CIMSEC is proud to present the official candidates for our 2015-2016 Officer positions and 2015-2017 Board of Directors. All candidates who accepted their nomination and were existing members of CIMSEC are listed below along with their self-provided qualifications and goals.
Chairman, Board of Directors:
Scott Cheney-Peters
Qualifications:
Founded CIMSEC in 2012 and have since helped it grow to over 500 members in more than 30 countries with the assistance of phenomenal fellow officers. Served as a Member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Board from founding to present, as well as Vice President, President, and Director of External Relations at various times. On the administrative side I shepherded the organization through the process of writing the by-laws, incorporating as a non-profit, filing for and earning IRS 501(C)3 status, raising funds, and oversaw the development of strategic partnerships with similar organizations.
Goals:
Not running again for President I’d like to focus on the broader strategic direction of the organization rather than the day-to-day operations. I believe CIMSEC has helped foster a community of maritime security professionals and provided crucial opportunities for its members to develop leading-edge thought. It is also well positioned to play an increasingly important international role. I’d like to help the organization focus its limited volunteer resources on the most effective ways to further that mission, and especially make better use of the Board of Directors in doing so. Specifically, I’d like to see CIMSEC:
– Complete the recently begun process of upgrading its content management so that site visitors can better find old material and articles.
– Streamline our monograph and reports publication process.
– Create more opportunities for chapters outside of the Washington, DC, Chapter, including interaction with other chapters.
– Develop opportunities for members to engage with inter-organizational events with our partner organizations.
Member, Board of Directors:
Scott Cheney-Peters
Qualifications:
Please see above – same as for Chairman.
Goals:
Please see above – same as for Chairman.
Chris Rawley
Qualifications:
I am the incumbent CIMSEC Vice President. During my tenure, CIMSEC’s membership more than doubled, we held our first fundraising campaign and authors’ forum, and I led the creation of an annual high school scholarship essay contest. I have also been a contributor, advisor, and helped edit content on the site for some time now.
Goals:
To encourage and participate in an annual board meeting wherein the board will convene to discuss the strategic way forward for CIMSEC.
William Allen
Qualifications:
Diverse professional experiences define my qualifications to be a Member on the Board of Directors at CIMSEC. Having worked on the Hill, for a lobbying firm in both defense and energy industries, with the Center for a New American Security think tank, and the US Military, I have learned how to promote one’s agenda within the Beltway and among a variety of industries central to CIMSEC’s interests. As a prior-enlisted officer in the Marine Corps, I bring leadership and knowledge earned on active duty years deploying overseas. As a graduate of one of the nation’s top ranked graduate programs at Columbia University, I also bring an understanding and appreciation for young graduates seeking sources for publication in a seemingly policy saturated DC environment. Perhaps most importantly, however, I have published with CIMSEC’s NextWar Blog myself and served as the 2014-2015 NYC Chapter President; these experiences allowed me to grow more familiar with CIMSEC as an organization. Because of my personal investment, I am in a position to apply best practices learned during my time at the Center for a New American Security – a top-notch think tank who only a few years ago was a budding group of young Washington professionals.
Goals:
My first goal as a Member of the Board of Directors would be to continue promoting CIMSEC within the realm of elite graduate programs that are cultivating the young minds of tomorrow’s foreign policy leaders. As the New York City Chapter President, I was proud to champion CIMSEC as a publishing source to high-caliber graduate students with military backgrounds. Second, I would seek to establish more formal relationships with other DC-based national security think tanks through shared publishing ventures and joint research projects. During my tenure at the Center for a New American Security, I learned that these formal relationships would help to articulate CIMSEC as Washington’s premier naval strategy group.
Mike Carroll
Qualifications:
Past CIMSEC Secretary, forty plus years in volunteer nonprofit management, a life long interest in naval and military history
CDR, USNR(ret).
Goals:
To be as useful as possible.
Mary Ripley
Qualifications:
I manage/direct/oversee a large media presence online. I think we could raise the CIMSEC presence via USNI.
I have a budget to help fund CIMSEC operations (is that a bribe?).
I’m awesome. CIMSEC is awesome. I like the future.
Goals:
To die tragically rescuing my family from the wreckage of a destroyed sinking battleship…wait.
Leverage the media position/reputation of my current organization to advance CIMSEC’s goals.
Promote and encourage independent thinking and writing.
Provide 141 years of writing to CIMSEC writers to inform their writing via access to USNI’s digital archives.
Andrea George
Qualifications:
I served as President of CIMSEC from July 2012 – July 2013, and have served on the board since. Avid supporter of fostering the discussion regarding maritime security, and expanding the organization.
