In the Interest of National Security

Our guest today is Grant Amacher, a distinguished graduate of Electrical Engineering from the University of Utah. With over 30 years of executive leadership at Intel Corporation, Mr. Amacher brings a wealth of expertise in the advanced semiconductor and chip industry. Before his tenure at Intel, he served as a lead engineer at EDO Corporation (now part of L3 Harris), where he contributed to the design of navigation and communication systems for U.S. military satellites, aircraft, and submarines. As a subject matter expert, Mr. Amacher offers invaluable insights into the potential implications of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan on the global advanced technology industry and its significant impact on U.S. military operations. Listen as Mr. Amacher discusses Taiwan's critical role in global semiconductor manufacturing, the strategic importance of advanced chips to U.S. military systems, and the broader implications of a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan. How would such a conflict impact U.S. defense capability? What challenges does the U.S. face in building domestic chip production? And how does the race for artificial intelligence intersect with the national security strategy? Learn all this, and more, in this episode of In the Interest of National Security. 

Our guest today is Matthew Toussain, a recognized leader in offensive security, penetration testing, and cybersecurity training. Mr. Toussain is the founder of Open Security, a firm dedicated to real-world adversarial testing, red teaming, and advanced security education. As a former U.S. Air Force cyber warfare leader, he has spent over a decade at the cutting edge of cybersecurity, specializing in network exploitation, adversarial tactics, and threat analysis. He is also the creator of Sirius, a tactical cybersecurity vulnerability scanner. Mr. Toussain's work is widely respected in the industry for its technical depth and practical applicability, bridging the gap between security theory and real-world execution.   Listen as Mr. Toussain discusses Sirius, pen testing, red teaming, and gives insights into the evolution of cyber threats and emerging trends. How have cyber threats evolved over time? How does Sirius contribute to future cybersecurity practices?   Learn all this and more in this episode of In the Interest of National Security. 

Our guest today is Dr. Rebecca Dudley. Dr. Dudley is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Brigham Young University, where she teaches courses on civil wars and American foreign policy. She received her PhD in Political Science from Duke University. Her research focuses on conflict resolution and foreign policy, emphasizing the role that third parties play in the dynamics of conflict and conflict resolution.  Listen as Dr. Dudley discusses the evolving role of conflict mediation, soft power, and foreign policy in an era of hybrid warfare.  How can external actors shape the outcome of a civil war or international dispute? How do historical resistance movements compare to modern insurgencies? What role does soft power play in mitigating conflicts?  Learn all this, and more, in this episode of In the Interest of National Security.  

Our guest today is Jacques Sabrie, a Principal at MITRE, a non-profit organization that operates federally funded research and development centers, which power advances in national defense and security. Mr. Sabrie has been instrumental in coordinating efforts with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), leveraging his extensive experience in systems engineering and global intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). Listen as Mr. Sabrie discusses how technology affects great power competition, how we balance innovation with security concerns, and the skills needed to work in national security and intelligence.  What role does technology play in this shifting landscape? How do we balance innovation with security concerns, especially when dealing with emerging technologies? What are the key skills that young professionals should develop if they want to work in national security and intelligence?  Learn all this, and more, in this episode of In the Interest of National Security.  

Our guest today is Andy Pierucci, the Head of Government Affairs for Savage Services Corporation, a global provider of supply chain solutions. Mr. Pierucci also serves as a city council member in Riverton, Utah, and teaches as an adjunct professor at Utah Valley University's Center for National Security Studies.    Listen as Mr. Pierucci discusses private industry and national security, the role that private companies play in the aerospace sector, and how supply chain companies impact national security.    What is Utah's role in the aerospace and defense industry? How do partnerships between educational institutions, private companies, and the government impact national security? What is the biggest gap between how national security is taught and how it is practiced in the private sector?    Learn all this, and more, in this episode of In the Interest of National Security. 

