CTPP Fellows participate in a two-semester research symposium designed exclusively for them to explore topical areas in more depth. Together with a faculty mentor, each fellow produces a piece of original research in national security.
These research papers and presentations are available to the public for review. Written permission was given by the respective authors. The views expressed in student academic research papers are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy or position of Duke University, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.
2023
Links will be provided as received.
It’s Not You, It’s Me: Why DS Special Agents Are Leaving The Diplomatic Security Service
J. Bracken Murphy, U.S. Dept. of State Supervisory Special Agent
Final Paper | Final Presentation
The Death of the Officers Club and Impacts on the US Army’s Organizational Culture
Andrew S. Brokhoff, Colonel, U.S. Army
Final Paper | Final Presentation
Russia After Ukraine
Colonel Justin Hufnagel, Army Special Forces Officer
Final Paper | Final Presentation
Improving Intelligence to Address the Rising Threat of White Christian Nationalist Violent Extremism in the United States
Luz Ruiz, Supervisory Special Agent
Final Paper | Final Presentation
The Cost of Political Polarization: How Criticism of Wokeness is Hurting Military Recruitment and Retention
James C. Stultz, Colonel, Infantry
Final Paper | Final Presentation
Through A Glass, Darkly: How Strategic Ambiguity Distorts Spiritual Readiness
Ernest (Jay) West, Chaplain (Colonel) U.S. Army
Final Paper | Final Presentation
Re-establishing Stakeholder Trust: Special Forces Competing in Irregular Warfare
Nathan Whitfield, U.S. Army War College Fellow
Final Paper | Final Presentation
2022
Somalia: An Analysis of Social Fit
COL John Bishop, U.S. Army Special Forces Officer
Final Paper | Final Presentation
Be All You Can Be…Like Your Parents: Occupational Inheritance of the Army Profession
LTC Kevin Consedine, U.S. Army Aviation Officer
Final Paper | Final Presentation
Improving recruitment of African Americans into the Special Agent job role at the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Khadijah Davis, FBI Supervisory Special Agent
Final Paper | Final Presentation
The Power of Foreign Influence and
Interference in Academia
Olga Delgado, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, National Security Expert
Final Paper | Final Presentation
Addressing the Reintegration Challenges Faced by Foreign Terrorist Fighter Family Members Returning to the United States from Middle East Internally Displaced Persons Camps
Graham Grove, FBI Supervisory Intelligence Analyst
Final Paper | Final Presentation
Aligning Culture with Purpose: Preparing Special Forces for Strategic Competition
COL Ben Jahn, U.S. Army Special Forces Officer
Final Paper | Final Presentation
Winning Small: Lessons in Military Intervention from Oman and Syria
LTC Derek Noel, U.S. Army Infantry Officer
Final Paper | Final Presentation
Applying Psychological Theory to Public Diplomacy: How U.S. Government Programs Counter Violent Extremism
Drake Weisert, U.S. Department of State
Final Paper | Final Presentation
2021
Quantum Computing and Its Potential Implications to Cryptology
Jenny Arnold, Senior Civil Servant in the Department of Defense
Final Paper | Final Presentation
The Lost American Voice in Political Warfare
LTC Randee Farrell, US Army Public Affairs Officer
Final Paper | Final Presentation
The Army Owes Courtney Massengale His Due: Qualities of a General Staff Officer
COL Jon Harvey, U.S. Army Field Artillery Officer
Final Paper | Final Presentation
Directed Energy Neuroweapons: Coercive Competition’s Tool of Choice
LTC Tina Hayes, Nuclear Counterproliferation and Countering WMD Specialist
Final Paper | Final Presentation
Taking Risks in Diplomacy: Finding the Right Balance for US Engagement
Margalit Murray, Supervisory Special Agent, US Department of State
Final Paper | Final Presentation
Effectively Integrating Army Civilians in Tactical Units
COL Matt Ross, US Army Special Operations Officer
Final Paper | Final Presentation
Examining Police Militarization
Matthew Whittemore, FBI Supervisory Special Agent
Final Paper | Final Presentation
2020
Beyond Belief – When Conspiracies Are More Believable Than Truth:
Battling the Kinetic Counter Narrative in Combat
COL Dave Butler, 2020 Final Paper | Final Presentation
There is an Identity Crisis in Special Forces: Who are the Green Berets Supposed to Be?