Goals:
Drive to expand CIMSEC’s local chapters, establish a regular online journal, as well as some kind of fellowship program. Keep the momentum going in the maritime innovation space and build/maintain relationships with other like-minded organizations.
Ben Purser
Qualifications:
In terms of background, I’m a graduate of Carleton College, the Hopkins-Nanjing Center, and the U.S. Naval War College. I spent about nine years as an intelligence officer in the Navy — joining after 9/11 and separating in the fall of 2011 to begin a doctoral program in Political Science at the University of Colorado (that I’m scheduled complete in the fall of this year). My dissertation is a mixed-methods exploration of maritime dispute resolution since 1900 and includes qualitative cases studies from East Asia, the Arctic, and Latin America; my advisor expects this to be published as a book in 2016. In addition to conducting this research, I have spent the last couple years teaching classes on International Relations and working for RAND as an adjunct research officer.
Since joining CIMSEC, I’ve co-authored five pieces related to maritime security: “Waypoint or Destination? The Jin-Class Submarine and China’s Quest for Sea-Based Nuclear Deterrence (http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=39729), “”New CMC Vice Chairmen Strong Advocates for Joint, Modern Chinese Military”” (http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=40124), “State of Maritime Piracy” (http://oceansbeyondpiracy.org/publications/state-maritime-piracy-2013), “Emerging Trends in China’s Development of Unmanned Systems” (http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR990.html), and “Overview of PLA Air Force ‘Elite Pilots’” (expected, June 2015). I’ve also served as a reviewer for multiple publications as an expert maritime issues — including the Naval War College Review and Global Governance, as an expert on Arctic security. Additionally, I have presented at multiple academic conferences — including the University of California at Berkeley’s “”The South China Sea: Re-Assessing Regional Order in Asia” (September, 2012: ”Rhetoric versus Reality: China’s Commercial Capacity to Exploit Hydrocarbons and Fisheries in the South China Sea”) and the Journal of Political Risk’s “”Conflict in the South China Sea Conference: Law, Politics, and Diplomacy”” (May, 2015: “”Quantitative Analysis on Global Maritime Disputes from 1946 to 2014: Implications for the South China Sea”).
Goals:
Chinese maritime policy and Russian policies towards the Arctic, and specific approaches to maritime security, like the academic conferences of the Peace Science Society and the American Political Science Association. Additionally, as someone that has lived in China for years, spent years as a contingency planner, and served on flag staffs briefing maritime policy issues to senior leadership, I have expertise in how both Chinese and American government mechanisms approach maritime security.
In terms of specific challenges and opportunities: being based in Colorado has made it difficult to participate in CIMSEC events, but I have met with multiple CIMSEC members — including the other Board member based here — to begin the process of getting a local chapter established. Now that I’m done with both my coursework and teaching responsibilities (as of last week), I’ll have the control over my schedule to begin arranging local CIMSEC events and otherwise coordinate with CIMSEC leadership at times of their convenience.
Matt Hipple
Qualifications:
I’ve been a board member since the beginning.
Goals:
The same I have for my candidacy for CIMSEC president (see below).
Chris Wood:
Qualifications:
I have experience as a US Marine Corps intelligence officer, an aviation weapons and tactics instructor, an operations research analyst, a logistics operations analyst, a combat intelligence officer, and a Marine Expeditionary Unit shipboard intelligence officer. I can bring a fresh perspective due to my recent joining to CIMSEC and my role as an active duty O3 in the Marine Corps. I am passionate about fighting the status quo and I’m currently working across HQMC to create ways to return to our innovative past. I have published on the USNI blog (http://blog.usni.org/2015/04/14/about-face-a-return-to-marine-corps-innovation), and have an approved article awaiting publication with the Marine Corps Gazette. My thesis built a system for analyst-level collaboration across the IC (http://calhoun.nps.edu/handle/10945/42755), and seems to be very popular in China.
Goals:
I aim to connect the Marine (on-the-ground, assaulting the beach, and stuck inside the hull) to the maritime security conversation.
Jordan “Patsy” Klein
Qualifications:
John “”Patsy”” Klein, Ph.D., is a Distinguished Analyst with ANSER in Falls Church, Virginia. John routinely writes on national security, military strategy, and the Law of Armed Conflict, and he has been published internationally in over 15 journals or magazines. His book, “”Space Warfare: Strategy, Principles and Policy,”” is part of the curriculum at the U.S. Air War College and has been approved to be translated into Chinese for their market.
