Speakers: Dr. Kevin Modlin (Western Kentucky University) & Dr. Roberto Flores (Utah Valley University)
Date: 10 July 2025
Speaker Session Summary
SMA hosted a speaker session with Dr. Kevin Modlin (Western Kentucky University) and Dr. Roberto Flores (Utah Valley University) as part of its SMA General Speaker Series.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is proliferating throughout society and has implications for many careers and jobs, including military intelligence. More specifically, AI tools have the potential to enhance the analysis conducted by analysts within the intelligence community (IC). Dr. Flores emphasized the need for the United States to compete with China and Russia for AI dominance, as the stakes and implications of allowing these countries to surpass the United States in AI development continue to rise. These stakes include threats to democratic institutions and the spread of authoritarianism.
Proven, effective uses of AI tools include increasing brainstorming efficiency, tracking information, helping analysts improve their writing, and tagging information that is most important for analysts. The US Drug Enforcement Administration began using AI to expand its understanding of fentanyl trafficking, identifying hundreds of additional suspicious activities and individuals through the application of a large language model. However, there are also challenges to AI implementation, such as bureaucratic inertia, organizational cultural changes, and trust issues between analysts and AI tools. Leadership-driven change and clear guidelines, including ethical standards, are important for encouraging buy-in from the IC. Involving analysts in the development process early on will also be vital to successful AI implementation.
Dr. Modlin presented a model that analyzed Chinese President Xi Jinping’s behavior using his public statements and news articles from media outlets around the world. The model itself is relatively small, using fewer parameters than larger models such as ChatGPT, allowing it to be more easily modified as needed. The model was shown to provide useful insights and to effectively answer questions about Xi’s behavior. Dr. Modlin assured the audience that the open-source sources used in the model were validated and that efforts were made to account for bias, ensuring the model’s accuracy and objectivity.
Speaker Session Recording
Briefing Materials:
Dr. Kevin Modlin is an Instructor in the Department of International Affairs at Western Kentucky University, specializing in national security, international law, and European politics. His research examines balance of power politics and how nations use strategic language to define threats. His theoretical and practice-oriented perspectives draw on direct experience in AI development and his former role as a Senior Legislative Aide on Capitol Hill. His consultancy, Modlin Global Analysis, focuses on aligning AI models to adversary behavior.
Dr. Roberto Flores served eight years in the U.S. Army as a military intelligence officer and all-source analyst, including two years deployed to Afghanistan in support of the Global War on Terrorism/Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). He continued his service with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), spending over five years assigned to U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) in Miami, Florida. Dr. Flores is currently an Assistant Professor at Utah Valley University, where he teaches courses in National Security, Intelligence, and Area Studies.
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