Our guest for this episode is Nico Dekens, a veteran practitioner of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), cyber intelligence, and online investigations with 20+ years in Dutch law enforcement as an all-source intelligence analyst. 

 Now the owner of Dutch OSINT Guy Intelligence Services and Director of Intelligence & Collection Innovation at ShadowDragon, Dekens is widely known in the OSINT community as @Dutch_OsintGuy and as a co-founder of OSINTCurio.us. 

 He has trained thousands of government personnel, helped stand up OSINT units, and is recognized for blending operational experience with hands-on instruction as a SANS Instructor and Lead Author. 

In this interview, we focus on how OSINT is being operationalized, how analysts should think about trust and ethics in anonymous digital environments, and how emerging threats like AI-enabled manipulation are changing verification standards. 

Listen as Mr. Dekens digs into collection innovation and what’s actually changing at the tools-and-methods level and where Dekens thinks OSINT is headed strategically for government and security stakeholders. 

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

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

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.