Jeanette Nuñez
President,
Florida International University
Jeanette M. Nuñez is the President of Florida International University. The FIU Board of Trustees voted unanimously to name Mrs. Nuñez as the university’s seventh president. Her presidency was confirmed by the Florida Board of Governors on June 18, 2025. Prior to her appointment, Mrs. Nuñez served as Florida’s Lieutenant Governor. She was first elected in 2018 and subsequently re-elected in 2022. Mrs. Nuñez oversaw the Florida Department of Health and served as Chair of Space Florida, Florida’s Cybersecurity Advisory Council, and the Health Care Innovation Council.
Brian Fonseca, Ph.D.
Vice Provost, Defense and National Security ResearchDirector, FIU Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy
Dr. Brian Fonseca is Vice Provost for Defense and National Security Research and Director of the Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy at Florida International University’s (FIU). He is the founding Executive Director of Cybersecurity@FIU, FIU's university-wide interdisciplinary emerging preeminent program. Brian also serves as a Cybersecurity Policy Fellow and International Security Fellow at the D.C.-based think tank New America.
Randy Pestana
Emcee
Director, National Security Policy and Strategic EngagementFIU Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy
Mr. Randy Pestana is a national security professional specializing in defense policy, regional security cooperation, and cybersecurity strategy. He serves as Director of National Security Policy and Strategic Engagement at FIU’s Jack D. Gordon Institute, where he leads strategic initiatives and partnerships across the U.S. national security enterprise. His expertise includes U.S. foreign policy, civil-military relations, and security cooperation, with experience at the Pentagon driving defense strategy and coordinating interagency efforts.
Mario Montoto
President,
TAEDA Foundation and TAEDA Publishing House
Mario Montoto leads these specialized entities in organizing events and seminars addressing global strategic issues such as natural resources, technology, and sustainable development with technological innovation. Additionally, he is responsible for the DEF Magazine, a monthly publication covering topics of Latin American interest related to regional growth, environment, energy, defense, public security, science, and technology. Throughout his career, he also serves as the President of the Argentine-Israeli Chamber of Commerce.
Rafael Grossi, Ph.D.Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi (born 29 January 1961), who assumed office on 3 December 2019, is a diplomat with 40 years of experience in a wide number of fields, including peace and security, non-proliferation and disarmament, and international development. He works at the intersection of security, science and development, and is frequently an impartial diplomatic broker, mediating during moments of international crisis.
John Mearsheimer, Ph.D.Distinguished Service Professor, University of Chicago
Dr. John J. Mearsheimer is the R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago, where he has taught since 1982. He graduated from West Point in 1970 and then served five years as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. He then started graduate school in political science at Cornell University in 1975. He received his PhD in 1980. He spent the 1979-1980 academic year as a research fellow at the Brookings Institution.
Andrew SollingerCEO, Foreign Policy
Andrew Sollinger is CEO & publisher of Foreign Policy, the world's leading geopolitical media organization. Since joining FP in 2018, he has helped to build teams and drive growth in a diversified set of subscription, event, research and audio formats. Previously, Andrew was EVP of Subscriptions at Business Insider, Executive Director of Capital New York (now Politico NY) and Managing Director of the Financial Times Americas. He was part of the executive team that built and sold Money-Media to the FT in 2008.
Rick De La Torre
Chief Executive Officer, Tower Strategy
Rick de la Torre is a retired CIA operations officer and the founder of Tower Strategy, LLC. Over a 25-year career spanning intelligence, diplomacy, and international business, he led complex global operations and advised senior U.S. policymakers on national security, trade, and geopolitical risk. His work at the CIA’s Directorate of Operations and earlier service with the U.S. Department of State centered on counterterrorism, cyber and AI proliferation, and foreign-policy development across multiple continents.
Elisabeth MaiglerProject Director for Central America,
Friedrich Naumann Foundation
Elisabeth Maigler Kluesserath has a degree in Political Science and Modern History from the Universities of Bonn and Potsdam in Germany. Since 2006, she works at the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, where she was Coordinator of the Mexico Project, Regional Assistant for Latin America, as well as Coordinator of the Programs for Central America and Climate Change. She currently serves as Project Director for Central America in the same Foundation.
