023
- Jonathan Cervas via NY Daily News, Leave the Maps Alone: The NY Court of Appeals Should Be Hands Off on Redistricting, 11/15/2023
- Jonathan Cervas via Bloomberg Law, New York Redistricting Case Gives Democrats Hope for 2024 Gains, 11/14/2023
- Audrey Kurth Cronin via The Christian Science Monitor, Ukraine’s Creativity Edge, 11/13/2023
- Patrick M. Cronin via International Business Times, China Is 'Schooling' Ottawa By Intimidating Canadian Aircraft In South China Sea: Expert, 11/6/2023
- Patrick M. Cronin via Yonhap News Agency, Middle East Instability, Russia's War Raise Questions Over U.S. Ability to Address Multiple Crises, 11/3/2023
- Audrey Kurth Cronin via Outside the Beltway, What Should Israel Do if Not This?, 11/2/2023
- Audrey Kurth Cronin via FLYING Magazine, Ukraine Readies to Produce ‘Dozens of Thousands’ of Drones Per Month, 10/30/2023
- Baruch Fischhoff via The Washington Post, Let’s Stop Insulting Each Other as ‘Anti-Science’, 10/24/2023
- Audrey Kurth Cronin via Vox, What Israel Should Do Now, 10/20/2023
- Daniel Silverman via NPR, Fake Accounts, Old Videos and rumors Fuel Chaos Around Gaza Hospital Explosion, 10/19/2023
- Audrey Kurth Cronin via POLITICO, The Many Tech Fronts in the Middle East, 10/16/2023
- Audrey Kurth Cronin via FLYING Magazine, Deadly Siege Marks Hamas’ Effective Use of Combat Drone Swarm, 10/10/2023
- John Chin via DW, Africa's Wave of Coups Stokes Fears Among Autocrats, 9/7/2023
- William Marcellino via WIRED, The Generative AI Boom Could Fuel a New International Arms Race, 9/7/2023
- Jonathan Cervas via The Guardian, How Alabama is Defying the Supreme Court to Discriminate Against Black Voters, 9/1/2023
- Jonathan Cervas via Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Strange Bedfellows: Primary Loss Forces Zappala to Forge Unconventional Alliances, 8/19/2023
- Baruch Fischhoff via NBC News, Extreme Disasters are Overwhelming Safety Systems Not Designed for Climate-Fueled Events, 8/16/2023
Podcasts & Interviews
Council on Foreign Relations
Strategic Lessons From One Year of War
Guests: Audrey Kurth Cronin, Tamir Hayman, and Robert Pape; Elise Labott
Korean Broadcasting System (KBS)
KBS Documentary Insight - Politics of Impeachment
Guests: John Chin and Joe Wright
Berlin Security Beat
The Cyber Dimension of the Russian Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine
Podcast guest: Nadiya Kostyuk
More Interviews and Podcasts:
2024 and prior
- Columbia Energy Exchange - The Cybersecurity Stakes of the Energy Transition with guest Harry Krejsa
- CNN - Amanpour - UN Calls For Ceasefire, But Will Israel And Hamas Approve? with guest Audrey Kurth Cronin
- World Affairs Council of New Hampshire Global in the Granite State Podcast - How Terrorist Groups End with guest Audrey Kurth Cronin
- The Foreign Affairs Interview - The Middle East's Dangerous Escalation with guest Audrey Kurth Cronin
- The Science of Politics - When Third Parties Matter with guest Jonathan Cervas
- Command and Control - JADC2: A Primer with guest Rafael Lopez
PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS
Workshops
CMIST designs custom workshops bridging the gap between emerging technology and real-world challenges in security and strategy. Our expert-led sessions move beyond theoretical knowledge, focusing on how to strategically integrate and apply advanced concepts like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation. We empower your talent to solve complex problems and drive innovation, ensuring your organization effectively navigates and leads in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
US Army War College International Fellows Engagements (2024, 2025)
CMIST has joined with Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy for two consecutive years to host the United States Army War College International Fellows cohorts for a site visit at CMU. The daylong program includes in-depth briefings on key topics from CMU's leading experts in emerging technology, global studies, and policy, followed by relevant lab tours. This firsthand exposure to cutting-edge research is invaluable for international leaders seeking to understand and address global challenges.
Professional Education
Our professional education courses are designed to meet the unique needs of organizations seeking to fully leverage their human talent while operating at the intersection of security, strategy, and technology. The program of learning combines cutting-edge tech, strategic thinking, and practical knowledge, enabling immediately applicable insights. Through collaborative design, the unique programming sets conditions for any organization to stay at the forefront of innovation by priming their workforce to better leverage technological change. Our team of experts builds custom courses to incorporate artificial intelligence, machine learning, prompt engineering, cybersecurity, robotics, automation, computer vision, and other emerging technologies shaping the future of national and international security.
AI Bootcamp for USCG Intel Professionals: Implications for National Security
Recognizing the critical need for a workforce development primer on artificial intelligence, the US Coast Guard Assistant Commandant for Intelligence (CG-2) turned to CMIST to build a tailor-made, three-day webinar. Through extensive collaboration across Carnegie Mellon University, CMIST crafted an educational program specifically designed to address the implications of AI for both the intelligence community and the broader US Coast Guard. This virtual program, developed by CMIST, successfully engaged 250 to 500 mid- to senior-grade officers and non-commissioned officers from the intelligence communities of both the Coast Guard and US Navy, located across various time zones and locations.
