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Organization Development and Knowledge Management

ODKM Graduate Melvin Brown II Appointed Chief Information Officer of Office of Personnel Management

Andrew J Schappert — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 16:55:32 +0000

ODKM Graduate Melvin Brown II Appointed Chief Information Officer of Office of Personnel Management Andrew J Schappert Tue, 01/21/2025 - 11:55

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Tojo Thatchenkery

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The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has named ��AV alumnus Melvin Brown II as its new Chief Information Officer (CIO), following the retirement of former CIO Guy Cavallo. Brown, a seasoned leader in IT and cybersecurity with more than 30 years of experience spanning military, public, and private sectors, steps into the role after serving as OPM’s Deputy CIO since January 2021.

Melvin Brown II. Photo provided.

Brown earned his master’s degree in New Professional Studies from George Mason’s School of Public Policy, now the Schar School of Policy and Government, in 2003. The degree is now incorporated in the one-of-a-kind Organization Development and Knowledge Management program (ODKM), directed by founder Tojo Thatchenkery.

“I am not surprised at this appointment,” said Thatchenkery. “Melvin has been consistently applying what he learned in the ODKM program and he is active in mentoring students who came after him. I am so delighted to see that one of the most enthusiastic champions for the ODKM program is now the CIO of OPM.”

In his new position, Brown will spearhead the 2,500-employee agency’s digital transformation, focusing on enterprise technology modernization, and bolstering the agency’s cybersecurity infrastructure. The OPM is responsible for overseeing all policies that support federal human resources departments, among other duties.

His leadership has already contributed to OPM achieving an A rating on the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA) scorecard, a key measure of IT progress across federal agencies.

Before joining OPM, Brown held pivotal roles in government IT leadership, including director of enterprise business management within the Small Business Administration’s Office of the CIO and senior advisor for the Department of Homeland Security’s Presidential Transition Office.

Brown is a board member of the 23,000-member nonprofit FinOps Foundation, where he promotes collaborative approaches to cloud financial management. The organization represents some 10,000 companies.

An OPM spokesperson praised Brown as “an integral leader in delivering many of OPM’s accomplishments in modernizing IT.” His leadership, they said, will continue to drive the agency’s mission of providing efficient, high-quality service to federal employees and their beneficiaries.

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How Visiting International Scholars Contribute to the Academic Community: Meet Maurizio Geri

Andrew J Schappert — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 18:04:36 +0000

How Visiting International Scholars Contribute to the Academic Community: Meet Maurizio Geri Andrew J Schappert Wed, 01/15/2025 - 13:04

Maurizio Geri has wasted no time in exploring opportunities at ��AV’s Schar School of Policy and Government. The voluble Italian is a distinctive presence in the classroom, at panel discussions, and at various social events held throughout the semester at the school.

Visiting international scholar Maurizio Geri: ‘I had great interactions with interested and passionate students.’ Photos provided.

But Geri, it should be noted, is not a student, nor is he a member of the faculty. He is one of about a dozen Schar School visiting international scholars who spend a predetermined amount of time at the university. The scholars, many of them professors elsewhere, come to the Schar School to use George Mason resources in accomplishing their research and contributing to relevant classroom discussions.

In Geri’s case, the senior strategic international security analyst is capitalizing on his more than 20 years of experience with nongovernmental organizations, think tanks, and international institutions to develop “a better strategy for NATO and European Union cooperation to combat hybrid warfare from Russia and China,” he said.

“The work studies the technology and energy sectors in particular,” he said, with hopes to “improve cooperation in dual-use emerging disruptive technologies.”

Geri, an Italian Navy Lieutenant Reservist-POLAD (a political advisor), was awarded the 2023 EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoc Fellowship’s Horizon Europe, a prestigious and competitive flagship program for doctoral and postdoctoral training through a fellowship from Ca’ Foscari University in Venice.

The practice of universities hosting visiting international scholars began in ancient Greece, with cross-border scholarly exchanges, notably Plato’s Academy of Athens and the Library of Alexandria, where scholars from different regions shared knowledge.

In modern times, the practice was institutionalized in the late 19th century, beginning in Germany and spreading across Europe and into the United States. While the scholars benefit from research resources, the schools—including students and faculty—gain new viewpoints and fresh insights.

Maurizio Geri: ‘Maurizio is eager to work with students and colleagues. He is a wonderful addition to the school.’—Professor of Public Policy Desmond Dinan

“Visiting international scholars such as Dr. Geri enrich the academic climate of the Schar School,” said Schar School dean Mark J. Rozell. “They bring diverse perspectives on public policy issues and help build research and academic program collaborations for our faculty and students.”

Desmond Dinan, the Schar School professor of public policy who supervised Geri’s visit, has seen the effects of a visiting professor first-hand.

“International scholars bring different perspectives, experience, and insights to the classroom and, more broadly, to the intellectual life of the school. Maurizio Geri is a great example,” he said, citing Geri’s credentials and activities on campus.

“He also happens to be a reservist in the Italian navy, which made his participation in my European Security class in the fall of 2024 even more interesting. On top of all that, Maurizio is eager to work with students and colleagues. He is a wonderful addition to the school.”

Among the visiting international scholars at the Schar School is Tetiana Khutor, founder of the Institute of Legislative Ideas, a Ukraine-based think tank that devises legislative strategies and policies to combat corruption, assist asset recovery, and encourage good governance. She also teaches anticorruption policy as a professor at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.

Khutor came to George Mason as an academic participating in the New School’s New University in Exile Consortium, made up of a global group of colleges dedicated to supporting scholars facing threats at home that force them to leave or prevent them from performing meaningful work. George Mason is one of 12 in the United States participating in the program.

Khutor and Geri participated together in a panel discussion on hybrid warfare with Russia’s economic sector hosted by the Schar School Center for Security Policy Studies (CSPS) and they coauthored an op-ed in the influential political publication, The Hill.

In addition to guest lecturing and auditing several classes, Geri published his initial studies on Russian hybrid warfare against Europe’s energy sector and on NATO-EU cooperation in technologies last year in the Journal of Strategic Security and the Security and Defense Journal published by the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense.

At the moment, Geri is continuing his work via the German Marshall Fund of the United States and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium. He returns to the Schar School in the fall before finishing his fellowship in Venice in 2026.

“I had great interactions with interested and passionate students” at the Schar School, Geri said. “The faculty is always kind and very prepared. I look forward to being back in the fall.”

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Mark J. Rozell

Desmond Dinan

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Chaos on Bourbon Street: The Growing Threat of ‘Rampage Terrorism’

Andrew J Schappert — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 15:40:35 +0000

Chaos on Bourbon Street: The Growing Threat of ‘Rampage Terrorism’ Andrew J Schappert Fri, 01/10/2025 - 10:40

A man in a pickup truck drove down a crowded Bourbon Street in New Orleans on New Year’s Day, killing 14 and wounding at least 35 others. The driver engaged police in a shootout, wounding two before being fatally shot and ending the spree of violence.

Zak Kallenborn: Rampage terrorism ‘possesses unique characteristics that warrant attention.’

Authorities discovered the assailant, a 42-year-old American-born resident of Texas and an Army veteran, had an Islamic State flag in the truck and had been radicalized by ISIS.

The New Orleans tragedy is an example of what Schar School of Policy and Government at ��AV’s Zak Kallenborn calls “rampage terrorism.”

Rampage terrorism happens when “the terrorist is physically present at the attack location, attacks targets of opportunity, and the attack continues for an indefinite period, either until the terrorist is subdued or chooses to end the attack,” said Kallenborn, a Schar School policy fellow and the lead author on a new paper on the subject.

The study, “The Logic of Rampage Terrorism,” cowritten with the University of Albany professor of emergency management and homeland security Gary Ackerman and University of Arizona PhD candidate Herbert Tinsley, was published last February in Studies in Conflict and Terrorism.

“In popular thinking, the archetypal terrorist attack consists of a preconceived plan, where terrorists carefully select the location, targets, and timing of their operation,” he said. “Bombings, hijackings, and targeted assassinations are all tactics that fit with such perceptions.

“However, increasingly, terrorists have chosen to engage in what can be termed ‘rampage terrorism’ … Examples include stabbing attacks, shootings in crowded areas, and driving vehicles through crowds.”

The study, which offers policy implications and points to future research, examines five recent cases in depth and defines rampage terrorism as a specific subset of terrorist tactics. The conclusion: Rampage terrorism “possesses unique characteristics that warrant attention.”

“For as long as extremist views inspire some towards violence, rampage terrorism can be expected to persist within terrorist tactical repertoires,” the authors conclude. “Since rampage terrorism will likely linger, states should seek opportunities to reduce the harm by emphasizing resilience in the face of the threat, building civil defenses, and countering influencers.”

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2024: A Transformative Year for Schar School’s Public-Private Partnerships Center

Kristin Heydt — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 19:18:09 +0000

2024: A Transformative Year for Schar School’s Public-Private Partnerships Center Kristin Heydt Wed, 01/08/2025 - 14:18

The Center for Infrastructure Public-Private Partnership Policy at ��AV’s Schar School of Policy and Government closed out 2024 with groundbreaking achievements that reflect its expanded mission to shape the future of infrastructure through research, education, and collaboration.

The center is led by founding Director Jonathan Gifford, a professor of policy and transportation in the Schar School.

Founding Director Jonathan Gifford

The center, which supports objective evaluations of public-private partnerships (P3s) for infrastructure development, broadened its scope this year, reaching new heights in addressing challenges across sectors.

A New Name, A Broader Horizon

This year marked a pivotal shift for the center as it redefined its mission to encompass infrastructure beyond transportation.

“With a broader focus, the center now considers critical areas such as higher education, K-12 schools, energy, and communications,” said Gifford. “The change underscores a commitment to addressing infrastructure challenges that are increasingly interwoven into every facet of modern life.”

A Forum for the Ages

September saw the 11th annual P3 Forum take place, called Inflection Point: New Capital, New Markets, and New Challenges. The event brought together leading voices from the public and private sectors to explore how P3s are adapting to evolving infrastructure needs.

The keynote address, delivered by Beau Memory, North America president for global infrastructure giant Transurban, showcased major projects in Northern Virginia and across the United States. Panels examined new sources of capital, innovative technologies, and the expanding role of P3s in areas such as electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Leading Research, Building Talent

The center’s academic initiatives flourished in 2024. Masters and PhD students produced pioneering research on P3 opportunities and challenges, contributing to a growing body of knowledge. Their work also addressed the urgent need to develop a robust talent pipeline to support the future of infrastructure development in both the public and private sectors.

Bridging Communities

The center’s faculty and students forged connections with stakeholders from government, industry, academia, and local communities. These partnerships aim to tackle the pressing challenges of creating infrastructure that can adapt to society’s changing demands.

As 2024 draws to a close, the center stands at the forefront of shaping the next generation of infrastructure solutions. Its continued growth signals exciting possibilities for 2025 and beyond.

AI and Cybersecurity: In 2025, the center will explore how artificial intelligence can both improve infrastructure development and introduce new vulnerabilities, such as cybersecurity risks, requiring careful analysis.
Expanding Student Engagement: The research program will continue to support master’s and PhD students, as well as reintroducing undergraduate engagement through the Schar School’s Undergraduate Research Assistant Program (URAP).
2025 P3 Forum: The next forum will take place in Van Metre Hall at Mason Square in Arlington, on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. Information will be announced soon.

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Jonathan L. Gifford

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2024: A Transformative Year for Schar School’s Public-Private Partnerships Center

Jessica Bates — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 15:42:45 +0000

2024: A Transformative Year for Schar School’s Public-Private Partnerships Center Jessica Bates Wed, 12/18/2024 - 10:42

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Jonathan L. Gifford

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The center is led by founding Director Jonathan Gifford, a professor of policy and transportation in the Schar School.

Founding Director Jonathan Gifford

A New Name, A Broader Horizon

This year marked a pivotal shift for the center as it redefined its mission to encompass infrastructure beyond transportation.

A Forum for the Ages

Leading Research, Building Talent

Bridging Communities

As 2024 draws to a close, the center stands at the forefront of shaping the next generation of infrastructure solutions. Its continued growth signals exciting possibilities for 2025 and beyond.

AI and Cybersecurity: In 2025, the center will explore how artificial intelligence can both improve infrastructure development and introduce new vulnerabilities, such as cybersecurity risks, requiring careful analysis.
Expanding Student Engagement: The research program will continue to support master’s and PhD students, as well as reintroducing undergraduate engagement through the Schar School’s Undergraduate Research Assistant Program (URAP).
2025 P3 Forum: The next forum will take place in Van Metre Hall at Mason Square in Arlington, on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. Information will be announced soon.

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Center for Infrastructure P3 Policy

Schar School Expert: A Statement About the Eastern Seaboard Drone Flap

Jessica Bates — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 17:38:59 +0000

Schar School Expert: A Statement About the Eastern Seaboard Drone Flap Jessica Bates Tue, 12/17/2024 - 12:38

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Zak Kallenborn is an official Army Mad Scientist—one of a network of experts exploring advanced warfare capabilities—and an authority on drone swarms and killer robots.

Zak Kallenborn: ‘National hysteria like this event no doubt will raise adversary interest in and attention to drones.’

The Schar School of Policy and Government policy fellow at ��AV believes the recent rash of sightings of drones over New Jersey and other eastern states could be, in the end, a good thing if it galvanizes public policy attention enough to address existing drone vulnerabilities.

“Although the public response has often been hysterical, I'm hopeful the hysteria can be useful,” he said. “Experts have been sounding the alarm for years about the vulnerabilities of our airspace to drones operated by terrorists, organized crime, and hostile countries. And federal policies and regulations limit the ability of states to respond. If any of the New York and New Jersey drones turn out to be hostile, there is little local police can do.”

The threat is only going to get worse, he warns, “as technology evolves with drones being used autonomously, equipped with artificial intelligence, operating on more land and sea, and operating in collaborative swarms.”

He also warns that others are watching Americans watch the skies.

“National hysteria like this event no doubt will raise adversary interest in and attention to drones,” he said. “This hysteria shows that if you want to freak out the United States, you don't need a bomb—just a simple drone and a paranoid bystander with a camera."

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Six Months After Earning His Degree, MPP Grad Anthony Amos Wins His First Election

Andrew J Schappert — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 15:33:15 +0000

Six Months After Earning His Degree, MPP Grad Anthony Amos Wins His First Election Andrew J Schappert Wed, 12/11/2024 - 10:33

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David M. Hart

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Anthony Amos: ‘A lot of my policy positions were based on topics I researched while I was in college.‘ Photo by Ayman Rashid/Creative Services

It did not take long after graduating ��AV with a 2024 master of public policy (MPP) degree for Anthony Amos to fulfill a longtime dream: win an election that gives him the opportunity to help those around him.

In November, Amos won a seat on the Fairfax City Council after a well-crafted, heart-felt campaign that he said was partially inspired by what he learned at George Mason’s Schar School of Policy and Government’s MPP program.

Amos joins six other councilmembers on a board led by fellow Schar School graduate, Mayor Catherine Read, who earned her BA in government and politics from George Mason in 1984. As it happens, the university’s Fairfax Campus is in Fairfax City.

Serving the public, especially as an elected official, “has always been a dream of mine,” said Amos.

He ran as an Independent, eschewing the traditional opportunities afforded by aligning with a political party.

“I wanted to keep things focused on local issues,” he said of that decision. “We were seeing a lot more of the federal talking points and policies trickling down to the local level where a city council doesn't really decide on those issues, ever.”

Anthony Amos, left, receives his Jack Wood Town and Gown Award from George Mason President Gregory Washington. Photo by Creative Services.

In fact, he said, “You have people who try to manipulate the system and use [controversial] federal issues to control local government. Local government is where you’re supposed to be most connected with the community. If you lose that, that's just bad.”

