My experience in government, academia, and military environments inform my commitment to policy engagement. I am dedicated to producing rigorous, policy-relevant research, disseminating my findings to the public, and supporting others in doing so. To that end, I serve as a fellow with the Bridging the Gap Project previously served as a Nonresident Fellow with the Modern War Institute at West Point, bridging the academic, policy, and military communities. I currently write as a contributor to Good Authority. Moreover, drawing on lessons from the inaugural Responsible Public Engagement Institute at the University of Denver, I am committed to ethical best practices in research dissemination.
Commentary:
I have published my insights on international kidnapping, wrongful detentions, and ransomware attacks in multiple public-facing outlets, including:
"The politics behind Marc Fogel's release from a Russian prison." Good Authority, February 15, 2025.
"U.S. hostage policy will be quite different under Trump." Good Authority, December 18, 2024.
"Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, and Alsu Kurmasheva are back in the U.S." Good Authority, August 3, 2024.
"Navigating the unthinkable: a Russian prison sentence." Good Authority, May 22, 2024.
"Good to Know: Hostage taking and the rise in hostage diplomacy." Good Authority, January 17, 2024.
"Why Colombia's ELN freed a soccer star's parents." Good Authority, November 15, 2023.
"Why the Gaza hostage crisis is different." Good Authority, October 13, 2023.
"Biden's hostage diplomacy, explained." Good Authority, September 20, 2023.
"Brittney Griner is free. Here are 5 takeaways." The Washington Post, December 12, 2022.
"The Prisoners Dilemma: America Must Adapt to a New Era of Hostage-Taking" Foreign Affairs, August 24, 2022.
"WNBA's Brittney Griner deserves our support as she sits in a Russian jail cell" USA Today, July 7, 2022.
"Can a former left-wing guerrilla salvage Colombia's peace plan?" The Washington Post, June 29, 2022.
"Brittney Griner was 'wrongfully detained.' What happens now?" The Washington Post, May 6, 2022.
"American missionaries were kidnapped for ransom in Haiti. What happens in these cases?" The Washington Post, October 24, 2021.
"Ransomware Lessons for a Nation Held Hostage." Lawfare, September 12, 2021.
"Armed group allegedly plotted to kidnap Michigan's governor. Here are 5 things to know about political kidnappings." The Washington Post, October 14, 2020.
"Why Trump's alleged comments about soldiers brought so much outrage.'' (with Lauren Prather) The Washington Post, September 12, 2020.
"News of a Kidnapping." Political Violence at a Glance, September 2, 2020.
"Taking Stock at 40: The UN Convention Against the Taking of Hostages." Just Security. December 20, 2019.
"The Collapse of Compassion: Visual Suffering and Political Change." Political Violence at a Glance, July 5, 2019.
"Trump claims he's the greatest hostage negotiator ever. So why did he make it harder to bring Americans home?" The Washington Post, April 29, 2019.
"'No Concessions'? A Closer Look at U.S. Hostage Recovery Policy." War on the Rocks, February 27, 2019.
"What the Dublin Tram System Hack Reveals about the Future of Hostage Taking." Just Security, January 11, 2019.
"The U.S. believes that kidnapped journalist Austin Tice is still alive. Here are 5 things to know about global kidnapping." The Washington Post, December 4, 2018.
"Will Colombia's next president be a former left-wing guerrilla?" The Washington Post, June 15, 2018.
"How a Decade of the iPhone Changed Global Kidnapping," War on the Rocks, January 4, 2018.
I have been quoted in a wide range of print and digital outlets, including the The New York Times, the Associated Press, The Washington Post, the LA Times, ESPN, the Wall Street Journal, the New Yorker, Ha'aretz, ABC News, the Financial Times, and the Houston Chronicle. I have also appeared on tv, radio, and podcast interviews to discuss hostage diplomacy and hostage recovery.
Commentary:
I have published my insights on international kidnapping, wrongful detentions, and ransomware attacks in multiple public-facing outlets, including:
"The politics behind Marc Fogel's release from a Russian prison." Good Authority, February 15, 2025.
"U.S. hostage policy will be quite different under Trump." Good Authority, December 18, 2024.
"Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, and Alsu Kurmasheva are back in the U.S." Good Authority, August 3, 2024.
"Navigating the unthinkable: a Russian prison sentence." Good Authority, May 22, 2024.
"Good to Know: Hostage taking and the rise in hostage diplomacy." Good Authority, January 17, 2024.
"Why Colombia's ELN freed a soccer star's parents." Good Authority, November 15, 2023.
"Why the Gaza hostage crisis is different." Good Authority, October 13, 2023.