John served over 20 years in the U.S. Navy as a Naval Flight Officer and supported combat operation in Afghanistan and Iraq. He is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Test Pilot School and has over 2,600 flight hours in over 27 type aircraft.
John holds a Ph.D. in strategic studies from the University of Reading (England), a master’s in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College where he was a Mahan Scholar, a master’s in aeronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a bachelor’s in aerospace engineering from Georgia Tech. John was a Federal Executive Fellow at the Brookings Institution in their foreign policy studies program.
Goals:
My goal as a member of the Board of Directors is to provide advice and support in continuing the recent stellar growth of CIMSEC. I will use my position to foster collaborative relationships with other like-minded organization, such as the U.S. Naval Institute, U.S. Naval War College Foundation, and the International Institute of Strategic Studies. Using my professional network, I will reach out to internationally recognized journals and media outlets to ensure CIMSEC published articles are picked up for their readership. I will support those in CIMSEC elected positions and provide guidance in helping CIMSEC navigate the challenges of the next year.
President
Matt Hipple
Qualifications:
I have been our Director of Online Content for over two years now – involved in both the content generation and collection process that makes CIMSEC the organization it is today. I have seen both the best and most frustrating parts of herding the cats.
Goals:
Expand our partnerships with local maritime institutions, museums, and educational organizations for membership expansion, content generation, and increased two-way exposure for maritime security issues. I also want to help empower new associate officers in order to ensure the future of the organization. In the meantime, I plan to continue expanding the podcast – potentially partnering with other organizations to help build their own podcast enterprises for the good of the listeners and our own exposure.
Generally speaking – re-engage with our current membership, find more ways to empower members (through local clubs as well), and ensure institutional longevity.
Vice President
Roger Misso
Qualifications:
E-2C Naval Flight Officer with broad experience across the ROMO, especially in trying to apply C2 and air power ISO maritime objectives. Without free access to the global commons, I can’t fly. That’s my passion for CIMSEC to be successful.
I try to write often and am active in recruiting others to write. My current writing–and learning–is across all military operations and all of the Navy’s hot-button issues.
Bringing people together is often the greatest impact organizations like CIMSEC can have. I aim to continue the great work done by Scott, Matt, Chris, and all of you “”founders”” to ensure CIMSEC has staying power.
Goals:
Increase the breadth of JOs across warfare communities writing at CIMSEC.
Work with the staff to maintain regular content that is responsive to both the writer and the reader.
Increase opportunities for recognition, such as essay contests, speaking events, and spotlights.
Continue the status of CIMSEC as one of the most respected peer-review forums with a consistently low barrier to entry.
Bring banana splits back to the cafeteria…just kidding!
Treasurer
Victor Allen
Qualifications:
Assistant Treasurer, Georgia Tech chapter of Delta Chi Fraternity;
Treasurer, Georgia Tech chapter of Delta Chi Fraternity;
CIMSEC Director of Social Media.
Goals:
I plan to expand the financial partnerships that CIMSEC engages in so that we may offer additional contests, scholarships, and opportunities for engagement and dialogue amongst scholars and practitioners in the maritime security community.
Secretary
Josh Tallis
Qualifications:
I am a young academic and practitioner in the fields of homeland and maritime security. I am a PhD candidate at the University of St Andrews’ Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence, where I write on the intersection of transnational crime, terrorism, and maritime issues in the littorals. I am also the manager for research and analysis at a Washington-based intelligence services provider. I have written articles published on CIMSEC’s NextWar blog, am an active member of the Naval Strategy Discussion Group, and frequently attend CIMSEC social events.
Goals:
To gain a deeper appreciation for the mission of CIMSEC, to help broaden CIMSEC’s reach in the academic sphere, and deepen CIMSEC’s immense ties to the practitioner and strategic communities. I would like to be a part of a growing player in maritime security literature, and hope to facilitate this growth by creatively engaging with other officers charged with CIMSEC’s leadership.
Director of External Relations
Katherine Dransfield
Qualifications:
MSc Social Science of the Internet, Oxford University Web content manager for SECNAV Task Force Innovation, Data Science and Policy Writer.
Goals:
Develop a long term external engagement strategy for CIMSEC, expand international and business CIMSEC partnerships, investigate the viability/usefullness of employing incentives/gamification models to increase member activity.
Robert Holzer
Qualifications:
20 years of experience in conducting outreach and engagement for a variety of government offices while developing extensive networks across all major stakeholder communities.
Goals:
To help expand and strengthen CIMSEC brand across more communities in the larger defense and national security arena.
