Welcome to the Mentorship Program
About the Program
IN Network invites applications from motivated students and early-career individuals interested in exploring careers in national security, intelligence, and related fields. Our six-month mentorship program is designed to connect emerging talent with experienced professionals who provide guidance, insight, and support. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, including those who may not have had prior exposure to these career pathways or who are simply looking to build new skills. Prior experience in national security or related disciplines is not required. Mentor-mentee matches are made based on shared personal and professional interests, as well as relevant experience.
Click the Link Below to Apply!
*Applications will close once we either have 30 high-caliber applications OR at 11:59 pm EST on August 15th, whichever comes first *
https://forms.gle/N1SAtxGzTmVwTqcF9
Meet the 2026 Mentors
Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with each mentor, taking note of their professional experiences, educational background, and interests before applying!
William Braniff
Former DHS Senior Leader | National Security Scholar | Extremism Prevention Expert
William Braniff, a West Point graduate and former Army officer, is a leading expert in terrorism prevention. He recently directed the DHS Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3), spearheading national community-based anti-violence efforts. His career includes serving as a foreign affairs specialist at the NNSA and Director of the START research center at the University of Maryland. Currently, Braniff is the Executive Director of PERIL at American University and Editor at Large for Homeland Security Today. Having testified before Congress, he focuses on translating research into practical national security policy and operational solutions.
Peter Natiello
Senior Development and Diplomacy Leader | Former USAID Mission Director
Peter Natiello is a senior international development leader with nearly 40 years of experience in humanitarian and foreign policy. During his distinguished tenure at USAID, he managed the agency’s most complex missions, notably serving as Mission Director in Afghanistan, Colombia, and El Salvador. As Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for Latin America and the Caribbean, he was the bureau’s highest-ranking career official. Most recently, he advised U.S. engagement with UN food agencies in Rome. Currently a Senior Affiliate with The Solarium Group, Natiello leverages his expertise in post-conflict stabilization and diplomatic coordination to advise on global development strategy.
Jennifer Upton
Former Senior UK Diplomat | Sanctions and Crisis Policy Expert
Jennifer Upton is a former senior UK diplomat with over 20 years of experience in international crisis management and foreign policy. During her career at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, she served as Head of Sanctions Designations, helping design the UK’s post-Brexit sanctions framework. She has been central to major geopolitical responses, including the Arab Spring in Egypt and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Expert in economic statecraft and international security, Upton has specialized in coordinating complex sanctions and crisis responses with global partners. She now focuses on how policy tools and diplomacy influence global stability.
Kelly Murray
Chemical Security Leader | Former DHS & CISA Senior Executive
Kelly Murray is a premier chemical security expert with nearly 20 years of leadership at DHS and CISA. As Associate Director for Chemical Security, she managed the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program, leading national efforts to prevent the exploitation of hazardous materials. Her work advanced risk-based resilience and strengthened public-private partnerships. A 2024 “Trailblazer in Homeland Security,” Murray shaped the national framework for critical infrastructure protection against chemical threats. Currently, she is a Principal at Deep Water Point & Associates, where she advises organizations on chemical security, infrastructure protection, and emerging risk management.
Dean C. Alexander
Homeland Security Scholar | International Business and Security Expert
Professor Dean C. Alexander is a prominent academic authority on homeland security, terrorism, and global security law. As Director of the Homeland Security Research Program and Professor at Western Illinois University, his work bridges academic theory with practical policy. With decades of international experience, he has held executive and legal roles in the U.S., Chile, and the UK. Alexander has trained officials in over ten countries and consulted for organizations like NATO and the U.S. State Department. A prolific author of books, including Family Terror Networks, his research on security and international business is frequently featured in major global media.
Joseph Scaramucci
Veteran Law-Enforcement Officer | Human Trafficking Expert
Detective Joseph Scaramucci is a veteran law enforcement professional and a leading expert in human trafficking. Since 2004, he has served with the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office, where he founded a specialized Human Trafficking Unit that identified hundreds of victims. As an HSI Task Force Officer, he has led state, federal, and international investigations using a victim-centered approach. Currently, Scaramucci is a Deputy Sheriff and Director of Law Enforcement Engagement for Skull Games, Inc. He is a prolific instructor, providing training and technical assistance to over 600 agencies worldwide to strengthen global efforts against exploitation.
Mubin Shaikh
Former Extremist Turned Counterterrorism Operative | Radicalization Specialist
Mubin Shaikh is a former extremist turned counterterrorism operative who offers unique insights into radicalization. After renouncing extremist ideologies following advanced Islamic studies in Syria, he collaborated with Canadian security agencies like CSIS and the RCMP. Shaikh played a critical role as an undercover operative in dismantling the "Toronto 18" terrorist plot. Today, he advises North American and European governments and intelligence agencies on counter-radicalization and prevention strategies. His work focuses on analyzing extremist pathways and developing practical interventions to counter violent extremism, bridging the gap between firsthand experience and national security policy.