Our guest today is Dr. Diana Bolsinger. Dr. Bolsinger currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Security Studies at the University of Texas at El Paso. Dr. Bolsinger's career includes experience with the US Department of State, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.  Listen as Dr. Bolsinger conveys the nuances associated with US-foreign intelligence sharing, the importance of open international security dialogue, and the challenges of maintaining intelligence relationships with non-democratic nations.  What determines the success or failure of global intelligence sharing? How does the US intelligence partnership with Pakistan affect the global power dynamic? How do emerging technologies and threats affect the way the US conducts its intelligence partnerships?  Learn all this, and more, in this episode of In the Interest of National Security. 

Our guest today is retired U.S. Airforce Brigadier General Max Stitzer. General Stitzer served worldwide deployments, including a combined seven years at The Pentagon and two tours with the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He currently works with 47G—an aerospace and defense organization located in Utah.   Listen as General Stitzer recounts his experiences in the US Air Force. From his days as an enlisted man, through his service at the Pentagon, and to his current position as a leading authority in the defense industry, Max charts a course for aspiring national security professionals.   What kind of opportunities do service members have to make an impact at the Pentagon? How does the relationship between the Department of Defense and private US industry shape our national defense capabilities? What kind of emerging technologies are the subject of investment by government and industry in the US?   Learn all this, and more, in this episode of In the Interest of National Security.

Our guest this week is retired Special Agent in Charge Richard Quinn. Mr. Quinn began his career with the FBI in the New York Field Office where he investigated counterintelligence and international terrorism cases and would eventually serve in senior leadership positions in Chicago, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Washington DC, and at the Central Intelligence Agency.    Listen as Mr. Quinn recounts his experience combatting Osama bin Laden terrorist cells, coordinating counterintelligence missions with the CIA, and leading criminal investigations overseas.    What do the FBI and the CIA have in common? How do these agencies differ in their respective missions? How was the US intelligence community restructured after the terrorist attacks of September 11th?    Learn all this, and more, in this episode of In the Interest of National Security.

Our guest this week is Dr. Frederick White. Dr. White is a professor of Russian and Integrated Studies at Utah Valley University, and a specialist in Russian literature, film, and culture. Listen as Professor White discusses how Vladimir Putin cemented his authority as Russian President, how Alexei Navalny challenged Putin's authority in Russia, and how Russian territorial ambitions pose a threat to NATO and the West.    Learn all this, and more, in this episode of In the Interest of National Security. 

Our guest this week is John McClure, Deputy Director of the Center for National Security Studies at Utah Valley University. John worked at the county, state, and federal levels as an Intelligence Analyst specializing in counterterrorism investigations in the State of Utah.    Listen as Deputy Director McClure discusses his education in Terrorism Studies at St. Andrews University in Scotland, and how that led to a career as an Intelligence Analyst. Deputy Director McClure further describes his experience working at Utah's Fusion Center, as well as his time with the Salt Lake FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF).    How do state and local governments prepare for potential terrorist attacks? In what ways do federal, state, and local agencies collaborate on issues of national security? How do investigators and analysts use open-source intelligence to conduct national security investigations?    Learn all this, and more, in this episode of In the Interest of National Security. 

Our guest this week is Dr. Kerry Kartchner, nuclear weapons policy expert, former US Department of State representative, and adjunct professor at Utah Valley University's Center for National Security Studies.    Listen as Dr. Kartchner recounts his career beginning as an instructor at the Naval postgraduate school, his participation in the implementation of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), and his work with the State Department's Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation.    How do recent actions by Russia threaten the emergence of more nuclear states? How does the modernization of the US nuclear arsenal support the goal of nonproliferation worldwide? How will ongoing conflicts in Israel and Ukraine affect the evolution of nuclear strategy?   Learn all this, and more, in this episode of In the Interest of National Security 

Our guest this week is Matt Berrett, cofounder of the Center for Anticipatory Intelligence (CAI) at Utah State University, Director of Analytics at Space Dynamics Lab (SDL), and retired Assistant Director with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).   Listen as Director Berrett describes his early career with the CIA, his time directing the President's Daily Brief (PDB), and the relationship between Space Dynamics Lab and the Department of Defense.   How do universities cooperate with the U.S. Government to provide critical research and development? What is the Center for Anticipatory Intelligence (CAI)? In what ways has the President's Daily Brief (PDB) evolved over time? Learn all this, and more, in this episode of In the Interest of National Security.

