Cna Talks

This episode examines a new CNA model that can help government officials optimally deploy unmanned systems, and how it overlaps with our existing tools. Guest Biographies Arpita Verma is an expert in optimization, modeling, and simulation in CNA's Data Science for Production Program. John Crissman is an expert in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and natural language processing in CNA's Center for Data Management Analytics. Rebekah Yang is an expert in artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) for FAA NextGen and a specialist in data visualization and modeling in CNA's Center for Data Management Analytics. Further Reading UAS Cooperative Airspace Traffic Simulation (UCATS) First Responder Awareness Monitoring during Emergencies (FRAME) 

This episode features a panel of CNA's own Gayatri Gopavajhala and Lizzy Schneider, data scientists, discussing their paths to being in their roles as data scientists at CNA. Guest Biographies Gayatri Gopavajhala is a Data Analyst in CNA's Data Science for Sustainment Program. Lizzy Schneider is a Research Analyst in CNA's Data Science for Production Program.     

In this episode, we explore how the war in Ukraine has impacted Russian military thought on combined arms operations, naval surface warfare, and air dominance operations. Guest Biographies Michael Petersen is a principal research scientist in CNA's Russia Studies Program. He is an expert on Russian military strategy, operations, and net assessments of high-intensity conflict. From 2023-2024, he served as senior advisor to Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti.  Paul Schwartz is a Senior Research Scientist with CNA's Russia Studies Program. Gabriela Iveliz Rosa-Hernandez is an Associate Research Analyst at the CNA Russia Studies Program. Her research centers on security orders, deterrence issues, and Russia's security policy, supplemented by her significant in-country experience living in Russia, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, and other countries in the region. Further Reading CNA Report: Russian Concepts of Future Warfare Based on Lessons from the Ukraine War  

In this episode, we discuss how the war in Ukraine has not altered Moscow’s threat perceptions, but amplified and reinforced them. Guest Biographies Gabriela Iveliz Rosa-Hernandez is an Associate Research Analyst at the CNA Russia Studies Program. Her research centers on security orders, deterrence issues, and Russia’s security policy, supplemented by her significant in-country experience living in Russia, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, and other countries in the region. Further Reading CNA Report: The Shooting Party: Russia's Evolving Threat Perceptions Since 2022  

This episode explores how the PRC is developing autonomous drone swarm technology for deployment during a potential military invasion of Taiwan. Guest Biographies Timothy Ditter is a senior research scientist in CNA’s China Studies Program. His work covers PLA amphibious warfare, China’s military modernization and expansion, China’s growing nuclear weapons program, and China’s nascent global military presence. Eleanor Harvey is a senior research secialist in CNA’s China Studies Program. Further Reading CNA Report: PRC Concepts for UAV Swarms in Future Warfare CNA InDepth: China Readies Drone Swarms for Future War

This episode discusses the benefits of drone as first responder (DFR) programs for police departments and public safety offices. Guest Biographies Officer J. “Matt” Rowland is a 20-year veteran of the Fort Wayne Police Department (FWPD) located in Fort Wayne, IN. He was a founding member of the FWPD Air Support Unit (ASU) in 2017. He spent 15 years in the Operations division and served 6 years during that time as a hostage negotiator. He is a certified instructor both in the classroom and emergency vehicle driving. Todd Withers is a 34-year veteran of law enforcement with the last 28 years at the Beverly Hills Police Department. He is currently a Lieutenant in charge of the Real Time Watch Center and UAS/ Drone program. He holds a Master of Science Degree from California State University, Long Beach in Emergency Services Administration and is a certified FAA Part 107 UAS Pilot. Don Redmond is a retired Chula Vista Police Captain with over 25 years in law enforcement and now serves as Vice President of Drone a

This episode covers CNA's latest research into technology competition between the US and the People’s Republic of China. Guest Biographies  April Herlevi is a senior research scientist in CNA’s China and Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Division.  Christopher Cairns is a research scientist in CNA’s China and Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Division. Further Reading Intersection Issue 15