To address this complex and nuanced topic, CMIST designed the course to feature three modules: Defining AI as a Source of Advantage, National Security Implications of AI, and Technology and Competition. Expert speakers on these topics included senior leaders, security scholars, policy experts, and scientists.
CMIST played a key role in the Global Security, Geopolitics & Defense Cooperation Class hosted by The Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business, as part of the The University of South Australia (UniSA) Global Executive Master of Business Administration (GEMBA) in Defense and Space. Held in Washington, DC, in October 2024, CMIST, working in conjunction with the Tepper School of Business, designed and managed a five-day geopolitics module as part of the larger eighteen-month GEMBA program delivered across Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The program offers participants a unique opportunity to collaborate with international defense and space experts.
For the Washington module, CMIST was instrumental in providing the cohort access to renowned academics and defense leaders, significantly enhancing their geopolitical understanding in areas like Executive Communications, the Geopolitics of Key World Regions, and International Law and National Security. Additionally, CMIST arranged a tour of the United States Capitol for the cohort and organized meetings with L3Harris industry leaders, the Chief Technology Officer of the United States Navy, and the Chief Technology Officer of NASA.
- Expert Faculty: Learn from industry experts, accomplished practitioners, and thought leaders who bring real-world insights to each course.
- Customized Learning Curriculum: Tailor education courses with a curriculum that aligns with specific career goals and organizational needs.
- Global Network: Join a vibrant community of professionals, fostering valuable connections and collaborations across industries and geographies.
- Practical Application: Our courses emphasize practical application, ensuring that you can immediately apply your newfound knowledge and skills in your professional life.
Interested in creating an executive education program?
Contact CMIST Deputy Director for Security Policy Studies, Dr. Ralph López.Military Fellows Program
Since its inception in 2015, the Military Fellows Program at Carnegie Mellon University has welcomed service members from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard who bring their wealth of experience as seasoned leaders to the academic environment. Our fellows spend their time at CMU researching, engaging with faculty and scholars, participating in conferences, experiencing cutting-edge simulations, networking across the campus community, and providing mentorship to our students. The goal is to bring accomplished military and national security leaders to campus to harness the intellectually rich opportunities at CMU and study the wide-ranging implications of technological innovations for domestic and international security.
2024-2025 Cohort
Lieutenant Colonel Michael A. Duval, US Army War College Fellow
Commander Heather Thomas, US Navy Federal Executive Fellow
Captain M. Scott Austin, US Coast Guard Fellow
Major Ronisha M. Carter, US Air Force National Defense Fellow
2023-2024 Cohort
Lieutenant Colonel Dan Zisa, US Army War College Fellow
Lieutenant Commander Pratiksha Patel, US Navy Fellow
Commander Kenneth Sauerbrunn, US Coast Guard Fellow
Major Bridget Pantaelon, US Air Force National Defense Fellow
2022-2023 Cohort
- Research: Moving Towards a Secure Enterprise Data Analytics Solution
- Alumni update: Promoted to Colonel
Captain Robert Woodruff, US Navy Fellow
2021-2022 Cohort
- Research: Preparing the Service for the use, implementation, and application of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
- Alumni update: Military Professor & Senior Service Advisor Joint Military Operations Department; US Naval War College
Commander Kimberley Manuel, US Navy Fellow
- Research: Russia’s Winning Move
Lieutenant Colonel Steve Curtis, US Army War College Fellow
- Research: The impact of innovation on intelligence and necessary adaptation between now and 2035; the paper will cover broad implications, but drill down four themes on how we collect, and protect, information in the future.
2020-2021 Cohort
Commander Clinton Christofk, US Navy Fellow
- Research: Investing in Asymmetry: Battle Force 2045 and Maintaining Undersea Dominance
Colonel Michael Needham, US Army War College Fellow
2019-2020 Cohort
Lieutenant Commander Eren D. Cataloglu, US Navy Fellow
Lieutenant Colonel Mark Zais, US Army War College Fellow
- Research: First Place in 2020 Department of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff National Defense Strategy Paper Award.
- Alumni update:
- Integration Innovation, Inc.; Senior Technologist (Data Science), Aug 2022-PRESENT
- USSOCOM · Full-time USSOCOM · Full-time Jun 2020 - Jun 2022; Chief Data Scientist
2018-2019 Fellow
Lieutenant Colonel Daniel C. Wood, US Army War College Fellow
- Research: The DoD’s Pursuit of Artificial Intelligence: A Strategic Risk-Cost-Benefit Analysis
2017-2018 Fellow
Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan W. Hughes, US Army War College Fellow
- Research: Countering Russia in the Gray Zone: A Case for AI
2016-2017 Fellow
Colonel Harold L. La Rock, II, US Army War College Fellow
- Research: Improving Strategic Risk Assessment and Communication
2015-2016 Fellow
Colonel Mary Lou Hall, US Army War College Fellow
- Research: System 3: Artificial Intelligence in Decision Making
- Alumni Update:
- Chief Data Scientist, Directorate for Analysis, Defense Intelligence Agency
- US Army, Director, Program, Budget and Acquisition, Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, May 2019-Oct 2021
- Chief Data Scientist, Defense Portfolio, Accenture Federal Services · Oct 2021
(L to R: Colonel Retired Ralph López, Lieutenant Colonel Mike Duval, Captain Matthew Scott Austin, Major Ronisha Carter, Explosive Ordnance Disposal First Class Nick Albarracin, and Commander Heather Thomas)TEAM OF TEAMS