Bjørn Ihler
Counter-Extremism Expert | Technology and Security Policy Advisor
Bjørn Ihler is an international expert on counter-terrorism and the intersection of technology and security. As Co-Founder of Revontulet AS and the Khalifa Ihler Institute, he advises governments and tech platforms on digital radicalization and evolving extremist threats. Ihler served as the inaugural Chair of the GIFCT Independent Advisory Committee and has collaborated with organizations like the Kofi Annan Foundation to shape global policy. His work focuses on how online ecosystems facilitate cross-border coordination, emphasizing a strategic balance between security, innovation, and human rights to address modern global threats.
Bryan Mabry
Founder | Director | Investor | Advisor | Investor Relations
Bryan Mabry brings two decades of experience across public and private sectors, from the intelligence community and Department of Defense to scaling operations at Fortune 200 companies with 80,000+ employees in 150+ countries. As former Acting CFO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation and Director of Special Projects at a global Fortune 200 firm, he combines government expertise with private sector operational experience to identify and support companies building at the intersection of national security and economic opportunity.
Alicia Chavy
Vice President, National Security & Technology
Alicia Chavy is a foreign and security policy professional focused on political, technological, security, and operational strategies in the U.S., emerging markets, and developing nations. Her work covers terrorism and substate violence, NATO and European military operations, corruption, transnational crime, and the impact of disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence on policy and business operations. Before joining Beacon, she worked at Georgetown University’s Center for Security Studies, supporting Dr. Bruce Hoffman, and held positions at the State Department and CSIS, focused on political violence, violent extremism, stability operations, and security sector assistance.
Bob Kolasky
Bob Kolasky is a leader in national security and critical infrastructure risk management, currently focused on developing innovative supply chain and third-party risk solutions at Exiger. A former senior DHS and CISA official, he founded CISA’s National Risk Management Center and led cross-sector efforts on cybersecurity, supply chain security, election systems, and 5G resilience. He also serves in senior advisory roles with leading policy and research institutions, including the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and CSIS.
Anthony DeMario
Executive Vice President | Strider Technologies
Anthony DeMario is a retired CIA senior executive with more than 34 years of combined service in the Central Intelligence Agency and the U.S. Military. He currently serves as Executive Vice President at Strider Technologies, where he draws on extensive national security and leadership experience to oversee the company’s artificial intelligence strategy and next-generation product development.
Before joining Strider, Tony served as both a Strategic Advisor and Director of Insider Threat and Investigations at Apple, where he built and led a comprehensive program to safeguard the company’s most sensitive intellectual property from internal and external risks.
Rachel Grunspan
Retired Chief Futurist at the Directorate of Digital Innovation | Founder of Playable Reality
Rachel Grunspan brings over 25 years of experience in the Intelligence Community, having held roles including Game and Simulation Designer, Cyber-Threat Analyst, and Executive Manager. Her final role was as Chief Futurist for the Directorate of Digital Innovation (Ret.) at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) where she led AI-focused innovation initiatives, including developing a plan for an AI-based operating model and directing applied human-machine teaming games to inform future capabilities. Throughout her career, Rachel has been dedicated to connecting emerging technology with practical mission needs, leading dozens of future-focused simulations across government, academia, and industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
The program will run for six months, with a commitment of 1-2 hours per week. Of course, many mentor-mentee relationships continue beyond the program!
Yes! There will be two informational sessions on June 10th, 2026, and July 30th, 2026. Stay tuned for more details!
At this time, the program is open to the following:
Be a U.S. citizen (U.S.-based applicants only due to time zone considerations)
Have a minimum 3.0 GPA
Be an high school junior/ high school senior (preferred) OR an undergraduate/graduate student/early working professional (<2 years of experience)
Be able to commit a minimum of 1-2 hours per week
Be free of any current or past legal issues adverse to national security efforts
*Please note that if you are a current IN Network Intern, you are not eligible for this opportunity. However, we will make sure to get you connected to the right people to help your professional and personal development journey's*
Participants gain access to career guidance, networking opportunities, workshops, resume building, interview prep, and potential exposure to internship or job opportunities.
Mentees must commit to the full six month duration of the program, attend weekly sessions, and come prepared with clear goals and thoughtful questions.
Mentors should have meaningful professional or in-depth industry experience and be available to provide 1-2 hours of structured guidance to their mentee each week.
Applicants will complete an interest and experience form. Matches will be made based on career/personal interests, professional experience, goals, and availability to ensure alignment and productive mentorship.
We aim to maintain small mentor-to-mentee ratios to ensure personalized support, with a maximum of two mentees assigned to each mentor.
Yes, members of our team with substantial professional experience will actively participate in the mentorship program.
Sessions will be held virtually, with weekly one-on-one meetings between mentors and mentees.
The program will begin with a large kickoff meeting featuring icebreaker questions, followed by structured group discussions focused on career development topics.
IN Network has collaborated with:
FBI
CIA
Department of Defense
State Department
GTSC's Homeland Security Today
American University
University of Maryland
National Defense University
Joint Special Operations University
DHS
Revontulet
Exiger
The Solarium Group
Khalifa Ihler Institute
McLennan County Sheriff’s Office.
HSI
UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
United Nations
USAID
U.S. Army
U.S. Navy
U.S. Marine
U.S. Air Force
NSA
CNN
NATO
Western Illinois University
World Bank
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
Deep Water Point & Associates