Rosa María PayáCommissioner, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
Rosa María Payá is a Fellow in Latin American Studies at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, and a commissioner to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). Payá, a Cuban human rights and democracy activist, has dedicated her life to dismantling the oppressive legacy of communist regimes, particularly in her native Cuba. As the founder of Cuba Decide and president of the Latin American Youth Network for Democracy, she has fearlessly advocated for freedom, drawing from the legacy of her father.
AMB James “Jimmy” Story (ret)Former Ambassador to Venezuela
James “Jimmy” Story served as both Ambassador and Charge d’Affaires to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela from July 2018 until May 2023. In June 2024, Ambassador Story was nominated as Ambassador to Mozambique. While awaiting the nomination process, Ambassador Story taught as a Senior Fellow at Georgetown University and served as the Charge d’Affaires at the US Embassy to Angola and Sao Tome and Principe, as well as the Charge d’Affaires in Eswatini and to the Dutch Caribbean from Curacao. Ambassador Story retired in May 2025.
Nora Gámez Torres, Ph.D.Cuba Policy Reporter,
el Nuevo Herald and the Miami Herald
Nora Gámez Torres is the Cuba/U.S.-Latin American policy reporter for el Nuevo Herald and the Miami Herald. She studied journalism and media and communications in Havana and London. She holds a Ph.D. in sociology from City, University of London. Her work has won awards by the Florida Society of News Editors and the Society for Professional Journalists. For her “fair, accurate and groundbreaking journalism,” she was awarded the Maria Moors Cabot Prize in 2025.
Joseph HumireAssistant Secretary of War for Homeland
Defense and Americas Security Affairs
Joseph M. Humire is Performing the Duties of Assistant Secretary of War for Homeland Defense and Americas Security Affairs, overseeing U.S. defense and security policy for Canada, Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. He previously served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Homeland Defense Integration and Defense Support of Civil Authorities, overseeing DOW's support to federal law enforcement and defending the southern border.
General Henry Sáenz RamosMinister of Defense, Guatemala
General Henry David Sáenz Ramos is a senior Guatemalan military officer and currently serves as the Minister of National Defense of Guatemala, a position he has held since January 15, 2024, under the administration of President Bernardo Arévalo. With more than three decades of service in the Guatemalan Armed Forces, Sáenz Ramos belongs to the 118th class of the prestigious Escuela Politécnica and has built a career rooted in military administration, logistics, and institutional development.
Eduardo Gamarra, Ph.D.
Director of Basic Research,FIU Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy
Dr. Eduardo A. Gamarra received his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Pittsburgh in 1987. He has been affiliated with Florida International University since 1986 where he is currently a tenured-full professor in the department of politics and international relations. Between 1994 and 2007 he served as director of FIU’s Latin American and Caribbean Center (LACC) a federally supported National Resource Center for Foreign Language and Area Studies.
Erik Bethel
Former World Bank Director
The Honorable Erik Bethel is a global finance professional with experience in the private and public sectors. In 2020, he was nominated to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Panama. Previously, he was nominated by the President and confirmed unanimously by the Senate to represent the United States at the World Bank. At the World Bank, Bethel spearheaded a number of technology initiatives, including artificial intelligence, blockchain, and the tokenization of World Bank loans.
Lea Giménez, Ph.D.Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean
Dr. Lea Giménez is the Division Chief of the Innovation in Citizen Services program at the Inter-American Development Bank. Prior to that, she was the first woman to be appointed Minister of Finance in Paraguay in June 2017 and was also the youngest finance minister in Latin America. Until then, she joined the Ministry of Finance as Vice Minister of Economy in 2016 and worked as an Economist in the World Bank’s Poverty and Macro-Fiscal Global Practices.
Carlos Pimentel
General Director, General Directorate of Public Procurement,
Dominican Republic
Carlos E. Pimentel Florenzán is a Dominican lawyer and public sector leader who currently serves as Director General of the General Directorate of Public Procurement (DGCP) of the Dominican Republic, the governing body responsible for regulating and overseeing the country’s public procurement system. Appointed in 2020, Pimentel has led efforts to modernize procurement processes, strengthen transparency, and promote accountability in the management of public resources.
