March 5, 2020
Contact: Jessica Moreno
jmoreno7@gmu.edu
703-993-8165
The National Security Institute Announces 2020 Technologist Fellows
Arlington, VA – The National Security Institute (NSI) at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School announced the selection of a diverse group of technologists from across the nation to participate in NSI’s 2020 Technologist Fellowship program. NSI’s Technologist Fellowship aims to equip these Fellows with the skills necessary to effectively engage policymakers in both the legislative and executive branches.
NSI’s 2020 Technologist Fellows include:
- Audrey Adams — Deputy Director for Signals Intelligence, Information Operations, Electronic Warfare, and Space Operations, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command
- Mark Brown — Principal Member of Technical Staff, AT&T Chief Security Office
- Devika Daga — Ecosystem Development Consultant, Modular Open Source Identity Platform
- Ayanna Dawkins — Modern Workforce Specialist, Microsoft
- Boris Dyatkin — Materials Research Engineer, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
- Terence Goggin — Specialist Leader, Deloitte
- Thomas Hastings — Lead Signal Processing Technical Staff, MITRE
- Shahzeb Jiwani — Manager, Security and Compliance, Dialpad
- Abraham Kang — CTO, GEEEE
- Daphne Nicholson — Technical Program Manager, Facebook
- Jake Noonan — Crisis Technology Manager, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
- Duane O’Brien — Head of Open Source, Indeed.com
- Jorge Orchilles — Author and Instructor, Sans Institute
- Brandon Park — Industrial Control Systems Security Engineer, Amazon
- V. Susan Peediyakkal — Founder and Co-Director, BSides Sacramento
- Lauren Proehl — Manager, Threat Hunting Operations and Research, CenturyLink
- Jon Stivers — Special Projects Executive, Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center
- Richard Tippitt — Product Manager, Dragos
- Jacob Wilder — Security Architect, Enveil
- Samantha Wright — Systems Engineer, In-Q-Tel
“This year’s class of NSI’s Technologist Fellows—selected from a group of nearly 200 applicants—once again demonstrates the interest amongst those who build our core technologies in contributing to the policy process,” said Jamil N. Jaffer, NSI Founder and Executive Director. “We appreciate the continued support of the Hewlett Foundation for this critically important program and are looking forward to getting this new group of fellows engaged in the policy debate in Washington, DC and across the nation,” said Jaffer, who also serves as an Assistant Professor of Law and Director of the National Security Law & Policy Program at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School. These technology experts will meet with cybersecurity experts and leading technology and national security policymakers over the next year in order to enhance their ability to influence the larger policy community and thereby inject more direct technology-related expertise into the national security and cyber policy processes. Learn more about the Technologist Fellowship program here.
About the National Security Institute
The National Security Institute serves as a platform for research, teaching, scholarship, and policy development that incorporates a realistic assessment of the threats facing the United States and its allies, as well as an appreciation of the legal and practical challenges facing U.S. intelligence, defense, and cybersecurity communities. NSI draws on the experience of its Fellows, as well as its highly distinguished Advisory Board and faculty, to produce timely research and policy materials that deliver insightful analysis and actionable recommendations to senior policymakers in the White House and key departments and agencies, as well as those on Capitol Hill.
About the Scalia Law School
The Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University is defined by three words: Learn. Challenge. Lead. Students receive an outstanding legal education (Learn), are taught to critically evaluate prevailing orthodoxy and pursue new ideas (Challenge), and, ultimately, are well prepared to distinguish themselves in their chosen fields (Lead). It has been one of America’s top-ranked law schools for the last fifteen years.
About George Mason
George Mason University is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls more than 33,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility.