UNM GNSPI

Do you have an idea to improve US or global security policy?

Apply for the GNSPI Summer Fellowship and compete with your Policy Pitch!

Abstract. The Global & National Security Policy Institute (GNSPI) will select UNM graduate or undergraduate students to be the 2026 GNSPI Summer Fellows. The program prepares Fellows to apply a security policy lens (broadly defined) to their emerging area of expertise or area of interest (which can come from nearly any major).

The Fellows will meet several times over the summer and receive instruction on policy analysis as a method, mentorship from GNSPI Senior Fellows (security practitioners and military strategists), and feedback on their policy pitch.

The culminating event of the Fellowship is a Policy Pitch Competition at the GNSPI Symposium in late August. Throughout the summer, the Fellows will propose, produce, and refine their Policy Pitch—in which they will make the case for why the US (or another body) should adopt their policy proposal.

Benefits include:
- Compete to win $500, $250, or $100 for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd (respectively) in grad and undergrad divisions
- Policy analysis skill building (complements nearly any field)
- Mentorship from practitioners
- Connect with peers and make new friends
- Opportunity to present your Policy Pitch to an audience of peers, faculty, and national security professionals
- Resume boost as a GNSPI Summer Fellow

Eligibility: Graduate or undergraduate UNM students in good standing.

Apply now (or before May 10) here: https://unm.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9Sx6cgLzlOaBUbk

Want to learn more about the founding of GNSPI, the founding director, and his work on Political Islam for the CIA?

Then we have a treat for you!

Dr. Emile Nakhleh, our founding director of GNSPI and retired Senior Intelligence Officer for the CIA, was interviewed for the Lobo Pack Podcast, a podcast by our friends at the UNM Army ROTC program and hosted by GNSPI professional student, Mike Atterbury.

Click the link below or find it wherever podcasts are distributed.

Some relevant timestamps:
(07:55) - How early experiences influenced interest in governance
(17:03) - Religious upbringing and fascination with Islam
(25:28) - Comparing fundamentalism across religions
(35:44) - Building democracy and political institutions in autocratic states
(43:58) - Middle Eastern economies and youth unemployment
(47:56) - Radicalization through social media
(49:31) - Transition from academia to intelligence service
(55:23) - Establishing GNSPI at UNM
(70:11) - Advice for students interested in a career in intelligence
(72:30) - The critical importance of language skills

https://podcast.app/ep-31-cia-senior-intelligence-service-officer-dr-nakhleh-e448639941

Happening today!

GNSPI is excited to bring Dr. Justin Olmstead (Historian and Global Security Lead at Sandia National Labs) to give a talk on a portion of his recent book: 𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘕𝘶𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘞𝘦𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘎𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺, co-authored with Leland Johnson.

The talk is titled "Sandia National Laboratories’ Role in Science Diplomacy." It will focus on the role that the Cooperative Monitoring Center at Sandia National Labs plays in advancing national diplomatic objectives through science and technology.

Event Details.
Wednesday, March 11
12:00-1:00pm (Mountain Time)
Location: Honors College Forum
RSVP to [email protected] for an optional Zoom link

Abstract. Sandia National Laboratories is best known for delivering essential science and technology to resolve the United States’ most challenging security issues. From its beginnings as the ordnance engineering arm of the Manhattan Project’s weapons design laboratory at Los Alamos, Sandia has evolved into the largest multiprogram laboratory in the US Department of Energy. This presentation will discuss how the Cooperative Monitoring Center took advantage of technology initially used in weapons to integrate US policy and diplomacy goals with science and technology capabilities to strengthen international security.

GNSPI is excited to bring Dr. Justin Olmstead (Historian and Global Security Lead at Sandia National Labs) to give a talk on a portion of his recent book: 𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘕𝘶𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘞𝘦𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘎𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺, co-authored with Leland Johnson.

The talk is titled "Sandia National Laboratories’ Role in Science Diplomacy." It will focus on the role that the Cooperative Monitoring Center at Sandia National Labs plays in advancing national diplomatic objectives through science and technology.

Event Details.
Wednesday, March 11
12:00-1:00pm
Location: Honors College Forum
RSVP to [email protected] for an optional Zoom link

Abstract. Sandia National Laboratories is best known for delivering essential science and technology to resolve the United States’ most challenging security issues. From its beginnings as the ordnance engineering arm of the Manhattan Project’s weapons design laboratory at Los Alamos, Sandia has evolved into the largest multiprogram laboratory in the US Department of Energy. This presentation will discuss how the Cooperative Monitoring Center took advantage of technology initially used in weapons to integrate US policy and diplomacy goals with science and technology capabilities to strengthen international security.