"Biden's hostage diplomacy, explained." Good Authority, September 20, 2023.
"Brittney Griner is free. Here are 5 takeaways." The Washington Post, December 12, 2022.
"The Prisoners Dilemma: America Must Adapt to a New Era of Hostage-Taking" Foreign Affairs, August 24, 2022.
"WNBA's Brittney Griner deserves our support as she sits in a Russian jail cell" USA Today, July 7, 2022.
"Can a former left-wing guerrilla salvage Colombia's peace plan?" The Washington Post, June 29, 2022.
"Brittney Griner was 'wrongfully detained.' What happens now?" The Washington Post, May 6, 2022.
"American missionaries were kidnapped for ransom in Haiti. What happens in these cases?" The Washington Post, October 24, 2021.
"Ransomware Lessons for a Nation Held Hostage." Lawfare, September 12, 2021.
"Armed group allegedly plotted to kidnap Michigan's governor. Here are 5 things to know about political kidnappings." The Washington Post, October 14, 2020.
"Why Trump's alleged comments about soldiers brought so much outrage.'' (with Lauren Prather) The Washington Post, September 12, 2020.
"News of a Kidnapping." Political Violence at a Glance, September 2, 2020.
"Taking Stock at 40: The UN Convention Against the Taking of Hostages." Just Security. December 20, 2019.
"The Collapse of Compassion: Visual Suffering and Political Change." Political Violence at a Glance, July 5, 2019.
"Trump claims he's the greatest hostage negotiator ever. So why did he make it harder to bring Americans home?" The Washington Post, April 29, 2019.
"'No Concessions'? A Closer Look at U.S. Hostage Recovery Policy." War on the Rocks, February 27, 2019.
"What the Dublin Tram System Hack Reveals about the Future of Hostage Taking." Just Security, January 11, 2019.
"The U.S. believes that kidnapped journalist Austin Tice is still alive. Here are 5 things to know about global kidnapping." The Washington Post, December 4, 2018.
"Will Colombia's next president be a former left-wing guerrilla?" The Washington Post, June 15, 2018.
"How a Decade of the iPhone Changed Global Kidnapping," War on the Rocks, January 4, 2018.
I have been quoted in a wide range of print and digital outlets, including the The New York Times, the Associated Press, The Washington Post, the LA Times, ESPN, the Wall Street Journal, the New Yorker, Ha'aretz, ABC News, the Financial Times, and the Houston Chronicle. I have also appeared on tv, radio, and podcast interviews to discuss hostage diplomacy and hostage recovery.
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TV Appearances:
"ABC News Live" on ABC: "Senior Israeli official: Israeli cabinet will meet Friday to ratify ceasefire deal" "ABC News Live" on ABC: "Freed Americans to be treated at medical military facility" "FOX 32 Chicago": "What went into the U.S. prisoner swap with Russia?" Deutsche Wells News: “How a historic prisoner swap was orchestrated despite strained US-Russia relations" "ABC News Live" on ABC: "Israel-Hamas war: 11 more hostages released in temporary cease-fire agreement." "BBC News Live" on BBC: "Israeli government: 50 hostages released over four days." "ABC News Live" on ABC: "Negotiations to free Hamas hostages moving in right direction." "The Situation Room" on CNN: "Past prisoner swaps have seen blowback." "CBS News Streaming" on CBS: "How deals like the U.S.-Iran prisoner exchange come together" "System Error" on VICE News: "Why State Kidnappings Are on the Rise" "ABC News Live" on ABC: "What the Taliban prisoner swap means for the US and other Americans detained abroad," available here. "ABC News Live" on ABC: "Biden to meet with the families of Griner, Whelan," available here. "CNN Newsroom" on CNN: "Detained in Russia," available here. "Morning News" on Spectrum 1: "Russia open to talks with U.S. on Brittney Griner prisoner swap," "Outside Source" on BBC News: "Brittney Griner sentenced to 9 years," available here. "Top Story with Tom Llamas" on NBC News Now: "Brittney Griner Sentenced to 9 years in Russia," available here. "Outside the Lines" on ESPN: Brittney Griner sentenced to 9 years in prison for drug charges in Russia," available here and here. "The National," on CBC News: "U.S. reveals prisoner swap offer made to Russia," available here. "Top Story with Tom Llamas" on NBC News Now: "U.S. proposes deal to free Brittney Griner," available here. "ABC News Live" on ABC: "Foreign policy expert on Brittney Griner's testimony, trial," available here. "ABC News Live Prime" on ABC: "'Substantial proposal' offered for Griner and Whelan," available here. "CNN Newsroom" on CNN: "The Dynamics of Hostage Taking in International Politics," available here. "Dan Abrams Live" on NewsNation: "Should U.S. trade 'merchant of death' for Griner?" available here. "CNN New Day Weekend" on CNN: "Brittney Griner pleads guilty to drug charges in Russian court," available here. "Washington Journal" on C-SPAN: "Danielle Gilbert on Brittney Griner and U.S. Hostage Policy," available here. "Top Story with Tom Llamas" on NBC News Now: "Brittney Griner pleads guilty to charges in Russia," available here. "Outside the Lines" on ESPN: "Brittney Griner has plead guilty to drug charges in Russian court," available here and here. "The Situation Room" on CNN: "Trial Begins in Russia for WNBA Star Brittney Griner," available here. "The Stream" on Al Jazeera: "How can Brittney Griner be freed from Russian detention?" available here. "SportsCenter" on ESPN: "U.S. government considers Brittney Griner to be 'wrongfully detained' by Russia," available here. "The Stream" on Al Jazeera: "Is Brittney Griner being used as a hostage?" available here. |
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Radio & Podcast Interviews:
"NegotiateX" podcast: "Uncovering the realities of rebel kidnappings"
"All Things Considered" on NPR: "What does the future of hostage diplomacy look like?"