Our guest this week is Dr. Jared Pendleton, a Civil Service officer with the U.S. Department of State and an adjunct professor at Utah Valley University's Center for National Security Studies. Listen as Dr. Pendleton discusses graduate school in Southern California, his time as a political officer in the foreign service, and language training at the Foreign Service Institute (FSI).    What is the mission of the Department of State? How does the State Department support National Security through international relationship building? How do U.S. diplomats fulfill their mission through embracing ongoing technological developments? What can students do to prepare themselves to be future representatives of U.S. diplomacy? Learn all this, and more, in this episode of In the Interest of National Security. 

Listen as Professor Greg Jackson, Senior Fellow at the Center for National Security Studies and host of the podcast, History that Doesn't Suck, discusses the historical context behind the conflict between Israel and Hamas.    How did European colonialism set the stage for decades of violence in the region? How does the conflict reflect wider international tensions? Will the U.S. response and support of Israel help to deescalate the situation? Learn all this, and more, in this episode of In the Interest of National Security. Check out Dr. Jacksons podcast at: https://www.htdspodcast.com/

Listen as Dr. Eric Hyer, retired professor of political science and Coordinator of Asian Studies at the David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies at Brigham Young University, discusses his time studying in Taiwan, experience with the foreign service, research regarding Chinese border disputes, and thoughts on political leadership in China.    How does the One China Policy maintain peace on both sides of the Taiwan Strait? How can the U.S. avoid war with China amid rising tensions and worsening relations? How does President Xi Jinping's leadership of the Chinese Communist Party compare with Chairman Mao Zedong? Learn all this, and more, in this episode of In the Interest of National Security.  

Listen as Maggie Hutchens and Ethan Morse, seniors in the National Security Studies Program at Utah Valley University (UVU), share their experiences studying national security at UVU and competing in the Atlantic Council's Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge. How does the Center for National Security Studies (CNSS) prepare students to apply practical skills in the professional field? What is the makeup of CNSS's cyber team—the W0LV3R1NES? How do the W0LV3R1NES compete with graduate students from prestigious universities and academies in the Cyber 9/12 competition? How can students become involved in international cyber competitions? Learn all this, and more, in this episode of In the Interest of National Security.

Listen as Professor Gordon Flake, CEO of the Perth USAsia Centre, shares experiences from his career working with think tanks, attending global diplomatic conferences, and establishing a center for studying relations between Australia, Asia, and the U.S. How does Australia act as a fulcrum for U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy? Which global partners does Australia rely on for national security? Which Asian countries can support a free and open Indo-Pacific? Learn all this, and more, in this episode of In the Interest of National Security.

Listen as Rachael Hutchings, Deputy Director of the Center for National Security Studies at Utah Valley University (UVU), walks us through her career path–from law school in Tennessee to the Japan Energy Law Institute in Tokyo to the Center for National Security Studies at UVU–and discusses nuclear energy in a national security context. How can a legal education equip students to succeed in national security careers? In what ways do nuclear energy issues impact American national and global security? And, why is a basic understanding of STEM so valuable for national security professionals when dealing with nuclear and other similar issues? Learn all this, and more, in this episode of In the Interest of National Security.

Listen as Dr. Jeannie Johnson, Founding Director of the Center for Anticipatory Intelligence (CAI) at Utah State University (USU), draws from her experience at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Department of State (DOS) to explain and illustrate the concepts of Anticipatory Intelligence and Strategic Culture. What is "Anticipatory Intelligence" and how does it complement traditional forms of intelligence analysis? What is "Strategic Culture" and why is its importance too often underemphasized in the U.S. government? And, how can students from all backgrounds and disciplines benefit from CAI's unique Anticipatory Intelligence programs? Learn all this, and more, in this episode of In the Interest of National Security.

