Our Staff & Fellows

In response to increasing demand for mentorship and increased interest in career pathways for climate and security practitioners, the Climate and Security Advisory Group (CSAG) has developed a community-wide Climate Security Fellowship Program. It is the first professional organization for emerging leaders seeking meaningful careers at the intersection of climate change and security. The program connects established climate security experts with pr... More

Senior Fellow for Public Diplomacy

Office Manager

Expertise:  Public diplomacy, military history, national security policy, nuclear security, international conflict

A Los Angeles native, Matthew has lead ASP’s research on public diplomacy and strategic communications since 2011. As an expert in national security strategy and international relations, Matthew is also curre... More

Senior Fellow for Climate Security

Expertise: US National Security Policy, Climate Security, South and Southeast Asia Policy, Internal Conflict

David Haines is a Senior Fellow for Climate Security at the American Security Project.  His research examines the national security implications of climate change.

From 2006-2020 he was an officer and aviator i... More

Director of Strategic Communications and Development

Annie Aleman is the Director of Strategic Communications and Development at ASP. Her past experience includes digital communications for domestic and international political clients. Annie’s work has taken her around the world, including a year spent in New Zealand with the international consultancy, Topham Guerin.

Annie received her Bachelors of ... More

Climate Security Outreach and Event Planner

Expertise: Climate Security, Energy management, Sustainability.

Adam Despang is the Climate Security Outreach and Event Planner for Florida at the American Security Project.

Adam, a former Army Field Artillery Officer, earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Florida, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Enginee... More

Asymmetric Operations Intern

Expertise: Displacement & Migration, Terrorism, Conflict & Development

Claire Brenner is a Chicago native and a Junior at The Elliott School of International Affairs at The George Washington University concentrating in security policy and learning Arabic. As a scholar of GW’s Global Bachelor’s Program, Claire is utilizing three international ex... More

Nuclear Security Intern

Expertise: Nuclear Security, US-Russia Relations, Arms Control, Turkey’s Nuclear Program

Gevorg Novshadyan is a graduate of the MIIS/MGIMO dual degree Masters program in Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies and International Affairs. He earned his undergraduate degree from UC Irvine, where he conducted research on NATO-Russia relations. He has studied abroa... More

Asymmetric Operations Intern

Expertise: US National Security Strategy, Middle East & North Africa Policy, Asymmetric Operations, Conflict & Development

Dominique Eric Varier is a junior at Johns Hopkins University pursuing a BA in International Studies & Economics with an Islamic Studies minor. Born and raised in Nyack, NY, Dom has a keen interest in US national security strategy and confl... More

Climate Security Intern

Expertise: Climate Security, Global Environmental Governance, Russia and Eastern Europe, Space Security and Sustainability

Weston Weber is a Climate Security Intern at the American Security Project. His research focuses on the national security implications of climate change.

Currently, Weston is a Masters of Global Policy Studies candidate at the LBJ Sc... More

Public Diplomacy Intern

Expertise: Public Diplomacy, U.S.-China relations, International Conflict

Jennifer Soler is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in United States Foreign Policy and National Security with a concentration in Diplomacy from American University’s School of International Service. Her interests include cross-cultural communication, Chinese foreign policy, Centra... More

U.S.-Russia Relations Intern

Expertise: U.S.-Russia relations, protest movements, Russia-Ukraine conflict, track II and III diplomacy, international security

Lera Toropin is currently a Master’s candidate at the University of Texas at Austin, where she is pursuing dual degrees in Global Policy Studies and Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies, specializing in security, law, a... More