"AirTalk with Larry Mantle" on NPR: "Evan Gershkovich is free in the largest East-West prisoner swap since the Cold War"
"BBC Newshour" on BBC: "Why the prisoner swap is historic"
"All Things Considered" on NPR: "Moscow’s hostage game with Evan Gershkovich and the U.S. diplomats trying to free him"
"On Point" podcast on WBUR: "The plight of the hostages in Gaza"
"Deep Dish on Global Affairs" podcast, Chicago Council on Global Affairs: "This Era of Hostage Diplomacy Requires New Answers."
"ABC News Daily" podcast, "Can Israel save its hostages from Hamas?"
"Politicology" podcast, "Tapped: Why the Gaza Hostage Crisis is Different"
"Irregular Warfare Podcast" on MWI: "The Prisoner's Dilemma: Hostage Diplomacy 101"
"Weekend Edition with Scott Simon" on NPR: "Foreign governments hold more American hostages than terrorist groups"
"Global Dispatches" podcast, UN Dispatches: "Hostage Diplomacy and Russia's Arrest of Wall Street Journal Reporter Evan Gershkovich," available here.
"The Real Story" on BBC World Service: "What is hostage diplomacy and why is it on the rise?" available here.
"The Takeaway" on WNYC: "Russia Arrested American Journalist Evan Gershkovich," available here.
"World Affairs with Ray Suarez" on World Affairs: "What Brittney Griner's detention can teach us about Putin's war" available here.
"Big World" from American University's School of International Service: "How are Political Prisoner Swaps Negotiated?" available here.
"The Forum" on KQED Radio: "What will it take to bring Brittney Griner -- and other political prisoners -- home?" available here.
"Rear Vision: How History Shaped Today" on Australian Broadcasting Corporation: "Hostage Diplomacy," available here.
"Sports Media with Richard Deitsch" podcast: "What happens next with Brittney Griner?" available here.
"Air Talk" on KPCC: "As Russian Judge Finds Brittney Griner Guilty - How Will The US Negotiate Her Release?" available here.
"The DSR Daily Bonus Brief" on DSR: "Brittney Griner and Hostage Diplomacy," available here.
"The Takeaway" on WNYC: "Brittney Griner's Guilty Plea," available here.
"Weekend Edition with Scott Simon" on NPR: "Brittney Griner's wife demands the U.S. do more to have Russia release her," available here.
"Global Dispatches" podcast, UN Dispatches: "Hostage Diplomacy and the case of Brittney Griner," available here.
"The Takeaway" on WNYC: "Russia's Ongoing Detention of Brittney Griner," available here.
"Horns of a Dilemma" podcast from the Texas National Security Review: "The Personal Face of International Tension: Hostage Diplomacy and Russia's War in Ukraine," available here.
The Conversation Six podcast, available here.
"Say More on That" podcast, in "Episode One: Dr. Danielle Gilbert and the Oxygen of Publicity," available here.
"Global Liberty Alliance Podcast with Jason Poblete," in "US Hostage Law and Policy, and Related Matters," available here.
"NegotiateX" podcast: "Uncovering the realities of rebel kidnappings"
"All Things Considered" on NPR: "What does the future of hostage diplomacy look like?"
