Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you!

In this episode of the At the Boundary podcast, Dr. Guido Rossi speaks with Dr. Peter Mansoor, a professor and the General Raymond E. Mason Jr. Chair in Military History at The Ohio State University. Their conversation delves into counterinsurgency warfare and preparing the American military for future threats. 

Mansoor opens with the state of U.S. counterinsurgency doctrine, referencing Field Manual 23-4 and the foundations of counterinsurgency warfare, such as population persuasion. He notes that the wars between Ukraine and Russia and between Israel and Palestine do not qualify as counterinsurgencies and warns of the potential for larger scale hybrid conflicts in the United States’ future. He argues that the American military needs to stay educated and trained in counterinsurgency warfare, as well as continue to evolve its strategy to include drone warfare. In the future, NATO and Pacific allyship will be crucial for countering China and Russia should they decide to pursue a large-scale conflict against Taiwan or Europe, respectively.  

At the Boundary from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida, features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.

A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus.

The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.

Look for our other publications and products on our website publications page.

Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you!

In this episode of the At the Boundary podcast, Dr. Tad Schnaufer moderates a panel discussion on key insights from the 2025 Cyber Bay Conference. Joining him are Dr. Linda Nhon, Resident Fellow at GNSI; Dr. George Burress, Professor and Chair of the Department of Criminology at the University of South Florida; and Chris Hunter, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer at IWP Family Office.

The panel took a broad look at cyber security, especially as it relates to national security, and emphasized the need to create a stronger knowledge of cyber preparedness in case of malicious attacks on critical infrastructure. Examples of past cyber-attack incidents, such as with the Salt Typhoon and Vault Typhoon groups from China, and Sandworm from Russia, gave insight into how both cyber and physical vulnerabilities can be exploited by hostile actors. Currently, most critical infrastructure in the U.S. is not prepared for a large-scale attack or grid shutdown.

As the world becomes more integrated, the panel underscored how modern tech can be exploited to take advantage of the individual user, a company, or even the government. The individual needs to be educated on how cybercrimes can affect their personal lives, and the broader community needs a plan of action for when a cyber-attack may cause a grid shutdown.

Links from the episode:

• Tampa Summit 6: Nuclear Weapons in Modern Warfare 

• Axis of Resistance Episode 8: General (ret) Frank McKenzie Interview

At the Boundary from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida, features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.

A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus.

The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.

Look for our other publications and products on our website publications page.

Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you!

In this episode of the At the Boundary podcast, GNSI’s Senior Director, Jim Cardoso, interviewed Fabio van Loon about his latest publication on the topic of the pitfalls and challenges of U.S. foreign policy, specifically with interagency coordination.  

Fabio explained his paper’s focus on three different presidents and their national security advisors, from Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger to Jimmy Carter and Zbigniew Brzezinski, and George W. Bush and Condoleezza Rice. He homed in on the major security and foreign policy decisions of their terms and shared that clear interagency coordination is foundational for a country and its agencies to be successful in their missions.  Some challenges to coordination may be conflicting personalities and disunity in command. 

The author also explained the challenges that come with managing wars, such as in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and how both the CORDS and Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) programs aided or hindered strategic efforts. Towards the end of the episode, he highlighted three solutions for interagency disjunction and reiterated the importance of operational unity within government agencies. 

Links from the episode:

• Florida Security Forum: Port and Maritime Security Registration

• “Trickle-Down Coordination: The National Security Advisor’s Role as the Strategic and Operational Planner of the DoD-DoS Interagency Relationship” by Fabio S. van Loon

• Axis of Resistance Episode 8: General (ret) Frank McKenzie Interview 

At the Boundary from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida, features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.

A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus.

The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.

Look for our other publications and products on our website publications page.

Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you!

In this episode of the At the Boundary podcast, Dr. Tad Schnaufer was joined by Lt Col. John "JAY" Patrich to talk about the need for innovation when it comes to strategic drone attacks, with a focus on the context of the Russia-Ukraine war, and in light of Lt Col Patrich’s recent decision brief on drone warfare. 

Lt Col Patrich dove into the need for creativity and innovation of drones to achieve air superiority or air denial, particularly within the air littoral space. The vast array of drones (in size and capability) lends itself to making progress with innovative research that could change the approach of irregular warfare. The rapid evolution in how Russia and Ukraine have been using drones in combat was a key topic, as were possible future near-peer conflicts and their potential to push drone innovation in a new direction.  
  