Jorge SalcedoPresident, IMPSA
Jorge Salcedo Hernández is a Venezuelan attorney and business executive who currently serves as President of IMPSA, a global engineering and technology firm specializing in energy generation, infrastructure, and industrial solutions. Appointed as president in 2025, Salcedo has been tasked with leading the company through a new phase of restructuring and growth following a major ownership transition. In this role, he oversees IMPSA’s strategic direction across key sectors, including hydroelectric power, renewable energy, port infrastructure, and emerging nuclear technologies.
Jason MarczakVice President and Senior Director, Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center
Jason Marczak is vice president and senior director at the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center. He joined the Council in 2013 to launch the center and set the strategic direction for its work. Marczak has twenty-five years of expertise in regional economics, politics, and development, working with high-level policymakers and private-sector executives to shape public policy.
LTG Carlos Alberto Presti
Minister of Defense, Argentina
Lieutenant General Carlos Alberto Presti is a senior Argentine Army officer who serves as Minister of Defense of the Argentine Republic. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing national defense policy, the strategic direction of the Armed Forces, and the modernization of Argentina’s military capabilities in support of national and regional security objectives. With a distinguished military career spanning more than three decades, LTG Presti has held key command and staff positions within the Argentine Army.
Fabian CalléSenior Fellow, FIU Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy
Fabian Callé is a Graduate in Political Science from the University of Buenos Aires, with a Specialization in International Economic Strategy from the Faculty of Economic Sciences of the University of Buenos Aires, Master in International Relations from FLACSO, Master in International Relations from the Universita di Bologna, Specialization in the National Defense University Washington DC, Candidate for Doctor in History at the Torcuato Di Tella University
Gregg Casad
Monitoring, Control, & Surveillance Advisor, Skylight
Fabian Callé is a Graduate in Political Science from the University of Buenos Aires, with a Specialization in International Economic Strategy from the Faculty of Economic Sciences of the University of Buenos Aires, Master in International Relations from FLACSO, Master in International Relations from the Universita di Bologna, Specialization in the National Defense University Washington DC, Candidate for Doctor in History at the Torcuato Di Tella University.
Rear Admiral (Ret.) Michael “Mike” StudemanSenior Fellow, FIU Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy
Mike Studeman is a member of the Board of Advisors at the National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR). The former Commander of the Office of Naval Intelligence and a retired Rear Admiral, he is one of our nation’s leading national security professionals, with extensive global experience in intelligence, foreign policy, and defense matters. He is an internationally recognized expert on Asian affairs with deep expertise on China.
Juan Pablo Toro
Senior Research Fellow, AthenaLab
Juan Pablo Toro is a Senior Research Fellow at AthenaLab think tank (Chile) and Senior Associated Fellow at RUSI. He is also an adjunct assistant professor at the Faculty of Communications of the Catholic and a columnist for the newspaper El Mercurio. He writes articles for specialized publications and book chapters on geopolitics of the Americas, the Indo-Pacific, and Antarctica.
Bruce Vitor
Director of Research and Operations,
FIU Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy
Bruce Vitor is the Director of Research and Operations at FIU’s Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy (JGI). In addition to supporting the JGI Director in the advancement of the academic partnership between FIU and U.S. Southern Command, he provides leadership in National Security and Strategy Development with a wide variety of U.S. and international partners.
Laura Delgado Lopez
Senior Fellow, FIU Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy
Laura M. Delgado López is a Senior Fellow at the Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy. In this role, she provides subject matter expertise in space activities and governance, with a focus on Latin America, to lead several Institute efforts related to space in support of USSOUTHCOM priorities. This includes authoring original research for publication, providing thought leadership via presentations and lectures, and contributing to engagements involving partner nations.
Angel Diaz, Ph.D.BCS Allegiant
Dr. Angel Diaz founded Allegient Defense in 2011 and successfully grew and led it through its merger with BCS in 2024. Today, he serves as BCS Allegient’s Chief Development Officer, helping to ensure the business continues its solid revenue, capability, and customer growth trajectory. Prior to founding Allegient Defense, Dr. Diaz held senior roles at SRC, DARPA, and USSOCOM. He is a U.S. Navy veteran and has also served as a Professor of Computer Information Systems at Strayer University.
