The Hoover Institution’s National Security Affairs Fellows (NSAFs) for the 2011–12 academic year have been announced by John Raisian, the Tad and Dianne Taube Director of the Hoover Institution.
The NSAF program offers representatives of the US military and government agencies the opportunity to conduct independent research on topics relevant to their respective branches of government and to the practice of diplomacy. Admission to the program is based on direct nominations from each governmental branch. Since the program began in 1969, more than 130 people have participated.
The program is administered by Hoover deputy director David Brady, the Davies Family Senior Fellow, assisted by program coordinator Cheryl Weissbart.
The 2011–12 National Security Affairs Fellows are
Mark Cassayre, representing the US Department of State
Cassayre has a master’s degree in international relations from the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, Switzerland, and bachelors’ degrees in French and political science from the University of California at Santa Barbara. He is a career US diplomat who has served overseas in Kenya, Ukraine, Namibia, and Geneva; Cassayre most recently served as the political counselor at the US Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, with responsibilities covering the UN Human Rights Council, the World Health Organization, and the International Labor Organization. In his other diplomatic posts, he has focused on human rights, democracy, political affairs, nonproliferation, and political-military cooperation. Cassayre’s advocacy in Kenya, immediately after the bombing of the US Embassy there, earned him the State Department’s Annual Award for Exceptional Achievement in Human Rights and Democracy. He speaks French and Ukrainian; his hobbies include camping, fishing, and pole vaulting.
Lieutenant Colonel Michael Chandler, representing the US Army
Chandler is a 1992 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he received a bachelor of science degree in computers and electrical engineering. He holds a master’s degree from Georgetown in Russian and East European studies and a master’s degree from the University of Maryland Overseas in business administration. He also holds an associate of arts degree in the Russian language from Monterey Peninsula College and the Defense Language Institute. Chandler is a field artilleryman and a foreign area officer with extensive overseas service in Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. He served as a military attaché in Moscow, security cooperation chief in Kazakhstan, and branch chief for Central and South Asia at the US Central Command. Most recently, he commanded a security forces assistance team in Afghanistan and served as the military adviser to the governor of Kandahar Province.
Lieutenant Commander Manuel Hernandez, representing the US Navy
Hernandez earned a bachelor of science degree in economics and finance from Old Dominion University and a master’s in public policy in international security and political economy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. A surface warfare officer, Hernandez has served in frigates and destroyers in the Pacific Fleet. His sea tours include assignments as chief engineer on the USS Thach (FFG-43), auxiliaries officer on the USS Reuben James (FFG 57), communications officer on the USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53), and a machinist mate on the USS Shasta (AE 33). Ashore, he served as engineering assessor for Pacific Fleet ships; executive officer, US Central Command, J5 Coalition Coordination Center; congressional liaison for strategy and policy, Department of the Navy, Office of Legislative Affairs; and strategic and long-range planner on the staff of the chief of Naval Operations His research will focus on issues concerning maritime strategy, international maritime partnerships, and future energy sources, transmission, and infrastructure.
Lieutenant Colonel John Howard, representing the US Air Force
Howard earned his undergraduate degree in mathematics from Tufts University, an MBA from the University of California at Davis, and a master’s in national security studies from the Naval War College. As a pilot in the air force, his operational tours have included flying the KC-10 aerial refueling aircraft at Travis Air Force Base, California, and the C-40 VIP aircraft in Hawaii and commanding a Global Mobility Squadron at Travis Air Force Base. He spent time at the US Pacific Command and US Central Command Headquarters as the aide to the commander: Admiral William J. Fallon. In May 2011, Howard returned from a yearlong deployment in Afghanistan as part of the NATO Training Command. He is a senior pilot with three thousand hours in the C-40, KC-10, T-1A, and T-37 aircraft.
Lieutenant Colonel Matteo Martemucci, representing the US Air Force
Martemucci holds a BA in international politics from Penn State University, an MA in international relations from Troy University, an MA in joint campaign planning and strategy from the National Defense University, and a Graduate Certificate in Organizational Management from George Washington University. He is also a graduate of the Department of Defense’s Joint Advanced War Fighting School, Joint Forces Staff College, and Air Command and Staff College. He is a career intelligence officer and cyberspace operator. He recently completed command of the 315th Network Warfare Squadron, the air force’s premier Computer Network Attack unit based at Fort Meade, Maryland. In addition to his numerous stateside assignments, he has served in Korea, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, France, and the Czech Republic. He is fluent in Czech and conversant in Italian. His work on strategic communication has been published in the Iosphere, the professional journal of Joint Information Operations. His research will focus on US government policy and strategy in the cyberspace domain. Martemucci is one of two officers representing the air force in the 2011–12 class.
Lieutenant Colonel Joe Russo, representing the US Marine Corps
Russo, a 1992 graduate of the University of Notre Dame, holds a bachelor of arts degree in history. A field artillery officer, he has deployed in support of combat operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Russo attended the US Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and the Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia. His additional assignments include service as a joint exchange officer with the US Army’s 25th Light Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, a tour as a logistician with Marine Aircraft Group 11, and service with the Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego. He was most recently assigned as an artillery battalion commander, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, California. Russo’s research at Hoover will focus on NATO adaptation to emerging requirements throughout Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.