 To round out the conversation, they explored the necessity of policies to guide drone uses, and the necessity of drone education for those within the government and military who are tasked with acquiring and maintaining the drones. 

Links from the episode:

• Register for the Florida Security Forum: Port and Maritime Security

• Port Security Interview with Port Tampa CEO, Paul Anderson 

• What Can WWII Teach Us About Future Conflicts with China? GNSI Research Initiative with guest Dr. Craig Symonds

At the Boundary from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida, features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.

A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus.

The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.

Look for our other publications and products on our website publications page.

Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you!

In this episode of GNSI’s “At the Boundary” podcast, USF’s Dr. Robert Burrell is joined by authors Dr. Zacharias Pieri and Dr. Kevin Fridy to discuss their new book, Governance, Grievance, and Violent Extremism in West Africa:From the Caliphates to Great Power Competition. The conversation explores how local governance, resource competition, and regional instability shape violent extremism in West Africa, with a focus on Mali, Burkina Faso, and Ghana.

Together, they unpack:

·       How governance failures fuel extremist movements across the Sahel

·       The lingering effects of colonial and pre-colonial systems on modern governance

·       The role of natural resources and external powers in local conflict

·       How the United States and international actors can more effectively engage at the local level

🎙️ Recorded at the University of South Florida, this episode offers vital insights into one of the world’s most complex and consequential security challenges.

Links from the episode:

• Register for the Florida Security Forum: Port and Maritime Security

• “Governance, Grievance, and Violent Extremism in West Africa: From the Caliphates to Great Power Competition” by Zacharias P. Pieri and Kevin S. Fridy

• “Disarming Hezbollah: Challenges and Opportunities in the Pursuit of a Regional Settlement” Decision Brief by Mohamed Nabil El-Bendary

• Check out the GNSI Official Youtube Channel!

At the Boundary from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida, features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.

A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus.

The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.

Look for our other publications and products on our website publications page.

Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you!

In this episode of the At the Boundary podcast, GNSI’s Senior Director, Jim Cardoso, led a panel discussion on the JSS article, “Detecting Drone Threats at Stadiums and Public Venues: Overview, Operational Considerations, and Technical Implementation.” Joining him were the article’s authors: Nathan Jones, associate professor of security studies in the College of Criminal Justice at Sam Houston State University; John Sullivan, a retired career police officer and an instructor in the Safe Communities Institute at the University of Southern California; and George Javis Jr., a specialist in geospatial information systems and geospatial intelligence.

The discussion focused on the use of drones as a national security threat, both present and future, to public stadiums and other large venues. The authors detailed the range of drone technologies and its expanding development, and how the United States legal system and law enforcement are not currently prepared to regulate drone usage in the way that is necessary for public safety.

Current and future concerns about the potential for drones to be used maliciously were also explored. The authors cited the 2021 Astroworld tragedy as a case study to examine how similar situations occur under a drone-based terrorist attack.

Main points discussed:

• Emerging drone threats to public events and large venues.
• Legal gaps in drone regulation and how law enforcement agencies and security professionals should respond.
• Current and emerging concerns tied to the evolving capabilities and variety of drone swarm technology and the expanding array of unmanned aerial systems (UAS).

Links from the episode:

• “Detecting Drone Threats at Stadiums and Public Venues: Overview, Operational Considerations, and Technical Implementation” JSS article

• “Urban Operations: War, Crime and Conflict” by
John P. Sullivan, Nathan P. Jones, and Daniel Weisz Argomedo

• Register for the Florida Security Forum: Port and Maritime Security

At the Boundary from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida, features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.

A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus.

The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.

Look for our other publications and products on our website publications page.

Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you!

In this “At the Boundary” podcast, GNSI Academic Director David Oakley, PhD, spoke with two students from the University of South Florida selected to attend the 2025 ISI Programme: May Birch and Kyle Rudd.

Throughout the episode, Birch and Rudd, who are both members of USF’s Future Strategist Program, share their experiences over the summer. They discuss exclusive networking opportunities and insight into intelligence and security careers unknown to them beforehand. The students also noted the wealth of first hand experiences shared by distinguished experts from around the globe. Not to mention the scenic Cambridge University campus and surrounding landscape.

The five week trip is part of a partnership between GNSI and The International Security and Intelligence Programme presented by the Cambridge Security Initiative & The Department of War Studies. GNSI is determined to support this and other student initiatives to better prepare the next generation of security practitioners. 

For more information about The International Security and Intelligence Programme at Cambridge University, please check their website in the links below.

Links from the episode:

• Cyber Beacon 2025 registration here!

• Register for the Florida Security Forum: Port and Maritime Security

• More information about The International Security and Intelligence Programme at Cambridge University

At the Boundary from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida, features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.

A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus.

The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.

Look for our other publications and products on our website publications page.

Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you!

In this episode of GNSI’s At the Boundarypodcast, Research Fellow Dr. Guido Rossi and war studies specialist Dr. Matthew Ford to unpack one of the U.S. Army’s most consequential decisions: replacing the standard-issue M4 with the new M7 rifle. At the heart of the debate is the shift from 5.56mm to 6.8mm ammunition—and the controversy over reduced magazine capacity.

Together, they explore the trade-offs between combat effectiveness, soldier burden, and cost, while assessing how this change could reshape NATO standardization and global small arms policy. What does this decision mean for U.S. influence, allied forces, and the future battlefield? And is the Army truly ready for the operational and logistical challenges that come with the switch?

From military history to weapons innovation, this episode offers insights into the intersection of technology, policy, and strategy in modern warfare. Perfect for listeners interested in defense policy, small arms development, and the future of U.S. military power.

At the Boundary from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida, features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.

A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus.

The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.

Look for our other publications and products on our website publications page.

Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you!

🎙️ At the Boundary reaches its 100th episode with a critical conversation on one of the fastest-growing threats in modern warfare: drones. Host Jim Cardoso is joined by Dr. Stacie Pettyjohn and Molly Campbell to explore why the U.S. must urgently rethink its counter-drone strategies—before it’s too late.

From the looming risk of a Taiwan conflict to the rise of low-cost Chinese drones, this episode examines:

• Why expensive missile defenses are unsustainable against cheap drone swarms
• The need for layered defenses and operational resilience
• The role of sensors, directed energy weapons, and low-cost interceptors

If you care about national security, emerging military technology, or the U.S.’s ability to compete in great power conflict, this episode is a must-listen.

📍 Recorded at the University of South Florida’s Global and National Security Institute (GNSI) in Tampa, Florida.

Links from the episode:

• Register for CyberBay Here!

• Countering the Swarm: Protecting the Joint Force in the Drone Age

At the Boundary from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida, features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.

A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus.

The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.

Look for our other publications and products on our website publications page.

Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you!

Are America's Transformers the Weak Link in National Security?
 
 In this episode of the At the Boundary podcast, GNSI’s Lt Col John "JAY" Patrich, an MQ-9 pilot and National Security Research Fellow at the GNSI, sits down with Jesse Humpal, Ph.D., an Air Force officer currently serving in the Chief of Staff of the Air Force’s Strategic Studies Group. Their discussion centers on Humpal’s recent article “Transformer Trouble and the National Security Imperative.” 
 
This episode looks at America’s transformer infrastructure vulnerabilities—whether due to age, or the fact that they’re not set up to handle emerging technologies such as data centers, electric vehicles and AI powered machinery. These structures are vulnerable to both cyber and kinetic attacks, from both foreign adversaries and domestic extremists.

Transformer failures can impact tens of thousands of people, and with most military bases relying on local power, sustained blackouts could have disastrous consequences.

Listen to hear what Humpal thinks needs to be done to make this outdated and aging infrastructure more resilient and how we might prepare for the next attack.

Links from the episode:

• Register for CyberBay Here!

• Register for a webinar on irregular warfare with Dr. Rob Burrell and Chris Mason! (Closed)

• Cyber Florida’s “The Making of a Defender” Documentary Premiere

• “Governance, Grievance, and Violent Extremism in West Africa: From the Caliphates to Great Power Competition” – by Zacharias P. Pieri and Kevin S. Fridy

At the Boundary from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida, features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.

A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus.

The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.

Look for our other publications and products on our website publications page.