Donavon Johnson, Ph.D.Assistant Professor, FIU
Dr. Johnson is an assistant professor of public policy and administration. He is a Fulbright Scholar from the Global South with dynamic research interests. One tranche of his research examines the consequences of administrative burdens bureaucratic encounters and policy making. He connects these literatures to research on, implementation, program evaluation, and social equity to raise questions related to understanding how administrative burdens disrupt Public Administration’s role as an enabler of democracy and good governance.
Raoul Ouedraogo, Ph.D.Lincoln Laboratory, MIT
Dr. Raoul Ouedraogo's research focuses on miniaturization, taking small items like antennas, sensors, and nanobatteries, and making them even smaller. He has been working with a team to develop small sensors that, when integrated on drones flown over disaster areas, can detect people trapped under rubble or inside burning buildings. This system could save the lives of not only disaster victims but also of rescue workers who might otherwise have to search dangerous sites.
Guido Torres
Executive Director, Irregular Warfare Initiative
Guido Torres is the Executive Director of IWI and a national security professional with expertise in irregular warfare with over two decades of experience working on sensitive special operations, supporting military and interagency campaigns. He is a Department of Defense Civilian and was a National Security Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center (2022-2023), where he worked with the Defense, Emerging Technology, and Strategy Project.
Ana GonzalezJ2 Deputy Director, U.S. Southern Command
Ana Gonzalez serves as Deputy Director of Intelligence at the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). In this capacity, she supports the Director of Intelligence (J2) by providing leadership and oversight over the full range of intelligence activities required to advance SOUTHCOM's Campaign Plan objectives. Prior to this position, Ms. Gonzalez was the Senior Defense Intelligence Analyst for Latin America and the Caribbean at SOUTHCOM.
Alejandra Susana MonteolivaMinister of National Security of Argentina
Alejandra Susana Monteoliva serves as Minister of National Security of the Argentine Republic, where she leads the country’s public security strategy and oversees federal law enforcement agencies, including efforts to combat organized crime, narcotics trafficking, and transnational threats. With an extensive background in public security and law enforcement, Minister Monteoliva has held senior leadership roles focused on crime prevention, institutional reform, and interagency coordination.
Gabriela Hoberman, Ph.D.Director of Academic Programs,
FIU Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center
Dr. Gabriela Hoberman is the Director of Academic Programs at the Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center (LACC) and the Faculty Director of LACC’s Study Abroad Program on Society, Politics & International Relations in Argentina. She is also the Primary Investigator (PI) of the Tinker Field Research Collaborative Grant. Dr. Hoberman is a political scientist and researcher in the field of disasters in the Latin American and Caribbean region.
Rafael Marrero, Ph.D.Founder, Miami Strategic Intelligence Institute
A distinguished business leader and strategic advisor with extensive experience in government contracting, supply chain, and program management, Dr. Marrero is known for his award-winning expertise in federal procurement and US-China relations. He has guided and scaled numerous businesses to success in the public sector, and his commitment to impactful solutions makes him an invaluable leader at MSI².
Renee NovakoffSenior Fellow, FIU Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy
Ms. Novakoff served for over forty years in the Department of Defense and in several Intelligence agencies including NSA, CIA, ODNI, and DIA. Her last assignment was in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, providing oversight and guidance for the Defense Department’s special programs and sensitive activities to include Human Intelligence, Information Operations, counter supply chain threats, sensitive technical collection, intelligence support for irregular warfare, Golden Dome, US.
Vladimir Rouvinski
Director of the Laboratory of Politics and International Relations (PoInt) at ICESI University
Dr. Vladimir Rouvinski is Director, Laboratory of Politics and International Relations (PoInt), and Associate Professor, Department of Political Studies, at Icesi University in Cali, Colombia. He graduated from Irkutsk State University, in Russia, majoring in history and international relations, and he also holds MA and PhD in International Development and Cooperation from Hiroshima University in Japan.