This episode examines the political, military, and economic elements of the relationship between Russia and India. Guest Biographies Dmitry Gorenburg is a Senior Research Scientist in CNA’s Russia Studies Program. He is an expert on security issues in the former Soviet Union, the Russian military, Russian foreign policy, and ethnic politics and identity.  Jeffrey Kucik is a research scientist with CNA’s Strategy and Policy Analysis Program. Further Reading CNA Report — Russia-India Relations: Multipolarity in Practice

In this episode, our experts discuss the Navy’s effort to rebuild US shipbuilding and to integrate artificial intelligence and autonomous systems. Guest Biographies Joshua Tallis is CNA’s Hybrid Fleet Research Coordinator and our scientific analyst to the Chief of Naval Operations, a position he has occupied since the end of 2023.  Steven Wills is an expert in US Navy strategy and policy, and U.S. Navy surface warfare programs and platforms, and the Navalist for the Center for Maritime Strategy at the Navy League. Thank you both for being here. Further Reading Defense News: To bootstrap US maritime industrial base, link allies and innovators Center for Maritime Strategy: Returning from Ebb Tide: Renewing the United States Commercial Maritime Enterprise​

This episode explores how the Fairfax County 911 Center is using Next Generation 911 systems to better serve its jurisdiction. Guest Biographies Heleana Melendez is an expert in criminal justice research and policing. At CNA, Melendez supports projects focused on violence prevention, system improvement, crisis intervention and use of force for law enforcement agencies across the nation. Further Reading Fairfax County (Virginia) Department of Public Safety Communications: Next Generation 911

This episode covers the stability of Islamic Republic of Iran in the aftermath of the 12 Day War, and how the regime will adapt to its new reality. Guest Biographies Michael Connell is an expert in Persian-Gulf security-related issues, the armed forces of Iran, U.S.-GCC security cooperation, and adversary cyber policy and strategy. He has served as CNA's Field Analyst to Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT). Dov Zakheim a Senior Fellow at CNA and the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He served as Undersecretary of Defense from 2001-2004. Further Reading CNA Report: The Nuclear Programs of Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran CNA Report: The Evolving Russia-Iran Relationship CNA InDepth: Russia and China Respond—or Don’t—to the 12-Day War in Iran CNA Talks: Syria After Assad

We examine efforts to prevent the spread of resporitory viruses in America’s jails and prisons and what practices were identified from this experience.    Guest Biographies NhuNgoc Pham is a research scientist with CNA’s Center for Public Health Preparedness and Resilience. Jim Alexander is a senior advisor with CNA’s Center for Justice Research and Innovation. Darren Sieger is the Director of the Administration Broward Sheriff’s Office and has helped correctional facilities implement steps to mitigate respiratory viruses. Further Reading Bueru of Justice Assitance: Planning for Respiratory Pathogen Pandemics A Guidebook for Corrections Systems and Confinement Facilities  

We examine what happened in South Korea’s snap election and its implications for South Korea’s relations with the US, Japan, China, Russia, and North Korea. Guest Biographies Dr. Thomas Bickford is a principal research scientist in the CNA Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Program. His research has focused on Chinese maritime strategy, Chinese national security policy, and China’s relations with its neighbors. Carita Reid is the Research Assistant for the China and Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Division. Her research focuses on the Korean peninsula, and she is interested in the domestic environment of both Koreas, nuclear proliferation, democratization efforts, and human rights. Further Reading CNA Talks — South Korea: Martial Law and President Yoon’s Impeachment  

We cover the recent conflict between India and Pakistan, why they were able to desescalate so quickly, and what this tells us about nuclear deterrence and escalation.  Guest Biographies Stephanie Stapleton is a Research Scientist with CNA’s Strategy and Policy Analysis Program. She is an expert in nuclear policy and strategic deterrence, with a focus on strategic competition within the emerging two-near-peer security environment. Decker Evelth is an Associate Research Analyst with CNA’s Countering Threats and Challenges Program. He specializes in open-source analysis.  Further Reading CNA: Nuclear Research  