COL Ed Croot, 2020 Final Paper | Final Presentation
A Thousand Dead Indian Horses: Soldiering in a Complex Environment
COL Matthew Gomlak, 2020 Final Paper | Final Presentation
How Fast is Fast Enough? SOF Acquisition & Emerging Technology
Aaron Honey, 2020 Final Paper | Final Presentation
Searching from Within: The Challenge of Intraorganizational Recruitment in Specialized Units
LTC Michael Mourouzis, 2020 Final Paper | Final Presentation
Community Counterterrorism: Assessing Criticism of the FBI’s Interactions with the Muslim Community
Neil Reedy , 2020 Final Presentation
2019
Additive Manufacturing: Special Operations Forces Capacity Production at the Point of Need
COL Joseph Blanton, 2019 Final Paper | Final Presentation
America First ≠ America Alone: Morocco as Model Counterterrorism Partner
COL James Cogbill, 2019 Final Paper | Final Presentation
Optimizing Our Army for the Millennial Generation
COL Shane Finison, 2019 Final Paper | Final Presentation
21st Century Statecraft and the Return of Great Power Competition: An Interagency Framework for Non-Traditional Threats
COL Michael Rose, 2019 Final Paper | Final Presentation
2018
The Complexity of Achieving Stability in Sirte, Libya
COL Nate Prussian, 2018 Final Paper | Final Presentation
The Millennial Challenge: Evaluating the Assimilation of Millennials into the Army Officer Corps
COL James McGahey, 2018 Final Paper| Final Presentation
The Hot Seat: Assessing Military Crisis Communication
COL Scott Rawlinson, 2018 Final Paper| Final Presentation
The Past, Present and Future of the National Security Strategy
COL Gabe Barton, 2018 Final Paper| Final Presenation
2017
Political Warfare Lessons from the Cold War
COL R. Chris Black, 2017 Final Paper | Final Presentation
Improving Public-Private Collaboration between the DoD and Non-Federal Entities
COL Wesley F. MacMullen, 2017 Final Paper | Final Presentation
United States Senate Confirmations for Four-star Military Officers: Effectiveness & Efficiency
CDR Jay C. Sego, 2017 Final Presentation
FAA: An Undervalued Combat Multiplier
LTC Matthew R. Weinshel, 2017 Final Paper | Final Presentation
Challenges to Stability Assistance in Rojava: A United States Policy Option
LTC Joseph W. Wortham, 2017 Final Paper | Final Presentation
2016
Improving Logistics Agility Through Additive Manufacturing
COL Aaron J. Cook, 2016 Final Paper | Final Presentation
Expanding the War College Fellowships: Reconnecting the Army to America
COL Lawrence G. Ferguson, 2016 Final Paper | Final Presentation
Small Robots with Strategic Effects
LTC Jasper Jeffers, 2016 Final Paper | Final Presentation
Tale of Three Systems: Formalizing an Operational Interagency Management Process
LTC Anthony B. Poole, 2016 Final Paper | Final Presentation
Pi Shaped Officers: Developing Naval Officers to Lead in the Converged Cyberspace and Electromagnetic Spectrum Domains
LTC Brian P. Schultz, 2016 Final Paper | Final Presentation
Building Better Security Partners: What we have learned from the past and how it applies today
COL Geoff T. Stewart, 2016 Final Paper | Final Presentation
2015
Employing Merchant Vessels for Offshore Presence and Launch of US Military Operations
LTC Chavius G. Lewis, 2015 Final Paper | Final Presentation
Enhancing Congressional Oversight of DOD Clandestine Activities: A Case Study of SOF CT Paramilitary Operations
COL Joshua M. Rudd, 2015 Final Paper | Final Presentation
Legalized Marijuana and Divergent Enlistment Policies
COL David P. Shafer, 2015 Final Paper | Final Presentation
Targeted Killings: Is Organizational Decapitation an Effective Counterterrorism Strategy?
LTC J. Todd Turner, 2015 Final Paper | Final Presentation
2014
Growing the Ranks of African-American Infantry and Armor Officers
COL Ronald P. Clark, 2014 – Final Paper | Final Presentation
Missile Defense and China
LTC Paul T. Darling, 2014 – Final Paper
The Army’s Role in Domestic Disaster Response: Preparing for the Next Catastrophe
LTC Neal S. Mitsuyoshi, 2014 – Final Paper | Final Presentation
The Delta of Command: The Increasing Gap Between Character and Competence in the Navy’s Commanding Officer Screening and Selection
CPT Milton J. Sands III, 2014 – Final Paper
Counterterrorism Partners for the Future: Indicators of Effective Partner Relationships
COL James A. Wanovich, 2014 – Final Paper | Final Presentation
2013
Retaining Officer Talent
COL Nathan B. Hunsinger Jr, 2013 – Final Paper