Martin Vladimirov
Director of the Energy and Climate Program, Center for the Study of Democracy
Martin Vladimirov works in the field of energy security in Europe and the Balkans, the energy transition, the alternative energy technologies, as well as the geopolitical dimensions of energy and financial markets with a strong interest in the different elements of the Russian and Chinese economic influence in Europe. He has been working in energy and political analysis for the last three years both academically and professionally.
Vera BergengruenNational Security Correspondent, Wall Street Journal
Vera Bergengruen is a national security reporter at The Wall Street Journal in Washington, D.C. Before joining the Journal, she was a senior correspondent at Time magazine, where she covered the intersection of national security, tech and politics and reported cover stories from Ukraine, Argentina and El Salvador. Previously she worked as a national security and investigative reporter for BuzzFeed News. She began her journalism career at her hometown Miami Herald and its parent company McClatchy.
Laura ChinchillaFormer President, Costa Rica
Laura Chinchilla, former President of Costa Rica (2010–2014), is the President of Club de Madrid and currently serves on the Board of Directors. Born on 28 March 1959 in San José, President Laura Chinchilla is a political scientist with a Master in Public Policy from Georgetown University. She was the first woman to be elected president of Costa Rica (2010-2014). Previously, she served as minister of public security (1996-1998), congresswoman (2002-2006), minister of justice (2006-2008), and vice president (2006-2008).
Jose Mallea
Managing Partner, Forward Global
Jose Mallea is the managing partner of Forward Global Miami, focused on addressing complex, high-stakes matters for Latin American and U.S. clients across industries and issue areas. Jose has served as the chief of staff to the mayors of both Miami and Miami Dade County, and has spent significant time in U.S. politics, working in the White House and State Department as part of the George W. Bush administration . In 2010, Jose was campaign manager for U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s first successful U.S. Senate campaign. Jose is also the founder of Biscayne Bay Brewing Company in Miami, a premiere independent craft brewery. Most recently, he served as the CEO of the Libre Initiative.
Brian WinterEditor-in-Chief of Americas Quarterly
Vice President of Policy at Americas Society and Council of the Americas
Brian Winter is the editor-in-chief of Americas Quarterly and the vice president of policy for Americas Society and Council of the Americas. With more than 25 years following Latin American politics and business, he has been described as “one of the best chroniclers and analysts” of the region by Foreign Affairs, and “the best foreign expert on Brazil of this moment” by GloboNews. Brian lived for a decade in Brazil, Argentina and Mexico as a journalist for Reuters before joining AS/COA in New York in 2015.
Major General (Ret'd) Antony AndersonJamaican Ambassador to the U.S.
Major General (Ret'd) Antony Anderson is Jamaica's 14th Ambassador to the United States and Permanent Representative to the OAS, assuming duties in May 2025. A distinguished national security expert, he previously served as Jamaica's Commissioner of Police (2018–2024), the first National Security Advisor, and Chief of Defence Staff
Tarlie FrancisGrenadian Ambassador to the U.S.
Permanent Representative of Grenada to the OAS
Tarlie Francis is the Ambassador of Grenada to the United States, with a distinguished career spanning finance, public service, and faith. He has held roles with major Caribbean financial institutions and Grenada’s Ministry of Finance, and is also an ordained Catholic deacon who promotes spiritual growth, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship through public engagements. He holds an LLB (Hons), an MSc in Social Sciences, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers, with additional certifications from institutions including the SEC and IMF. Bilingual in English and Spanish, he is also a published author focused on personal development and finance.
Mark Rosenberg, Ph.D.Professor, FIU
Mark B. Rosenberg served as the fifth president of Florida International University from 2009 to 2022, leading a major transformation that positioned FIU among the fastest-rising public research universities in the U.S., significantly increasing enrollment, graduates, research output, and philanthropic support. A nationally recognized expert in change management, he also served as the founding chancellor of the Florida Board of Governors, helping shape the state’s university system. A political scientist and Latin American specialist, he is now a University Professor and Senior Fellow at FIU, leading initiatives on cybersecurity, national security, and Latin American affairs. Dr. Rosenberg has authored multiple books, taught at several leading institutions, and advised U.S. government agencies, while also playing key leadership roles in academia and the South Florida community.