Two CNA field analysts discuss their work assisting operations to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.  Guest Biographies Dr. Keith Zirkle is a research scientist in CNA’s Fleet Operations and Assessments Program. He is CNA’s field representative at Naval Forces Central Command.  Kevin O'Connell is a research analyst in CNA’s Fleet Operations and Assessments Program. He is currently CNA’s field representative to Commander, Seventh Fleet, but he deployed with Carrier Strike Group 2 during the Red Sea crisis.  Further Reading CNA Field Program    

This episode examines what DeepSeek’s AI model tells us about China’s AI ecosystem, military applications for this technology, and other developments in China’s high-tech sector.  Guest Biographies  April Herlevi is a senior research scientist in CNA’s China and Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Division.  Christopher Cairns is a research scientist in CNA’s China and Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Division. Further Reading Intersections: Issue 13  To subscribe to Intersections, email Intersections@cna.org.  

Dmitry Gorenburg, winner of this year’s Trustees Award, joins the show to discuss his 20-year career at CNA and how the study of Russia has changed during that time.    Guest Biography  Dmitry Gorenburg is a Senior Research Scientist in CNA’s Russia Studies Program. He is an expert on security issues in the former Soviet Union, the Russian military, Russian foreign policy, and ethnic politics and identity. His recent research has focused on decision-making processes in the senior Russian leadership, Russia’s relationship with China, Russian naval strategy, and Russian influence operations. Further Reading News Release: CNA Trustees Award Presented to Dmitry Gorenburg CNA Report: Russian Military Mobilization During the Ukraine War CNA Report: Crafting the Russian War Economy

This episode examines how uncrewed systems have been used in the Ukraine war and how the US can use this information to develop countermeasures.  Guest Biographies Samuel Bendett is an advisor with CNA’s Russia Studies Program. His research focuses on Russian defense and technology developments; uncrewed, robotic, and autonomous military systems; artificial intelligence; and Russian military capabilities. His analysis of Russia’s war against Ukraine has appeared in globally read news outlets such as VICE and The Washington Post.   Michael Petersen is a principal research scientist in CNA's Russia Studies Program. He is an expert on Russian military strategy, operations, and net assessments of high-intensity conflict. From 2023-2024, he served as senior advisor to Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti.  Further Reading CNA InDepth: Drones Over Ukraine CNA Report: Russia’s Use of Uncrewed Systems in Ukraine

This episode explores the political, military, and economic dimensions of the relationship between Russia and Iran.  Guest Biographies Dr. Elizabeth Wishnick is an expert on China-Russian relations, Chinese foreign policy, and Arctic strategy. At CNA, Wishnick contributes her dual regional expertise on China and Russia, including professional proficiency in both languages, to research and analyze Xi Jinping’s risk-taking, Sino-Russian military cooperation, China’s Arctic policy, and Chinese and Russian disinformation. She was part of a team that won CNA’s CEO Teamwork Award for Arctic research. Dr. Julian G. Waller is a Research Analyst in the Russia Studies Program at CNA and an applied analyst of Russian political-military affairs, elite strategic decision-making, adversary systems of governance and civil-military relations, and the politics of authoritarian rule and illiberal ideologies globally. Further Reading CNA Report: The Evolving Russia-Iran Relationship CNA Talks: Syria After Assad

Our partners from the FAA’s Center for Excellence’s ASSUREd Safe join the show to discuss integrating uncrewed aerial systems into the national airspace.  Guest Biographies BJ McClenton is the Associate Director of ASSUREd Safe, brings over 20 years of first responder and emergency service experience as a firefighter and emergency medical technician. Prior to joining ASSUREd Safe, he spent 15 years working with Mississippi State University Extension conducting adult education and outreach programs. Michelle Hanlon is the Executive Director of the Air and Space Law Program at the University of Mississippi. She is the Editor-in-Chief of both the Journal of Space Law and the Journal of Drone Law & Policy. As a key partner with ASSURE, the FAA’s Center of Excellence for UAS Research, Michelle drives advancements in drone policy, from airspace integration to beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations. Steven Habicht is the director of CNA’s Center for Enterprise Systems Modernization.  Further Reading CNA: Agent-