"AirTalk with Larry Mantle" on NPR: "Evan Gershkovich is free in the largest East-West prisoner swap since the Cold War"
"BBC Newshour" on BBC: "Why the prisoner swap is historic"
"All Things Considered" on NPR: "Moscow’s hostage game with Evan Gershkovich and the U.S. diplomats trying to free him"
"On Point" podcast on WBUR: "The plight of the hostages in Gaza"
"Deep Dish on Global Affairs" podcast, Chicago Council on Global Affairs: "This Era of Hostage Diplomacy Requires New Answers."
"ABC News Daily" podcast, "Can Israel save its hostages from Hamas?"
"Politicology" podcast, "Tapped: Why the Gaza Hostage Crisis is Different"
"Irregular Warfare Podcast" on MWI: "The Prisoner's Dilemma: Hostage Diplomacy 101"
"Weekend Edition with Scott Simon" on NPR: "Foreign governments hold more American hostages than terrorist groups"
"Global Dispatches" podcast, UN Dispatches: "Hostage Diplomacy and Russia's Arrest of Wall Street Journal Reporter Evan Gershkovich," available here.
"The Real Story" on BBC World Service: "What is hostage diplomacy and why is it on the rise?" available here.
"The Takeaway" on WNYC: "Russia Arrested American Journalist Evan Gershkovich," available here.
"World Affairs with Ray Suarez" on World Affairs: "What Brittney Griner's detention can teach us about Putin's war" available here.
"Big World" from American University's School of International Service: "How are Political Prisoner Swaps Negotiated?" available here.
"The Forum" on KQED Radio: "What will it take to bring Brittney Griner -- and other political prisoners -- home?" available here.
"Rear Vision: How History Shaped Today" on Australian Broadcasting Corporation: "Hostage Diplomacy," available here.
"Sports Media with Richard Deitsch" podcast: "What happens next with Brittney Griner?" available here.
"Air Talk" on KPCC: "As Russian Judge Finds Brittney Griner Guilty - How Will The US Negotiate Her Release?" available here.
"The DSR Daily Bonus Brief" on DSR: "Brittney Griner and Hostage Diplomacy," available here.
"The Takeaway" on WNYC: "Brittney Griner's Guilty Plea," available here.
"Weekend Edition with Scott Simon" on NPR: "Brittney Griner's wife demands the U.S. do more to have Russia release her," available here.
"Global Dispatches" podcast, UN Dispatches: "Hostage Diplomacy and the case of Brittney Griner," available here.
"The Takeaway" on WNYC: "Russia's Ongoing Detention of Brittney Griner," available here.
"Horns of a Dilemma" podcast from the Texas National Security Review: "The Personal Face of International Tension: Hostage Diplomacy and Russia's War in Ukraine," available here.
The Conversation Six podcast, available here.
"Say More on That" podcast, in "Episode One: Dr. Danielle Gilbert and the Oxygen of Publicity," available here.
"Global Liberty Alliance Podcast with Jason Poblete," in "US Hostage Law and Policy, and Related Matters," available here.
Bridging the Gap:
Since 2015, I have served on the leadership team of the Bridging the Gap Project, which supports scholars in contributing to public debates on global challenges and foreign policy. I manage BTG's annual New Era Workshop, a three-day conference that trains Ph.D. students to produce and share policy-relevant scholarship. I have also written for the Bridging the Gap Channel at the Duck of Minerva:
"My Yes and No Committees Approved the Writing of This Post." Duck of Minerva. January 1, 2021.
"Borders, Blinders, and Mental Maps: Assessing Scenario Analysis in Light of Covid-19," (with Rachel Whitlark). Duck of Minerva. June 8, 2020.
Invited Appearances:
I am regularly invited to brief government, military, and public audiences on my areas of expertise. Meetings and briefings include the White House, State Department, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Air Force generals, UK Parliament, think tanks, and private foundations. A list of invited, public appearances can be found in my CV.
Since 2015, I have served on the leadership team of the Bridging the Gap Project, which supports scholars in contributing to public debates on global challenges and foreign policy. I manage BTG's annual New Era Workshop, a three-day conference that trains Ph.D. students to produce and share policy-relevant scholarship. I have also written for the Bridging the Gap Channel at the Duck of Minerva:
"My Yes and No Committees Approved the Writing of This Post." Duck of Minerva. January 1, 2021.
"Borders, Blinders, and Mental Maps: Assessing Scenario Analysis in Light of Covid-19," (with Rachel Whitlark). Duck of Minerva. June 8, 2020.
Invited Appearances:
I am regularly invited to brief government, military, and public audiences on my areas of expertise. Meetings and briefings include the White House, State Department, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Air Force generals, UK Parliament, think tanks, and private foundations. A list of invited, public appearances can be found in my CV.