2019 Student Fellows

Francisco Badiola (“Cisco”) currently serves as the Deputy Director of Operations for Marine Corps Installations Command. He was previously a Program Manager with Headquarters Marine Corps working on the Marine Corps’ Pacific realignment. He served as a Marine on active duty for 8 years before transitioning to the civil service. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BA in Social Sciences from Chapman University and holds a MBA and MS in Finance from Webster University, MS in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University, and is a Certified Defense Financial Manager with Acquisition specialty. Cisco is currently a graduate student in the International Security program at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government.  

Jordan Cohen is a political science PhD student at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government. Additionally, he holds an M.A. in Middle East and Islamic Studies. His work has been featured in the National Interest and Jadaliyya. His research focuses on the Arab Gulf, international alliances, and oil politics.

Kristofer Garriott is pursuing his Master’s in Public Policy with an emphasis in national security at the Schar School of Policy and Government. Areas of interests include terrorism and the rise of great powers in the 21st century. A native of Virginia, Kris has lived in Panama and loves to travel to new places. He currently works as a contractor in the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division.

Faith Hawkins is a first year graduate student in International Security at the Schar School. Her research interests lie at the intersection between international security, human rights, and multilateral institutions.

George Hutchinson is a PhD student in Public Policy at the Schar School of Policy and Government and a Senior Regional Planner with SecuriFense, Inc. He has a bachelor’s degree in Asian Studies from the University of Maryland and a master’s degree in Logistics Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology. He previously served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force, specializing as a Northeast Asia Foreign Area Officer, Logistics Readiness Officer, and Korean linguist. He has published articles in the International Journal of Korean Studies, U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, and the Air Force Journal of Logistics, as well as reports by the Korea Economic Institute of America and Marine Corps University Press. George’s research interests include U.S. defense and foreign policy as they relate to Northeast Asian and the Korean Peninsula.

Voké Kalegha is a second-year graduate student, studying International Security at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government, with an emphasis on Intelligence. She is a recent graduate of Old Dominion University, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree – double majoring in Criminal Justice and Communications, with a certificate in Cybersecurity. Her interest focus on cyber security and intelligence technologies.

Courtney Kayser is a Ph.D. candidate in Political Science at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government. She has a Master’s degree from GMU in Political Science with a concentration in International Security and  graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Philosophy, a Certificate in Russian and East European Studies, and a minor in Russian language from Seton Hall University. She is proficient in Russian and French, and has an elementary proficiency in Ukrainian. Her research focuses on intrastate violence, civil war, and ethnic conflict in the former Yugoslavia and post-Soviet space.

Michael Krug is a secondyear graduate student in the Biodefense Master’s program at the Schar School of Policy and Government. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Virginia Tech and worked for several years in the pharmaceutical industry, accruing experience in the fields of molecular biology, drug development, and biotechnologies. His research interests incorporate national security and emerging dual-use technologies, specifically synthetic biology and genome-editing. 

David Mendes is a part-time Master’s Degree student in the International Security Program at the Schar School of Policy and Government. He holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of New Mexico School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts from Soka University of America. David is a partner at Tappan, Rastegar, Mendes LLP, a full-service litigation firm serving clients in the District of Columbia and the state of Virginia. His research interests include the intersection of national security and private industry as it relates to emerging threats and technology.

Connor Monie is a first-year graduate student in the international security program. He holds a bachelor’s degree in government and international politics with a concentration in international relations from George Mason University. His research interests include alliance formation and management dynamics as well as the US-Japan alliance more specifically.

Gerry Moss He is a second year graduate student in the Master’s of Middle East and Islamic Studies program in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at George Mason University. His main area of research is in security, political economy, and political sociology within North Africa. He holds a B.A. in Sociology and International Affairs with a concentration in the Middle East from the University of Nevada, Reno. Upon graduation from George Mason University he hopes to work in either the diplomacy or security sectors. 

Joe Petrucelli is a PhD student in political science at the Schar School of Policy and Government and a senior program analyst with the Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. He has a bachelor’s degree in history from the United States Naval Academy and has two master’s degrees, one in national security affairs from American Military University and one in military history from the George Washington University. He previously served as a submarine officer in the U.S. Navy and is currently a naval reserve officer specializing in Theater Anti-Submarine Warfare. Joe’s research interests include U.S. foreign policy, strategic stability, and force posture. His current research focuses on deterrence in the second nuclear age.

Tyler Stone is a graduate student studying International Commerce and Policy at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government. He received a Bachelor’s degree in History at Le Moyne College. His primary area of study is economics and how it relates to foreign policy.

James Suber is a first-year graduate student in the International Security program at the Schar School of Policy and Government. He received his bachelor’s degree in history with a concentration on the Middle East.

James Vizzard is a PhD student in political science at the Schar School specializing in American politics and civil-military relations. He served 26 years on active duty in the United States Army, including deployments to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He earned a BA in history from the College of William and Mary, an MA in English from Colorado State University, and an MMAS in strategy from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.