Steven DudleyCo-Founder and Co-Director, InSight Crime
Steven Dudley is the co-founder and co-director of InSight Crime and a senior research fellow at American University’s Center for Latin American and Latino Studies in Washington, DC. In 2020, Dudley published his second book, MS-13: The Making of America’s Most Notorious Gang (HarperCollins), which in 2019 won the Lukas Prize for work-in-progress. Dudley is the former bureau chief of the Miami Herald in the Andean Region and the author of Walking Ghosts: Murder and Guerrilla Politics in Colombia (Routledge 2004).
Ana Glenda Tager RosadoPrivate Secretariat of the Presidency of Guatemala
Ana Glenda Tager Rosado is the current Private Secretary to the Presidency of Guatemala. She holds a degree in Sociology from the Pontifical University of Salamanca and has more than 25 years of experience in areas related to Security Sector Reform, violence reduction, at-risk youth (gangs, sports fan groups), conflict transformation, resilience, and peacebuilding. She has coordinated various dialogue processes using participatory action research across the seven countries of Central America, Haiti, Chiapas (Mexico), and currently in Colombia.
Eduardo VergaraCitizen Security for the Inter-American Development Bank
Eduardo J. Vergara B. is Chief of the Citizen Security Division at the Inter-American Development Bank. He previously served as Chile’s Deputy Minister for Crime Prevention and also led the country’s Citizen Security Division. He has extensive experience in public safety, public policy and crime prevention, having led large-scale, evidence-based initiatives in complex settings.
Jose Miguel Cruz, Ph.D.Interim Director, FIU Kimberly Green Latin American and Caribbean Center
Dr. José Miguel Cruz is an associate professor in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice and director of the Center for the Administration of Justice. Before becoming Director of CAJ, Jose Miguel served as Director of Research in LACC, where he secured research grants from the State Department, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, the Tinker Foundation, USAID, the Social Science Research Council (SSRC), the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), UNICEF, and Open Society Foundations (OSF).
Gil GuerraSenior Policy Analyst, Niskanen Center
Gil Guerra is a Senior Policy Analyst at the Niskanen Center, where he focuses on immigration and foreign policy, the demographics of irregular migration, and assimilation processes. He is also a contributing writer at The Dispatch. Named the 2024 Rising Expert in Latin America by Young Professionals in Foreign Policy, Guerra has completed fellowships at the Aspen Institute, Hudson Institute, and Hertog Foundation. His research contributions include presentations at conferences organized by the Society for Terrorism Research and the America In the World Consortium, as well as a commissioned study for the FIU Analytic Outreach Papers.
Adam IsacsonDirector for Defense Oversight, Washington Office on Latin America
Adam Isacson has worked on defense, security, and peacebuilding in Latin America since 1994. He now directs WOLA’s Defense Oversight program, which monitors U.S. cooperation with Latin America’s security forces, as well as other security trends. As part of the program, Isacson tracks U.S. military and police training, arms transfers, and security engagement and their implications for human rights and civil-military relations throughout the Americas.
Betilde Muñoz-PogossianSenior Advisor to the Secretary General of the OAS
Dr. Betilde Muñoz-Pogossian is the Senior Advisor to the Secretary General of the OAS. She served as the Director of the Department of Social Inclusion at the Organization of American States (OAS). For more than 15 years, she has led missions, programs, and projects and conducted research on issues of democracy and elections, and equity and social inclusion, among others. At the Department of Social Inclusion, Muñoz-Pogossian leads work on the inclusion of populations in vulnerable situations and on the promotion of the full exercise of their human rights.
Inga Trauthig, Ph.D.Assistant Research Professor, FIU Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy
Dr. Inga Trauthig is a research professor at Florida International University and a security studies scholar with a Ph.D. from King’s College London. Her work examines the political and security impacts of emerging technologies, including their effects on democracy and extremism. She has authored 80+ publications, including Ruining Revolution (Columbia University Press, 2025), and advises governments and international organizations, with her expertise featured in major media and global policy forums.
GEN (Ret.) Alberto MejiaFormer General Commander of the Military Forces of Colombia
General Alberto José Mejía Ferrero (Ret.) is the former Commander of the Colombian National Army and the Colombian Military Forces. With a military career spanning more than four decades, he led Colombia’s armed forces between 2015 and 2018 during a pivotal period marked by peace negotiations between the Colombian government and the FARC, supporting the process that resulted in the group’s disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration, while upholding democratic civil–military relations.
