Washington, DC – The Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA) today announced the appointment of its newest non-resident senior fellows, adding to its team of world-class defense and security analysts.
Michael Hunzeker, currently the associate director of George Mason University’s Center for Security Policy Studies as well as an assistant professor at the Schar School of Policy and Government, is an expert on both conventional and nuclear deterrence as well as military adaptation and innovation. He recently published a book on wartime learning, Dying to Learn: Wartime Lessons from the Western Front with Cornell University Press, and his work has appeared in Security Studies, the Journal of Strategic Studies, PS: Politics and Political Science, Parameters, Defense One, War on the Rocks, and the RUSI Journal. Michael served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2000–2006 and holds an A.B. from the University of California, Berkeley as well as a Ph.D., M.P.A., and A.M. from Princeton University.
Ivan Kanapathy brings his years of practical experience in Asian and Pacific security affairs to CSBA, having most recently served as the Director for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia and Deputy Director for Asian Affairs at the National Security Council. As a Naval Flight Officer, Ivan accumulated 2500 flight hours, served three years as a F/A-18 weapons officer and tactics instructor at the US Navy Fighter Weapons School (better known as TOPGUN), and deployed to the Middle East and Western Pacific five times, earning several combat awards and decorations. He holds a M.A. (with Distinction) in East Asia security studies from the Naval Postgraduate School, a B.S. in Physics and Economics from Carnegie Mellon University, and an A.A. and diploma (with Highest Honors) in Chinese-Mandarin from the Defense Language Institute.
Tate Nurkin is the founder of OTH Intelligence Group LLC, a defense consulting and research firm. He brings nearly 25 years of experience in wargame design and delivery to CSBA, as well as insights from his distinguished career in defense analysis both on the Indo-Pacific and across the globe. Prior to founding OTH Intelligence Group, Tate was the Executive Director of Strategic Assessments and Future Studies at Janes, and from 2014–2018, he served consecutive two-year terms on the World Economic Forum’s Nuclear Security Global Agenda Council and its Future Council on International Security. He holds a Master of Science degree in International Affairs from the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at Georgia Tech and a Bachelor of Arts in history and political science from Duke University.
“We are delighted to welcome these impressive thought leaders to CSBA. Mike, Ivan and Tate each have extensive accomplishments in academic, government service, and business endeavors,” said Thomas G. Mahnken, President and Chief Executive Officer of CSBA. “Together, they will add significantly to the CSBA team and our research focus on strategy, operational concepts, and sound defense investments.”
About the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments
CSBA is an independent, nonpartisan policy research institute established to promote innovative thinking and debate about national security strategy and investment options. CSBA’s assessments focus on key questions related to existing and emerging threats to U.S. national security, and its goal is to enable policymakers to make informed decisions on matters of strategy, security policy, and resource allocation.
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