IWP students often go on to become leaders in the national security, intelligence, and international affairs communities. This section highlights and celebrates their achievements and shares other relevant news.

Jonathan Earles (’19): Foreign Affairs Officer at the Department of State
Jonathan Earles (’19) came to IWP with professional experience in law enforcement and intelligence, and he appreciated taking classes with faculty members who had done what they teach. After “doors were opened” for him at IWP, Jonathan joined the State Department, where he is currently serving as a Foreign Affairs Officer in the Bureau of…
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Alumnus Spotlight: Jarrod McDowell (’17), NGA Analytic Editor
Above: Jarrod McDowell (third from right) with other members of the Class of 2017 Please note: The statements made in this article do not reflect the official positions of NGA, DoD, or the U.S. Government. Jarrod McDowell (’17), an analytic editor at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), still has recordings of lectures from courses he…
Read More from Alumnus Spotlight: Jarrod McDowell (’17), NGA Analytic Editor ›Rebekah Koffler (’10) discusses Russia’s underlying scheme regarding recent cyberattacks
On June 2, 2021, IWP alumna and intelligence expert Rebekah Koffler appeared on Fox News to discuss Russia’s recent cyberattacks on the U.S. Colonial Pipeline and JBS meat processing company. These cyberattacks are part of a bigger Russian scheme to destabilize American society, she argued. Throughout the interview, Ms. Koffler described how the Kremlin is…
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Haroon Hakimi (’20) appointed Deputy Minister for Culture and Arts of Afghanistan
Above: Haroon Hakimi (’20) (center) at a ceremony introducing him as Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister for Culture and Arts. Haroon Hakimi, who received his Executive Master of Arts in National Security Affairs from IWP in 2020, has just been appointed Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Information, Culture, Youth and Tourism of Afghanistan. In this position, Haroon’s portfolio…
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Perspectives from the Class of 2021
During what would have been their Commencement week, members of the Class of 2021 reflect on their experiences at IWP. IWP plans to celebrate their achievements with an in-person ceremony this September. Congratulations to the Class of 2021! “IWP provided me with the necessary skills to understand the threats of the modern day and taught…
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IWP students elect 2021-22 Student Government Association Board
This April, IWP students elected officers for the 2021-22 Student Government Association Board. The officers will begin their duties on May 16 and will continue until Commencement on May 14, 2022. President: Kyle Kessler Kyle was raised in the Bay Area and graduated from Cornell University where he majored in Information Science. Upon graduation, Kyle…
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Sean Honesty (’23) awarded the inaugural IWP Alumni Scholarship
In fall 2020, a group of alumni came together to establish the first IWP Alumni Scholarship. In a matter of weeks, the alumni exceeded the initial goal of $5,000, and they ultimately raised $12,141.66 for the scholarship. The first recipient of this scholarship will be Sean Honesty, who will join the Master of Arts in…
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IWP students play in Peru counterterrorism wargame
“As a Sendero Luminoso player, I felt that any move I made had a cost. Either I lost combatants, or I gained territorial control over the Peruvian government. Overall, I feel like strategy is key to terrorism operations, and any move you make is either your salvation or your defeat.” – Frederic Taly, insurgent player…
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IWP student writes book on “How to Start a Private Investigation Business”
IWP student Edward Panico recently wrote a book entitled How to Start a Private Investigation Business: A Proven Blueprint for Success, which was released in January. Edward is the founder of Lynx Security Group, a private investigation, security consulting, and training company, and he has worked both domestically and abroad in intelligence, investigations, and security…
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DIA podcast features discussion of the psychology of the insider spy with IWP alumnus Dr. David Charney
On February 26, 2021, The Defense Intelligence Agency released a podcast titled “Hiding in Plain Sight.” This episode focused on the career of former Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) senior analyst and Cuban spy Ana Montes. David Charney, M.D., an IWP alumnus and psychiatrist specializing in the mind of the insider spy, was interviewed on this…
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