David Oakley

The Global and National Security Institute provides actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decisionmakers at the local, state, national, and global level, focused on the intersection of security policy and technology.

The University of South Florida’s Global and National Security Institute (GNSI) brings scholars, students, policymakers, and practitioners together to tackle the most pressing security challenges of our time. Anchored in rigorous, policy-relevant research and real-world collaboration, GNSI’s research spans the full spectrum from emerging technologies and strategic competition to the interplay of military and society, the resilience of governance, practitioner education, and the evolving role of intelligence. By integrating interdisciplinary expertise with practitioner partnerships across academia, government, industry, and civil society, the Institute delivers actionable insights that informs decision-making and advance security in ways consistent with democratic values.

The Technology & Policy Research Area of Focus considers the evolution of technological and scientific progress as it relates to U.S. polices, economic competitiveness, and national security. This includes studying the bidirectional relationship between technological advancements to address societal problems and the ethical considerations surrounding their development. Current topics in this area of focus being researched include quantum information science technologies (QIST), AI/ML, advanced nuclear reactors, and marine critical minerals.  Contact: Dr. Linda Nhon at nhonlinda@usf.edu.

The Strategic Competition Research Area of Focus examines how global and regional powers interact to shape political, security, and economic landscapes. These studies focus on the interplay between great powers and regional actors, highlighting both cooperation and rivalry across overlapping spheres of influence. Current research pays particular attention to how Russia and Middle Eastern states pursue their independent and shared objectives, including the use of alliances, proxy networks, and diplomatic initiatives to influence regional order. Understanding these dynamics provides insight into the broader patterns of strategic competition that define the international system and informs how states navigate the balance between conflict, cooperation, and resilience. Contact: is Dr. Arman Mahmoudian at armanm@usf.edu.

The Military & Society Research Area of Focus aims at dissecting at analyzing the multiple points of intersection between civilian society and the military, military service, and conflict, particularly via the institutions. It seeks to understand what is the meaning of military service for national communities and its direct impact on society, ranging from economic benefits to social prestige; to determine the proper degree of civilian oversight over the military; to assess the ability for civilian society and the industry to mobilize in support of the armed forces in case of war or national emergency; to define how governmental institutions manage and organize the relationship between civilian society and the military, from a budgetary point of view to military recruitment. Contact: Dr. Guido Rossi at guidorossi@usf.edu.

The Resilience and Resistance Research Area of Focus investigates the robustness of current governance frameworks within a state and the capacity for resistance against dominant governance models. Understanding the resilience of both state and societal structures, along with recognizing and evaluating domestic resistance to these frameworks, is essential for grasping the broader human context required to understand intrastate conflict, as well as internationalized intrastate conflict. These data-centric studies enable democratic states and progressive institutions to enhance human security in situations where it is jeopardized – whether by authoritarian regimes or insufficient governance. Contact: Dr. Robert Burrell at robertburrell@usf.edu.

The Educating the Practitioner Research Area of Focus is closely linked to the initiative of the same name which focuses on preparing both current and future national security professionals to navigate complex challenges. As a research area, Educating the Practitioner considers issues such as—What education do practitioners require for success in the current and future strategic environment? How should education be incorporated in career development? What are effective pedagogical approaches for educating practitioners? Much of the research is done collaboratively with practitioners, scholars, and other institutions focused on educating practitioners. Current collaborative research projects GNSI is involved in are—a Routledge Press handbook on Professional Military Education, an Intelligence and National Security journal special issue on educating intelligence professionals, and a Military Review special series on educating military practitioners. Contact:  Dr. David P. Oakley at davidpoakley@usf.edu.

The Intelligence Research Area of Focus examines how intelligence shapes strategy, security, and human affairs with particular attention to the United States. As a secret instrument of statecraft, intelligence has always been a feature of geopolitical conflict and competition, but its role is poised to grow as a product of the current international environment. Intelligence also poses profound challenges to representative democracy and civil liberties. Emergent technology, harnessed by both state and non-state actors for intelligence purposes, is further complicating the historical relationship between intelligence, state, and society. Understanding these broad themes is essential for policy-oriented rsearch that will address key tensions in civil-intelligence relations in the twenty-first century. Contact: Dr. Jeffrey Rogg at jrogg@usf.edu.