Listen as Alan Fuller, Chief Information Officer for the State of Utah, and Phil Bates, Chief Information Security Officer with the Utah Department of Technology Services, discuss the opportunities and challenges posed by advancing technology. How have advances in technology both positively and negatively impacted Utah and its citizens? How does the Utah state government combat cybercrime targeting both itself and Utah's private industry? What is Self-Sovereign Identity, and why is it a promising solution to modern issues of online privacy and identity verification? Learn all this, and more, in this episode of In the Interest of National Security.

Listen as Professor Rob Flores shares insights from his military intelligence work in Afghanistan, lessons learned from his time as a liaison officer and all-source analyst at the DIA, and the importance of academia in national security. How did U.S. military intelligence evolve in Afghanistan after 9/11? Why does the DIA engage in defense diplomacy and strategic analysis? And how does the unique focus on theory and practice in UVU's National Security Studies program help prepare future intelligence analysts to see issues holistically? Learn all this, and more, in this episode of In the Interest of National Security.

Listen as Tyson Woodruff – Managing Director at PwC, former CIA operations officer, and former FBI special agent – draws from his unique career in both the federal government and the private sector to share valuable perspectives on different areas of national security work. How do the missions, methods, and people of the FBI and CIA differ, and in what ways are they the same? Why is integrity an essential attribute for being a successful intelligence officer? And how do the public and private sectors collaborate to mitigate economic threats from the Chinese government? Learn all this and more in this episode of In the Interest of National Security.

Listen as Brandon Amacher, Director of the Emerging Tech Policy Lab, discusses his background and role in leading EMTECH as part of Utah's Intermountain Intelligence, Industry, and Security Consortium (I3SC). What necessary services do I3SC and the EMTECH lab provide to Utah's public and private sectors? How do people of all backgrounds, both technical and not, contribute to cyber security? And how have students become policy consultants for Utah's burgeoning Silicon Slopes community? Learn all this and more in this episode of In the Interest of National Security.

Listen as Mary Kent, Director of UVU's own Open-Source Intelligence Center, explains how she uses open-source intelligence in support of law enforcement and national security. What is unique about open-source intelligence and how it is collected? In what ways has open-source changed the national security playbook? And how does open-source empower analysts to use criminals' own methods against them? Learn all this and more in this episode of In the Interest of National Security.

Listen as Professor Eric Talbot Jensen discusses how international law applies to cyber conflicts and cyber warfare, speaking from his experience writing international cyber policy. What role does law play in the world of cyber warfare? How do nations regulate cyber warfare and cyber crime? And does international law hold cyber actors accountable for their actions? Learn all this and more in this episode of In the Interest of National Security.

Listen as Professor Mike Smidt shares his experience serving as a Judge Advocate in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps. What kind of work do military attorneys do, both in the courtroom and on the battlefield? From what source does the United States Armed Forces derive legal authority to conduct war? What makes the U.S. military unique in how it is constructed and how it operates within the Rule of Law? Learn all this and more in this episode of In the Interest of National Security.

Listen as our hosts, Director Ryan Vogel and Professor Jonathan Rudd, discuss their careers in national security and the National Security Studies (NSS) program at Utah Valley University (UVU). How did a Pentagon Policy Analyst end up starting the NSS program at UVU after his time in Washington D.C.? What is the FBI's Hogan's Alley and what lessons can it teach UVU students in the classroom? And how have decades of national security work helped to prepare students to experience the same? Learn all this and more in this episode of In the Interest of National Security.

Listen as Scott DeAngelo shares insights and experiences from his career as a CIA Intelligence Analyst. What role does leadership analysis play in assisting policymakers when dealing with their foreign counterparts? What forecasts can be made about the future of Afghanistan, especially now that the US has withdrawn? And how did a self-described "vagabond undergraduate" end up at the CIA, and how can students today start similar careers? Learn all this and more in this episode of In the Interest of National Security. 

Listen as Dr. Frederick White draws upon his experience as a Russia Area Specialist to share his insights into Russian language and culture. What does the word "democracy" mean to Russia? What is the shared history between Russia and Ukraine? And why did the Soviet Union like Ernest Hemingway so much? Learn all this and more in this episode of In the Interest of National Security.