At The Boundary

Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you!
What does it take to solve real-world national security challenges under pressure?
In this episode of GNSI’s “At the Boundary” podcast, the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida takes you inside the high-stakes world of strategy competitions, where graduate students prepare to compete in the US Army War College Strategy Competition.
GNSI’s Dr. David Oakley is joined by USF graduate student competitors Yoan Hermida and Dan Woods to explore how future national security leaders bridge theory and practice.
The conversation breaks down how students develop analytical frameworks, strategic thinking, and decision-making skills to address complex global conflicts, from Russia-Ukraine to emerging security threats. You’ll also hear how artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and intelligence technology are shaping the future of warfare and policy.
Beyond the competition, this episode highlights the growing importance of experiential learning in international relations, including the launch of USF’s International Security Experience, undergraduate strategy competitions, and direct engagement with organizations like the CIA and global policy schools.
Whether you’re a student exploring careers in intelligence, a policy professional, or simply interested in global affairs, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at how the next generation is preparing for strategy, diplomacy, and modern security challenges.
Links from the Episode:
• GNSI International Security Experience
• CIA Recruiting and Informational Events Schedule
GNSI on X
GNSI on Linkedin
GNSI on YouTube

At the Boundary  from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida,  features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.

A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus.

The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.

Look for our other publications and products on our website publications page.

Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you!
What does it take to become a national security strategist in today’s complex global environment?
In this episode of the GNSI “At the Boundary” podcast, we spotlight the next generation of leaders shaping the future of national security, intelligence, and global strategy. The episode features guest host May Birch of the USF Future Strategist Program. Her guests are fellow FSP student Michael Dileonardo, Catherine Wood a student of the University of Texas in Austin, and Connor Devanney a student of the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. All of them will be part of the student led portion of the upcoming GNSI 2026 International Security Experience, titled: “Shadows and Circuits.”
This conversation explores how students are tackling real-world geopolitical challenges, from cybersecurity and intelligence to quantum security, policy development, and global conflict resolution.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in careers in national security, international relations, cybersecurity, intelligence, or defense policy.
Links from the Episode:
• GNSI International Security Experience
GNSI on X
GNSI on Linkedin
GNSI on YouTube

At the Boundary  from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida,  features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.

A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus.

The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.

Look for our other publications and products on our website publications page.

Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you!
What is the Golden Dome, and could it redefine the future of nuclear deterrence?
In this episode of the “At the Boundary” podcast, GNSI’s Dr. Tad Schnaufer sit down with GNSI Non resident Senior Fellow and CEO of Intelligence and National Security Directions, Manolis Priniotakis to break down one of the most ambitious, and controversial, defense concepts in decades: The Golden Dome, a multi-layered missile defense system designed to counter nuclear threats, hypersonic weapons, and emerging technologies.
Recorded during  the GNSI Tampa Summit 6 on nuclear technology, this conversation explores how the defense system fits into a rapidly evolving global security landscape shaped by rising nuclear powers, the collapse of arms control agreements, and accelerating military innovation.

Links from the Episode:
• GNSI International Security Experience
• Three Body Trap D-Brief
 

GNSI on X
GNSI on Linkedin
GNSI on YouTube

At the Boundary  from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida,  features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.

A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus.

The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.

Look for our other publications and products on our website publications page.

Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you!
What is deep-sea mining, and why are countries and companies racing to the ocean floor for critical minerals?
In this episode of GNSI’s “At the Boundary” podcast, host Jim Cardoso speaks with Dr. LindaNhon about the growing global debate over deep-sea mining and what it could mean for national security, critical minerals, and environmental risk.
The two dive into the mining of polymetallic nodules, mineral-rich deposits found on the seabed that contain cobalt, copper, and manganese. These materials are essential for technologies ranging from electric vehicle batteries to defense systems and advanced industrial supply chains. As demand for critical minerals rises, deep-sea mining is increasingly being viewed as both an economic opportunity and a geopolitical challenge.
Dr. Nhon explains the key questions shaping the future of seabed mining: What are the environmental consequences of disturbing the ocean floor? Who should regulate access to these underwater resources? And how can governments balance the need for mineral security with scientific transparency and international cooperation?
If you want to understand how the competition for ocean resources could shape the future of energy, defense, and global power, tune in to the episode! It not only sheds light on the matter at hand, but also offers modern solutions for policy makers and officials. 
Links From the Episode:
• Tampa Summit 6 Registration
• Rob and Arman’s article for National Interest
• U.S. Naval Institute “War with Iran: General Frank McKenzie Analyzes the Campaign” Episode with General McKenzie
GNSI on X
GNSI on Linkedin
GNSI on YouTube

At the Boundary  from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida,  features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.

A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus.

The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.

Look for our other publications and products on our website publications page.

Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you!
The last major nuclear arms control treaty between the United States and Russia has ended. What happens next?
In this episode of “At the Boundary,” host Jim Cardoso speaks with nuclear policy expert Heather Williams, director of the Project on Nuclear Issues (PONI) and a senior fellow in the Defense and Security Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), about the expiration of the New START Treaty, the last remaining bilateral nuclear arms control agreement between Washington and Moscow.
Drawing from her recent analysis, Williams explains three key truths about the end of New START and what they reveal about the future of nuclear strategy, deterrence, and global security. The conversation explores whether the treaty’s expiration signals a new nuclear arms race, how the United States might adapt its nuclear posture, and why future arms control efforts may need to include China alongside Russia.
Williams also emphasized the importance of new ideas in nuclear policy, encouraging the next generation of strategists to rethink how arms control can manage risks in a rapidly changing geopolitical environment.
From nuclear modernization to deterrence strategy and the future of nonproliferation, this episode provides a clear and accessible look at one of the most consequential shifts in global security.
Subscribe to the channel to stay up to date on the latest in this new nuclear age.
• Tampa Summit 6 Registration
• Rob and Arman’s Article for National Interest
GNSI on X
GNSI on Linkedin
GNSI on YouTube

At the Boundary  from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida,  features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.

A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus.

The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.

Look for our other publications and products on our website publications page.