At The Boundary

• Are U.S. Special Operations Ready for the Drone Era?

  Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you! In this episode of the At the Boundary podcast, Dr. Tad Schnaufer was joined by Lt Col. John "JAY" Patrich to talk about the need for innovation when it comes to strategic drone attacks, with a focus on the context of the Russia-Ukraine war, and in light of Lt Col Patrich’s recent decision brief on drone warfare. Lt Col Patrich dove into the need for creativity and innovation of drones to achieve air superiority or air denial, particularly within the air littoral space. The vast array of drones (in size and capability) lends itself to making progress with innovative research that could change the approach of irregular warfare. The rapid evolution in how Russia and Ukraine have been using drones in combat was a key topic, as were possible future near-peer conflicts and their potential to push drone innovation in a new direction.     To round out the conversation, they explored the necessity of policies to guide drone uses, and the necessity of drone education for those within the government and military who are tasked with acquiring and maintaining the drones. Links from the episode:• Register for the Florida Security Forum: Port and Maritime Security• Port Security Interview with Port Tampa CEO, Paul Anderson • What Can WWII Teach Us About Future Conflicts with China? GNSI Research Initiative with guest Dr. Craig SymondsAt 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.

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• Inside Africa’s Power Struggle: Governance, Grievance, and Extremism

  Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you! In this episode of GNSI’s “At the Boundary” podcast, USF’s Dr. Robert Burrell is joined by authors Dr. Zacharias Pieri and Dr. Kevin Fridy to discuss their new book, Governance, Grievance, and Violent Extremism in West Africa:From the Caliphates to Great Power Competition. The conversation explores how local governance, resource competition, and regional instability shape violent extremism in West Africa, with a focus on Mali, Burkina Faso, and Ghana.Together, they unpack:·       How governance failures fuel extremist movements across the Sahel·       The lingering effects of colonial and pre-colonial systems on modern governance·       The role of natural resources and external powers in local conflict·       How the United States and international actors can more effectively engage at the local level🎙️ Recorded at the University of South Florida, this episode offers vital insights into one of the world’s most complex and consequential security challenges.Links from the episode:• Register for the Florida Security Forum: Port and Maritime Security• “Governance, Grievance, and Violent Extremism in West Africa: From the Caliphates to Great Power Competition” by Zacharias P. Pieri and Kevin S. Fridy• “Disarming Hezbollah: Challenges and Opportunities in the Pursuit of a Regional Settlement” Decision Brief by Mohamed Nabil El-Bendary• Check out the GNSI Official Youtube Channel!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.

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• The Hidden Danger Overhead: Drones and Public Safety

  Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you! In this episode of the At the Boundary podcast, GNSI’s Senior Director, Jim Cardoso, led a panel discussion on the JSS article, “Detecting Drone Threats at Stadiums and Public Venues: Overview, Operational Considerations, and Technical Implementation.” Joining him were the article’s authors: Nathan Jones, associate professor of security studies in the College of Criminal Justice at Sam Houston State University; John Sullivan, a retired career police officer and an instructor in the Safe Communities Institute at the University of Southern California; and George Javis Jr., a specialist in geospatial information systems and geospatial intelligence.The discussion focused on the use of drones as a national security threat, both present and future, to public stadiums and other large venues. The authors detailed the range of drone technologies and its expanding development, and how the United States legal system and law enforcement are not currently prepared to regulate drone usage in the way that is necessary for public safety.Current and future concerns about the potential for drones to be used maliciously were also explored. The authors cited the 2021 Astroworld tragedy as a case study to examine how similar situations occur under a drone-based terrorist attack.Main points discussed:Emerging drone threats to public events and large venues.Legal gaps in drone regulation and how law enforcement agencies and security professionals should respond.Current and emerging concerns tied to the evolving capabilities and variety of drone swarm technology and the expanding array of unmanned aerial systems (UAS).Links from the episode:• “Detecting Drone Threats at Stadiums and Public Venues: Overview, Operational Considerations, and Technical Implementation” JSS article• “Urban Operations: War, Crime and Conflict” byJohn P. Sullivan, Nathan P. Jones, and Daniel Weisz Argomedo• Register for the Florida Security Forum: Port and Maritime SecurityAt 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.

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• From Florida to Cambridge: A USF Future Strategist Experience at Cambridge

  Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you! In this “At the Boundary” podcast, GNSI Academic Director David Oakley, PhD, spoke with two students from the University of South Florida selected to attend the 2025 ISI Programme: May Birch and Kyle Rudd.Throughout the episode, Birch and Rudd, who are both members of USF’s Future Strategist Program, share their experiences over the summer. They discuss exclusive networking opportunities and insight into intelligence and security careers unknown to them beforehand. The students also noted the wealth of first hand experiences shared by distinguished experts from around the globe. Not to mention the scenic Cambridge University campus and surrounding landscape.The five week trip is part of a partnership between GNSI and The International Security and Intelligence Programme presented by the Cambridge Security Initiative & The Department of War Studies. GNSI is determined to support this and other student initiatives to better prepare the next generation of security practitioners. For more information about The International Security and Intelligence Programme at Cambridge University, please check their website in the links below.Links from the episode:• Cyber Beacon 2025 registration here!• Register for the Florida Security Forum: Port and Maritime Security• More information about The International Security and Intelligence Programme at Cambridge University 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.

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• Beyond the Bullet: Is the Army’s M7 Rifle The Right Choice?

  Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you! In this episode of GNSI’s At the Boundarypodcast, Research Fellow Dr. Guido Rossi and war studies specialist Dr. Matthew Ford to unpack one of the U.S. Army’s most consequential decisions: replacing the standard-issue M4 with the new M7 rifle. At the heart of the debate is the shift from 5.56mm to 6.8mm ammunition—and the controversy over reduced magazine capacity.Together, they explore the trade-offs between combat effectiveness, soldier burden, and cost, while assessing how this change could reshape NATO standardization and global small arms policy. What does this decision mean for U.S. influence, allied forces, and the future battlefield? And is the Army truly ready for the operational and logistical challenges that come with the switch?From military history to weapons innovation, this episode offers insights into the intersection of technology, policy, and strategy in modern warfare. Perfect for listeners interested in defense policy, small arms development, and the future of U.S. military power.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.

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