Dr. Shane McNeil is a national security scholar and practitioner specializing in strategy, counterintelligence, and the philosophical foundations of American statecraft. He completed his Doctor of Statecraft and National Security at the Institute of World Politics in February 2026, where his research focused on strategic competition, counterintelligence as a warfighting function, and the defense of the “Idea of America” in an era of great-power rivalry.

At SRPI, Dr. McNeil leads strategic research initiatives, mentors graduate and undergraduate researchers, hosts the Common Ground podcast, and serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Sentinel Journal. His work emphasizes whole-of-society approaches to counterintelligence, strategic competition with China, and the preservation of American legitimacy and moral leadership in global affairs.

Dr. McNeil previously served in senior counterintelligence and policy roles within the defense and intelligence community, including as Counterintelligence Policy Advisor on the Joint Staff. His career also included operational assignments overseas and leadership positions in counterintelligence instruction, policy reform, and strategic planning.

He holds a Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology from the University of North Dakota and a Graduate Certificate in Executive Public Policy from Liberty University. His publications appear in the American Intelligence Journal, the Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, USNI Proceedings, Small Wars Journal, and other national security forums.

Logan Boatfield serves as Vice President and Vice Chairman of the Board of the Sentinel Research & Policy Institute. As Director of Institutional Strategy, he leads SRPI’s organizational development, partnership strategy, and long-term institutional planning.

Lamia Zia is an academic and researcher with over a decade of experience in international and digital communication. She is an affiliate member of the Artificial Intelligence Interdisciplinary Institute at Maryland (AIM) and a lecturer in the Communication Department at the University of Maryland.

Her research focuses on the role of emerging technologies in national security, public diplomacy, digital communication, social media, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. She has also served as a senior fellow at Texas Tech University’s Institute of Peace and Conflict, examining how iconic visuals influence peace and conflict narratives in South Asia.

Her academic work spans venues including the USC Center on Public Diplomacy, where she has published on soft power, digital statecraft, and contextual diplomacy. Her international experiences across London, Japan, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Germany, Pakistan, and elsewhere have profoundly shaped her approach to digital communication and national security.

Andrew Rolander is an expert in irregular warfare and strategic competition. As Director of Applied Research, he leads SRPI’s research projects and external scholarship efforts.

His published work spans irregular warfare at sea, Arctic strategy, U.S. Marine Corps force design, undersea infrastructure security, and the institutional features that shape American irregular warfare capacity. His articles appear in Small Wars Journal, The Strategist (ASPI), Modern War Institute at West Point, and the USC Center on Public Diplomacy.

Carla Renner is an M.A. candidate at The Institute of World Politics, pursuing a degree in Strategic Intelligence Studies. With over eight years of experience in international healthcare and global network management, she brings extensive research experience and strategic analysis to national security topics.

Carla specializes in trans-Atlantic affairs, counterintelligence threats, and Asia-Pacific relations. As Director of Strategic Initiatives, she leads SRPI’s operational structure, governance documentation, and research project coordination — including her role as Graduate Student Research Associate on the Targeting Minds OSINT database project.

Kyle D. Johnson is a U.S. Army veteran and senior government leader with more than 20 years of distinguished public service across the executive and legislative branches. He has served as chief of staff and senior advisor to elected officials at the local, state, and national levels, leading strategic communications, interagency collaboration, and executive operations to strengthen accountability and advance mission success.

He currently serves as chief of staff at a federal agency while pursuing a Doctorate in Statecraft and National Security at the Institute of World Politics. As SRPI’s Director of Strategic Policy and Government Engagement, he leads the Institute’s efforts to connect its research with defense and policy stakeholders.

Lucy Mathews is a Project Manager on the International Research, Data, and Technology Security Team at CRDF Global and a Master’s candidate in Statecraft and National Security Affairs at the Institute of World Politics. She leads international capacity-building programs to counter threats posed by the misuse of emerging technologies and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

With a background in emergency response, she brings a strategic approach to security challenges, combining research, policy, and operational planning to safeguard U.S. national security interests. As Director of Academic Programs, she oversees SRPI’s chapter program, ambassador program, and academic partnerships.

Melissa “Missy” Juarbe-Pratt serves as Corporate Treasurer and Director of Academic Outreach and Intern Development at SRPI. She oversees the Institute’s volunteer and ambassador programs, managing the pipeline from intern cohorts to formal Ambassador designation and university outreach efforts.