CNA Talks: A National Security Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Why Were Nine Military Officials Purged from the CCP? Dec 17, 2025

Show notes

Experts discuss the Fourth Plenum of the 20th CCP Central Committee, where nine senior military officials were expelled from the Chinese Communist Party.

Guest Biographies

Michael Donmoyer is a Research Analyst with CNA's China Studies Program.

Eduaro Jaramillo is an Associate Research Analyst with CNA's China Studies Program.

Further Reading

CNA InDepth: Military Purges at China's Fourth Plenum Have Implications for Readiness

CNA Report: PRC Concepts for UAV Swarms in Future Warfare

Optimally Deploying Unmanned Systems Dec 03, 2025

Show notes

This episode examines a new CNA model that can help government officials optimally deploy unmanned systems, and how it overlaps with our existing tools.

Guest Biographies

Arpita Verma is an expert in optimization, modeling, and simulation in CNA's Data Science for Production Program.

John Crissman is an expert in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and natural language processing in CNA's Center for Data Management Analytics.

Rebekah Yang is an expert in artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) for FAA NextGen and a specialist in data visualization and modeling in CNA's Center for Data Management Analytics.

Further Reading

UAS Cooperative Airspace Traffic Simulation (UCATS)

First Responder Awareness Monitoring during Emergencies (FRAME)

Women in Data Science Regional Event 2025 Nov 19, 2025

Show notes

This episode features a panel of CNA's own Gayatri Gopavajhala and Lizzy Schneider, data scientists, discussing their paths to being in their roles as data scientists at CNA.

Guest Biographies

Gayatri Gopavajhala is a Data Analyst in CNA's Data Science for Sustainment Program.

Lizzy Schneider is a Research Analyst in CNA's Data Science for Production Program.

Russian Concepts for Future Warfare Nov 05, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, we explore how the war in Ukraine has impacted Russian military thought on combined arms operations, naval surface warfare, and air dominance operations.

Guest Biographies

Michael Petersen is a principal research scientist in CNA's Russia Studies Program. He is an expert on Russian military strategy, operations, and net assessments of high-intensity conflict. From 2023-2024, he served as senior advisor to Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti.

Paul Schwartz is a Senior Research Scientist with CNA's Russia Studies Program.

Gabriela Iveliz Rosa-Hernandez is an Associate Research Analyst at the CNA Russia Studies Program. Her research centers on security orders, deterrence issues, and Russia's security policy, supplemented by her significant in-country experience living in Russia, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, and other countries in the region.

Further Reading

CNA Report: Russian Concepts of Future Warfare Based on Lessons from the Ukraine War

Russia's Evolving Threat Perceptions Oct 22, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, we discuss how the war in Ukraine has not altered Moscow's threat perceptions, but amplified and reinforced them.

Guest Biographies

Further Reading

CNA Report: The Shooting Party: Russia's Evolving Threat Perceptions Since 2022

Unmanned Invasion: The PRC's Drone Swarm Research and Taiwan Oct 08, 2025

Show notes

This episode explores how the PRC is developing autonomous drone swarm technology for deployment during a potential military invasion of Taiwan.

Guest Biographies

Timothy Ditter is a senior research scientist in CNA's China Studies Program. His work covers PLA amphibious warfare, China's military modernization and expansion, China's growing nuclear weapons program, and China's nascent global military presence.

Eleanor Harvey is a senior research secialist in CNA's China Studies Program.

Further Reading

CNA Report: PRC Concepts for UAV Swarms in Future Warfare

CNA InDepth: China Readies Drone Swarms for Future War

Drone as First Responder Programs Sep 24, 2025

Show notes

This episode discusses the benefits of drone as first responder (DFR) programs for police departments and public safety offices.

Guest Biographies

Officer J. "Matt" Rowland is a 20-year veteran of the Fort Wayne Police Department (FWPD) located in Fort Wayne, IN. He was a founding member of the FWPD Air Support Unit (ASU) in 2017. He spent 15 years in the Operations division and served 6 years during that time as a hostage negotiator. He is a certified instructor both in the classroom and emergency vehicle driving.

Todd Withers is a 34-year veteran of law enforcement with the last 28 years at the Beverly Hills Police Department. He is currently a Lieutenant in charge of the Real Time Watch Center and UAS/ Drone program. He holds a Master of Science Degree from California State University, Long Beach in Emergency Services Administration and is a certified FAA Part 107 UAS Pilot.

Don Redmond is a retired Chula Vista Police Captain with over 25 years in law enforcement and now serves as Vice President of Drone as First Responder (DFR) at BRINC Drones. He works with public safety agencies to advance drone technology, improve response times, and save lives. During his career, he was instrumental in developing Chula Vista PD's pioneering Drone as First Responder program, which has become a national model.

Dr. Tom Christoff is a Senior Research Scientist with CNA where he is responsible for leading projects involving local assessments, research, and developing technical assistance for agencies nationwide. Dr. Christoff recently served as a Project Director on a COPS Office project where he oversaw the development of a technology implementation guide and six case studies highlighting agencies using technology in innovative ways.

Competition Between the US and China Enters a New Phase Sep 10, 2025

Show notes

This episode covers CNA's latest research into technology competition between the US and the People's Republic of China.

Guest Biographies

April Herlevi is a senior research scientist in CNA's China and Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Division.

Christopher Cairns is a research scientist in CNA's China and Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Division.

Further Reading

Intersection Issue 15

Russia/India Relations and the War in Ukraine Aug 27, 2025

Show notes

This episode examines the political, military, and economic elements of the relationship between Russia and India.

Guest Biographies

Dmitry Gorenburg is a Senior Research Scientist in CNA's Russia Studies Program. He is an expert on security issues in the former Soviet Union, the Russian military, Russian foreign policy, and ethnic politics and identity.

Jeffrey Kucik is a research scientist with CNA's Strategy and Policy Analysis Program.

Further Reading

CNA Report — Russia-India Relations: Multipolarity in Practice

What's Next for the US Navy? Aug 13, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, our experts discuss the Navy's effort to rebuild US shipbuilding and to integrate artificial intelligence and autonomous systems.

Guest Biographies

Joshua Tallis is CNA's Hybrid Fleet Research Coordinator and our scientific analyst to the Chief of Naval Operations, a position he has occupied since the end of 2023.

Steven Wills is an expert in US Navy strategy and policy, and U.S. Navy surface warfare programs and platforms, and the Navalist for the Center for Maritime Strategy at the Navy League. Thank you both for being here.

Further Reading

Defense News: To bootstrap US maritime industrial base, link allies and innovators

Center for Maritime Strategy: Returning from Ebb Tide: Renewing the United States Commercial Maritime Enterprise

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