Amb. Juan Carlos PinzonFormer Ambassador of Colombia to the U.S. and former Minister of Defense
Juan Carlos Pinzón is native of Bogotá, Colombia, married to Pilar Lozano and has two children, Natalia and Juan Pablo. Throughout his career, Pinzón has been a leader in both the public and private sectors. In July of 2017, he began his process to reach the presidency of Colombia. First as a presidential candidate promoted by the movement of citizens “Colombia Above” that collected almost a million signatures to nominate him as a candidate. Then, in March 2018, he became vice presidential candidate.
Maria Paula RomoFormer Minister of Government of Ecuador
María Paula Romo is a lawyer with a distinguished career in public service and academia across Latin America. She has served twice as a legislator, and most recently held the position of Minister of Government of Ecuador, where she led state institutions through major national crises. Her work has focused on democratic governance, security, and the defense of the rule of law. She has been a university professor and served as Dean of the Faculty of Law and Social Sciences at the International University of Ecuador.
Yanina Kogan
Director, Taeda Foundation
As the Foundation’s Director, she leads training and cooperation programs in strategic areas such as connectivity, climate change, and inclusive development. Her previous experience includes directing the Argentine-Israeli Chamber of Commerce, where she planned and executed networking programs nationally and internationally, and at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship, where she coordinated key meetings during Argentina’s Pro Tempore Presidency of Mercosur.
Amb. Stephanie Syptak-RamnathForeign Policy Advisor, US SOUTHCOM
Ambassador Stephanie Syptak-Ramnath assumed duties as Foreign Policy Advisor, U.S. Southern Command, Miami, FL, in June 2025. Ambassador Syptak-Ramnath provides the Commander and senior staff with geopolitical, political military, and economic counsel. She leads the Command's relationship with the Department of State and U.S. Embassies abroad and strengthens relations with foreign and interagency partners.
Amb. Ronald “Ron” D. JohnsonU.S. Ambassador to Mexico
Ronald Johnson was confirmed by the Senate as Ambassador to Mexico on April 9, 2025. He has served the United States government for over four decades, first as an officer in the U.S. Army, then as a member of the intelligence community, and most recently as the U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador. Among his various roles, Ambassador Johnson was the Central Intelligence Agency’s Science and Technology Liaison to the U.S. Special Operations Command, in Tampa, Florida.
Carlos Diaz Rosillo, Ph.D.Founding Director, FIU Adam Smith Center
The Honorable Carlos Díaz-Rosillo, PhD, is an accomplished administrator, entrepreneur, political and policy strategist, and former senior government official. He is the Founding Director of the Adam Smith Center for Economic Freedom, where he is responsible for standing up and running the Center, setting its strategic vision, and developing and implementing its programs.
Amb. Mike WaltzU.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
Ambassador Mike Waltz was sworn in as the 32nd U.S. Representative to the United Nations on September 20, 2025. Ambassador Waltz is a Colonel in the U.S. Army, a combat-decorated Special Forces officer, the former National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump, a former Congressman and small business owner, an author, and a proud father. In 2018, Waltz became the first Green Beret to be elected to Congress. In this role, he served as a subcommittee Chairman on the House Armed Services Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee, and Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
Shlomi Dinar
Dean, Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs
Dr. Shlomi Dinar is Dean of the Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs and a Professor in the Department of Politics and International Relations. Prior to becoming Dean, he was Associate Director for Academics and then Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Innovation. Dinar’s research interests lie at the intersection of international environmental politics, national security, and negotiation. In particular, he has published in the areas of conflict and cooperation over transboundary rivers.
Amb. Kevin Cabrera
U.S. Ambassador to Panama
Kevin Marino Cabrera was nominated by President Donald J. Trump and confirmed by the United States Senate on April 9, 2025, to serve as the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Panama. Ambassador Cabrera is committed to strengthening the relationship between the United States and Panama—promoting regional security, expanding U.S. trade and investment, and deepening cooperation on issues that are vital to our nation’s prosperity and global competitiveness.