Director of Membership
Bret Perry
Qualifications:
I have had the opportunity to serve as CIMSEC’s Treasurer since January 2014 and have had a terrific experience assisting this organization. As Treasurer of CIMSEC, I not only established the organization’s inaugural financial infrastructure, recorded all financial transactions and presented financial reports, but I also was required to develop an understanding of the entire organization in order to assist with CIMSEC’s 501(c)(3) successful application with the IRS. Although my duties as Treasurer revolved around recording numbers, this is somewhat similar to the duties of Membership Director as both positions revolve around maintaining important organization records.
In addition to my familiarity with CIMSEC’s organizational dynamics, I feel qualified for this position because I know that I have the necessary amount of time to dedicate to this position. Furthermore, I consider myself to be diligent and willing to learn–necessary traits for this position.
I am confident that my experience, knowledge, and personal traits will enable me to fulfill the responsibilities of Membership Director.
Feel free to reach out to me at hqi777[at]yahoo.com with any questions regarding my candidacy.
Goals:
The current Membership Director, Matt Merighi, has done an outstanding job with not only recording information about our members, but also in crafting an ‘onboarding’ process. My first, and main, goal is to continue Matt’s work and focus on maintaining a master list of CIMSEC’s members–this is the core duty of the Membership Director. Furthermore, I will look for opportunities to improve the ‘onboarding’ process based off of new member feedback.
In addition, as CIMSEC’s membership continues to grow, I hope to break out and organize members by region so that Chapter Presidents can conduct more effective outreach activities to local CIMSEC members.
Lastly, I intend to coordinate with the Director of Operations and Director of External Relations in order to expand CIMSEC’s membership in an effective, targeted manner. One of CIMSEC’s greatest traits is its membership diversity–I hope to work with other officers to continue this tradition.
Director of Online Content
Dmitry Filipoff
Qualifications:
I have helped as an Associate Editor since February. I have corresponded with authors to help edit and format their drafted pieces, readying them for posting. One article I have helped with is Airpower R-US. I have solicited several articles for CIMSEC in the form of originally written pieces or republished content through contacting authors. My first article was Peeling back the Layers by Bryan Clark, and my most recent was an article on Russia’s TU-160 Blackjack bomber The majority of the people I reach out to are Naval War College Professors and think tank researchers. I have edited several Sea Control podcasts to make the audio and speech more clear and concise. My most recent podcast contribution is Sea Control 75. My own first publication went up on the 19th, a review of a Congressional Research Service report on China’s naval modernization. I have two ongoing projects including a book review of Asia Maritime Strategies, written by the USNI author of the year, and a podcast interview with Naval War College Professor Milan Vego on littoral warfare.
I have adapted my personal database of reading material for use by CIMSEC’s editorial staff, and can help aid them in producing content in the form of reviews or article solicitations. This database is a list of PDF publications on a variety of topics I have collected since February, and I have shared the topic areas I believe to be within CIMSEC’s realm of interests. I found these documents by exploring the archives of think tanks, journals, war colleges, and other means. I have also developed a color highlighting system to track ongoing and completed efforts using material drawn from the database.
Goals:
I have certain topics I want to shed light on and certain ideas to explore. I have a variety of things that I would like to accomplish in both areas. For example, I would like to draw more attention towards peace time Phase 0 type operations and the role of the Navy in applying soft power. I would especially like to further highlight humanitarian assistance disaster relief missions (HA/DR) and security cooperation efforts. In terms of exploring new concepts I would like to test ideas on electromagnetic cyber/warfare in the maritime domain, and its implications for escalation/deterrence in a phase zero setting. I think more effort should be put towards identifying opportunities for cooperation for China, and promoting a stronger understanding of how to shape behavior with soft power. I would also like to promote content on fiction that is relevant to the topics CIMSEC covers. There are a lot of things to explore. I would also like to update older parts of the website, and in the long term explore options to improve the site’s look and formatting.
Director of Operations
Emil Maine
Qualifications:
Over the past year I’ve served as Director of External Relations. During that time I created and maintained a weekly listing of events of interest for CIMSEC membership. I’ve also expanded CIMSEC’s external partnerships and regularly presented external opportunities to CIMSEC membership through our Facebook page.
Goals:
1) Work with USNI to incorporate CIMSEC’s weekly listing of events of interest into their circulation.
2) Identify and install improvements to the weekly listing of events, including identifying non-think tank events and opportunities outside of Washington D.C.
3) Improve local chapter activity, specifically meet-up recurrence.
Director of Publications
Matt Merighi
Qualifications:
I served for one year as the Membership Director, am a contributor to the NextWar blog, and have been published in the US Army’s professional journal (Parameters).
Goals:
Maintain and expand the high-quality CIMSEC publishing work.