While the United States is fighting terrorism in the Middle East, and contemplates a pivot to Asia, U.S. security planners cannot ignore the threats and challenges closer to home. Latin America is an important economic partner — a market for U.S. products and services, and a source of many goods Americans use daily. Geography allows crises and problems in Latin America to find their way to the United States.
The Latin America Security Report covers security issues such as state conflict, insurgencies, drug trafficking, arms trafficking, gangs and urban violence, and international criminal and terrorist activities.
The experiences of states in Latin America are rich and diverse, and many of these experiences are relevant and applicable to other developing regions in the world and in post-conflict and reconstruction efforts.
Editorial Staff
Ben Frankel, editor-in-chief, has years of experience as a writer and editor in the fields of international security, defense, and foreign policy. Ben did his undergraduate studies at the University of Tel Aviv, and his graduate work at the University of Chicago.
Mark Zablocki, managing editor, is also an adjunct professor of business and technology at a private Long Island college, where he specializes in disaster planning and recovery, cyber-security, and international business. The holder B.A. in history and a master’s in business administration, he has long held an interest in military technology and the adaptation of military technology to law enforcement and civilian applications.
John ChanqizVafai, contributing editor, specializes in international security. He grew up in Iran, where he also served as general counsel for OPEC. John holds a J.D. degree from the University of Tehran and a Doctor of Juridical Science degree from Yale University.
Grant Lally, contributing editor, specializes in public policy and international law and policy. A member of the Society of Professional Journalists and American Bar Association, he has been a writer and editor for many years. Grant holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Johns Hopkins University; a Juris Doctor degree from Boston University; and a Masters in International Law from Georgetown University.
Arash Kashanian, senior writer, has a deep interest in public policy. He served in the U.S. Marines, and has been an investigative journalist for five years. Arash holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Stony Brook University in New York, and is working towards a dual degree in Juris Doctor / Master of Business Administration at Hofstra University.
Joseph Lawson, editor, has been covering Latin America for leading security and foreign affairs publications for over fifteen years. He has lived in Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela where he covered the effects of drug and human trafficking on U.S.foreign policy in Latin America. He received his Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University.
Derek Major, writer, grew up in Brooklyn, New York, where he became interested in journalism.Derek holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Penn State University in Pennsylvania. He also has a background in sports writing and sound-editing.
Anthony Nicaj, writer,has reported extensively on biometric, cybersecurity, and surveillance technologies. Anthony holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from SUNY Geneseo. He is also a chef, cooking under Top Chef Paul Qui.
Robert Lopez, writer, specializes in military, security, public policy, and Latin American security issues. A graduate of the University of Texas, Bob has more than fifteen years of experience as a journalist and writer.
Jenny Britt, writer, covers cybersecurity, information warfare, hacking, and related issues. She received her degree in computer science from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, and worked as a cybersecurity consultant in both the private sector and on government contracts.
Judy Haver, writer, covers immigration, border security, and state-related issues. She graduated with a political science degree from the University of Minnesota and worked as assistant editor in local papers in Minnesota and Michigan.
Adil Hussain, writer, specializes in political and security issues in the Islamic, Arab, and Mediterranean worlds. Educated at the University of Cairo, Adil has traveled extensively throughout the Middle East and North Africa.
Editorial Board
James Murphy spent eight years in senior leadership roles on both House and Senate congressional committees focused on homeland security policy. James received his M.S. in Cybersecurity from Johns Hopkins. He joined Homeland Security Review in September 2017.
David Bain covers healthcare policy and law. David holds a Juris Doctor degree from Marquette University Law School; and a Master of Public Health from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Sarah Crown has been reporting on mental health for twenty years. She began her journalism career in the U.K. covering technological advancements for the detection and treatment of mental health disorders. She now lives in Boston, Massachusetts and is working on her first book on mental health stereotypes across cultures.
Steven Cunningham reports on cybersecurity, biometrics, surveillance, and detection. Steven has been covering the relationship between technology and law for the past six years. He holds a B.S. in Cognitive Science from University of Virginia and an M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Chicago.
Kevin Stein is a veteran intelligence analyst with over twenty years of experience advising governments, NGOs, and corporations. Kevin reports on military, public safety, terrorism, and governance.
Salisu Danyaro has been a technology consultant in Africa for twenty years. Salisu reports on cybersecurity, technology, governance, and infrastructure. He resides in the Greater Philadelphia Area and Kano, Nigeria.
Kristen Cooks covers public health, water, and climate issues. She holds a graduate journalism degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL where she resides.
Shane Duffy reports on research and technology in the water sector. Shane spent six years as head of a local public waterworks office in South Africa, before moving to Denver, where he now consults water-tech startups.
James ‘Jim’ O’Brian covers news and analysis on the impact of aging water infrastructure on public health and the environment. James holds a Master of Science in Environmental Science and Policy from Johns Hopkins University.
Marcelo Rodriguez studies open data governance and compliance across members of the Open Government Partnership. He holds an M.S. in Information Security from Brandeis University.
Elizabeth J. Mathis advises governments and the private sector on open data and open government policy. She holds a B.A. in Economics and an M.S. in Computer Science from Georgetown University.
Jake Simons is a data scientist and data policy expert for financial and insurance institutions. He helped draft some of the earliest works on data governance and data privacy for financial data. Jake covers private and public sector open data solutions.
Cindy Yen is a research associate reporting on cybersecurity education and artificial intelligence. Cindy holds an M.S. in Cybersecurity Technology from University of Maryland University College.
Marcelas Graciela reports on public safety and terrorism in Latin America.
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