Strategic Multilayer Assessment (SMA) of Stability Pathways in Afghanistan- Phase I Insights

Biographies

Ms. Sarah Canna

Principal Analyst, NSI, Inc.

Ms. Sarah A. Canna is a Principal Analyst at NSI. In this capacity, Ms. Canna applies her open source analysis skills to regions of vital concern to US Combatant Commands, particularly the Middle East and South Asia. To help military planners understand the complex socio-cultural dynamics at play in evolving conflict situations, Ms. Canna developed a Virtual Think Tank (ViTTa) tool, which is designed to rapidly respond to emergent crises by pulsing NSI’s extensive subject matter expert (SME) network to provide deep, customized, multidisciplinary analysis for defense and industry clients. This tool has been used to study the so-called Islamic State as well as Eurasian cooperation and conflict. Ms. Canna is also a lead editor and integrator of white papers, reports, and proceedings focused on violent extremism, influence and deterrence, and adversarial intent. Ms. Canna also supported durability analyses using the NSI State Stability (StaM) model for Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria, and (at the megacity level) Dhaka, Bangladesh. Prior to joining NSI, she was an associate within the Social Science Program at Strategic Analysis, Inc. (SA), where she supported multidisciplinary projects ranging from developing and assessing computational social science models, evaluating state instability forecast models, and developing cultural aptitude taxonomies. Additionally, Ms. Canna provided analytic support to the Defense Science Board (DSB) 2008 task force on Understanding Adversaries, the 2007 DSB summer study on Challenges to Military Operations in Support of US Interests, and the 2006 DSB summer study on 21st Century Strategic Technology Vectors. Prior to joining SA, she was a research associate at Intellibridge Corporation in Washington, D.C. where she provided daily open source analysis to the Commander, US Southern Command and the Commandant, US Coast Guard. She also managed a network of 200-plus subject matter experts, upon whose knowledge Intellibridge analysts relied. Ms. Canna has a MA degree from Georgetown University in Technology and Security Studies. Ms. Canna holds a translation certificate in Spanish from American University and is learning Dari.

Dr. Skye Cooley

Assistant Professor, Oklahoma State University

Skye Cooley (Ph.D., University of Alabama) is an assistant professor in the School of Media and Strategic Communications at Oklahoma State University.  His research interests are in Russian political communication, global media and digital democracy, as well as civic deliberation online.  Dr. Cooley holds certifications of accreditation in public relations (APR) and civilian service peace keeping operations (POTI).  He has traveled actively through Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa; publishing and presenting research on international political communication.  

Dr. Robert Hinck

Professor of Organizational Communication, Monmouth College

Robert Hinck (Ph.D., Texas A&M University) is Professor of Organizational Communication at Monmouth College.  His program of research centers on organizational rhetoric, particularly regarding international and diplomatic rhetoric, public diplomacy, conflict and negotiation, as well as global media.  His research projects address concerns regarding the formation and sustainment of political cooperation among distinct political communities, and the rhetorical means by which they structure and manage internal and external stakeholders.

Mr. James Krakar

Principal Analyst, USARMY TRADOC G-27

Jimmy Krakar is a Principal Analyst with the TRADOC G-27 Models and Simulations Branch (M&SB) at Fort Leavenworth. Over the last six years he has participated in numerous Operational Environment analytical efforts in support of Department of Defense clients, serving as the Team leader and lead analyst for the M&SB efforts which provided on-site support to SOCCENT and CJTF-OIR. Previously he worked as a Counterinsurgency Advisor for the COMISAF Advisory Assistance Team (CAAT) in Afghanistan. He has over 25 years of active and reserve military experience in Infantry, Civil Affairs and Human Terrain operations; with deployments to Somalia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Currently he is an Army Reservist assigned to USSOCOM J-8. Jimmy received his BS in Military History from the United States Military Academy, an MS in Intelligence from American Military University and graduated the Defense Language Institute as a basic Arabic Linguist. His most recent publication was “The Civil Engagement Spectrum: A tool for the Human Domain” published in the Sep/Oct 15 issue of Military Review.

Dr. Sabrina Pagano

Principal Research Scientist, NSI, Inc.

Dr. Pagano has over 15 years of experience leading teams and projects both in academia and industry, including both the government and commercial domains. Though supporting a wide variety of projects and proposals at NSI, her work has focused in four main areas: 1) providing support to DoD’s Strategic Multilayer Analysis (SMA) projects, including rapid applied analysis for CENTCOM, 2) serving as the Principal Investigator and Project Manager for a multi-year contract investigating progress in conflict environments, 3) providing project oversight as the project manager for two AAA titles at a top gaming company, and 4) contributing thought leadership as one of two developers for a corporate offering focused on enhancing dignity in interactions with customers and employees. Prior to NSI, Dr. Pagano served as the Director (Acting) of a growing behavioral sciences program, as well as a Faculty Fellow Researcher and Lecturer at UCLA. Her work has spanned a wide variety of topics, with particular depth in intergroup relations, injustice, basic and moral emotions (e.g., empathy, moral outrage), and prosocial/antisocial behavior. She maintains an active knowledge base in the broad field of social psychology, and knowledge that spans multiple fields given over a decade of experience and leadership specifically on multidisciplinary projects. Dr. Pagano earned her Ph.D. in Social Psychology (minor in Statistics) from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a dual BA with highest honors in Psychology and Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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