Next-Gen Strategists: Inside USF’s Student-Led National Security Conference

Episode 125 of the At The Boundary podcast, hosted by Global and National Security Institute, titled "Next-Gen Strategists: Inside USF’s Student-Led National Security Conference" was published on April 6, 2026 and runs 49 minutes.

April 6, 2026 ·49m · At The Boundary

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Summary

Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you! What does it take to become a national security strategist in today’s complex global environment? In this episode of the GNSI “At the Boundary” podcast, we spotlight the next generation of leaders shaping the future of national security, intelligence, and global strategy. The episode features guest host May Birch of the USF Future Strategist Program. Her guests are fellow FSP student Michael Dileonardo, Catherine Wood a student of the University...

Episode Description

Text the ATB Team! We'd love to hear from you!

What does it take to become a national security strategist in today’s complex global environment?

In this episode of the GNSI “At the Boundary” podcast, we spotlight the next generation of leaders shaping the future of national security, intelligence, and global strategy. The episode features guest host May Birch of the USF Future Strategist Program. Her guests are fellow FSP student Michael Dileonardo, Catherine Wood a student of the University of Texas in Austin, and Connor Devanney a student of the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. All of them will be part of the student led portion of the upcoming GNSI 2026 International Security Experience, titled: “Shadows and Circuits.”

This conversation explores how students are tackling real-world geopolitical challenges, from cybersecurity and intelligence to quantum security, policy development, and global conflict resolution.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in careers in national security, international relations, cybersecurity, intelligence, or defense policy.

Links from the Episode:
• GNSI International Security Experience

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At the Boundary from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida, features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.

A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus.

The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.

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