Erick Miyares — a retired Special Operations soldier who began his journey in the U.S. Marine Corps and went on to serve in the Army’s 7th Special Forces Group and an Army Special Missions Unit under U.S. SOCOM.
Dr. Erick Miyares is a Doctoral Chair and Dissertation Committee Member in Cyberpsychology and Forensic Cyberpsychology at Capitol Technology University. He is a Cyber Behavior Scientist and Cyberpsychology Researcher with a distinguished background spanning national security, intelligence, and applied behavioral science. He serves as a Doctoral Chair and Dissertation Committee Member in the Cyberpsychology program at Capitol Technology University, where he mentors Ph.D. candidates in Cyberpsychology and Forensic Cyberpsychology and supports interdisciplinary doctoral research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and digital behavior.
Dr. Miyares holds a Ph.D. in Cyberpsychology from Capitol Technology University. His doctoral research, Operational Cyberpsychology: Support to Cyberspace Operations, examined the cognitive and psychological impacts of sustained engagement in high-consequence cyber environments. His work introduced original constructs, including Cyberspace Operator Syndrome and Cognitive Cyberpresence, contributing to the emerging field of Operational Cyberpsychology. His research was supported by the highly competitive National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship, and he is a Pat Tillman Scholar, reflecting a commitment to leadership, service, and academic excellence.
Professionally, Dr. Miyares serves as a Senior Cyber Threat Subject Matter Expert supporting the Department of Defense Insider Threat Management & Analysis Center’s Behavioral Threat Analysis Center (BTAC). His applied work focuses on cyber behavior analysis, insider threat risk, and human–AI interaction, with particular attention to the national security implications of AI companions and emotionally responsive artificial agents. He integrates cyberpsychology, cybersecurity, and intelligence tradecraft to assess behavioral risk across complex socio-technical systems.
Dr. Miyares brings 29 years of service in the United States Marine Corps and U.S. Army, including extensive experience supporting special operations and intelligence missions across cyberspace operations, signals intelligence, open-source intelligence, and human intelligence environments. This operational background informs his approach to cyberpsychology as both a scientific discipline and a practical capability.
In addition to his academic and operational roles, Dr. Miyares serves on the Editorial Board of Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking and is a featured contributor to the forthcoming academic volume Building a Career in Cyberpsychology. He is actively engaged with international cyberpsychology research groups and remains a regular participant in the annual Cyberpsychology, Cybertherapy, and Social Networking conferences, where he presented his doctoral research at the 28th international conference in Australia.
Dr. Miyares is a member of the International Association of CyberPsychology, Training & Rehabilitation (iACToR), the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals (ATAP), and the Military Cyber Professionals Association. Grounded in the Tillman Scholar ethos of service beyond self, he is committed to advancing rigorous, ethical, and evidence-based cyberpsychology research while mentoring the next generation of scholars and practitioners.
Dr. Miyares brings 29 years of combined service in the United States Marine Corps and U.S. Army, including 23 years supporting special operations and intelligence missions. His experience spans tactical-to-strategic environments and multiple intelligence disciplines, including signals intelligence (SIGINT), computer network operations (CNO), open-source intelligence (OSINT), and human intelligence (HUMINT). Across his career, he led sensitive, high-risk mission planning and execution; developed and integrated advanced technical capabilities; and served in senior advisory roles focused on innovation, operational planning, and workforce readiness.
He also held senior leadership positions within U.S. Army Special Operations Command supporting capability development and modernization, overseeing specialized portfolios across ISR, SIGINT, HUMINT, CNO, GEOINT, and special communications, including management of significant RDT&E and procurement resources. His service was recognized with numerous awards, including the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and the LTC Arthur D. Nicholson Award for intelligence excellence.