Amb. Bernie NavarroU.S. Ambassador to Peru
Bernie Navarro was nominated by President Donald J. Trump to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Peru on June 16 and confirmed by the Senate on December 18, 2025. A Puerto-Rican resident of humble Cuban heritage, Ambassador Navarro is an accomplished entrepreneur, educator, and civic leader who has built a career bridging finance, real estate development, and community empowerment. Ambassador Navarro is the founder and president of Benworth Capital, a private equity and licensed mortgage lending firm with offices in Coral Gables, Florida and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Jay KramerDirector of Public Affairs, Citadel and Citadel Securities
Jay Kramer is the director of public affairs at Citadel and Citadel Securities, where he advises on geopolitical and policy matters and advances civic engagement strategies for Citadel’s founder and CEO, Ken Griffin. Before joining Citadel, Jay served as executive director of the American Opportunity Alliance, providing strategic guidance and analysis to Alliance members. He has previously served as counsel to members of both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, advising on national security, immigration, and defense issues.
Amb. Leandro Rizzuto Jr.U.S. Ambassador to the OAS
Ambassador Leandro “Lee” Rizzuto is a distinguished American business leader, philanthropist, and public servant whose career spans global enterprise, public policy, and diplomacy. In 2024, President Donald J. Trump nominated him as U.S. Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS), and he was sworn in at the White House in October 2025. He previously served as U.S. Consul General in Bermuda, advancing U.S. diplomatic and economic priorities in the Atlantic region.
Adrienne RossSenior Advisor, U.S. Foreign Policy and Global Affairs
Adrienne Ross, a seasoned international communications consultant and journalist, is a trusted advisor who offers a comprehensive understanding of U.S. foreign policy and global affairs, combined with extensive crisis, breaking news and spokesperson expertise. She has served as the U.S. Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications (2018-2020); the U.S. Department of State Senior Advisor to the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (2020) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Bureau for Latin American and Caribbean Affairs (2020-2021).
Bethany Aquilina Brez
Vice President of the Office of Foreign Policy,U.S. International Development Finance Corporation
Bethany Aquilina Brez is the Vice President of the Office of Foreign Policy at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). She leads DFC’s work to advance the foreign policy and national security strategy of the United States through private capital mobilization. Ms. Aquilina Brez previously served as the Chief of Staff for Prosper Africa.
Saif Ishoof
Founder and CEO, Lab22C
Raised in Miami, Saif Ishoof is an expert on how the forces of disruption are transforming how we learn, work, and play. Saif has been recognized with several prestigious distinctions including as a Presidential Leadership Scholar, a scholar of the German Marshall Fund, and as an Aspen Institute Fellow for Civil Society. Most recently, Saif was named Most Innovative CEO in South Florida by the Levan Center for Innovation. Saif is a frequently sought-after advisor and board member to venture & private-equity backed companies.
André François GirouxCanadian Ambassador to Haiti
André François Giroux is a senior Canadian diplomat who currently serves as Ambassador of Canada to the Republic of Haiti. In this role, he leads Canada’s diplomatic mission and advances bilateral engagement on security, governance, humanitarian assistance, and development cooperation during a critical period for Haiti’s stability. A career member of Global Affairs Canada, Ambassador Giroux brings extensive experience in international diplomacy, particularly in fragile and complex environments. Over the course of his career, he has held a range of positions both at headquarters and abroad, contributing to Canada’s foreign policy priorities across the Americas.
Amb. Henry T. WoosterU.S. Ambassador to Haiti
Henry T. Wooster serves as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. He served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan from September 2020 to July 2023, and prior to his Ambassadorship, as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Maghreb and Egypt. He is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service. Previously, he was the Deputy of Chief of Mission in Paris and Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. at U.S. Embassy Amman.
Jackie CharlesHaiti and Caribbean Correspondent, Miami Herald
Jacqueline Charles has reported on Haiti and the English-speaking Caribbean for the Miami Herald for over a decade. A Pulitzer Prize finalist for her coverage of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, she was awarded a 2018 Maria Moors Cabot Prize — the most prestigious award for coverage of the Americas.
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