Amos credits his time at George Mason, whose Fairfax Campus is in Fairfax City, and his undergraduate degree from the University of Hawaii West Oahu with helping him form and express his political ambitions.

“Anthony was a highly motivated, high-energy participant in my course,” said Professor of Public Policy David Hart, who taught Amos’s U.S. Institutions and Policy Process course. “He asked great questions and engaged thoughtfully with his colleagues as well as me.”

“A lot of my policy positions were based on topics I researched while I was in college, such as public financing for different construction projects,” he said. “Land use items, data centers in the energy grid, smart-use items for public transit, things like that … What I appreciate about George Mason is that the professors didn't skip over the local aspects of government.”

Amos works as a legislative aid for longtime Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity, the sole Republican on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. It’s a position that offers opportunities to see policy in action.

Last spring as he was preparing to graduate, Amos won the Jack Wood Award for Town-Gown Relations from the university’s Office of Government and Community Relations. The award for the student category recognizes the winner’s leadership in fostering relationships between the university and the community.

Now that he has graduated, Amos continues his relationship with his alma mater in several ways. He contributes to a program benefiting the ARTS By George! scholarships in the College of Visual and Performing Arts and he remains a member in good standing in the Bridge at Mason club which works to foster civic dialogue on campus. He added that he is continuously working on ways to unite George Mason with the city he now represents.

City council seats sometimes lead to larger roles for elected officials. Does Amos have higher ambitions now that his first election is in the books?

“I want to do a good job first and make sure that I'm built for this,” he said. “I managed to survive the campaign but let me let me get in there and not screw up too terribly, and then we’ll see.”

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New Course Creates Ethical Leaders for an AI-Driven Future

Andrew J Schappert — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 19:04:10 +0000

New Course Creates Ethical Leaders for an AI-Driven Future Andrew J Schappert Tue, 12/10/2024 - 14:04

Jesse Kirkpatrick: ‘The interdisciplinary approach ensures that participants develop insights applicable across public and private sectors, enabling them to lead responsibly in the AI-driven future.’ Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

While the debates continue over artificial intelligence’s possible impacts on privacy, economics, education, and job displacement, perhaps the largest question regards the ethics of AI. Bias, accountability, transparency, and governance of the powerful technology are aspects that have yet to be fully answered.

A new cross-disciplinary course at ��AV is designed to prepare students to tackle the ethical, societal, and governance challenges presented by AI. The course, AI: Ethics, Policy, and Society, will draw expertise from the Schar School of Policy and Government, the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC), and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS).

The master’s degree-level course begins in spring 2025 and will be taught by Jesse Kirkpatrick, a research associate professor in the CEC, the Department of Philosophy, and codirector of the Mason Autonomy and Robotics Center (MARC).

The course is important now, said Kirkpatrick, because “artificial intelligence is transforming industries, reshaping societal norms, and challenging long-standing ethical frameworks. This course provides critical insights into the ethical, societal, and policy implications of AI at a time when these technologies are increasingly deployed in areas like healthcare, criminal justice, and national defense.”

Debates about bias in AI systems, the governance of autonomous decision-making, and the risks of misinformation “underscore the urgency of equipping students and professionals with the tools to address the opportunities and challenges responsibly,” he added.

This course is designed for students and professionals from diverse fields, including policy, computer science, engineering, law, philosophy, and business.

“Occupations such as AI developers, policymakers, ethicists, legal advisors, and technology strategists will benefit greatly,” Kirkpatrick said. “The interdisciplinary approach ensures that participants develop insights applicable across public and private sectors, enabling them to lead responsibly in the AI-driven future.”

The course is open to George Mason students and is a core component of the university’s new graduate certificate in Responsible AI, making it an essential step for those pursuing advanced study or leadership roles in ethical AI design and governance.

In addition to critical readings and written assignments, the course incorporates hands-on components such as workshops, interactive discussions, and practical tools includes algorithmic audits, ethical toolkits, and risk management frameworks.

“Students will also engage in scenario-building exercises and present collaborative projects that apply ethical AI principles to real-world challenges,” Kirkpatrick said. “The course also features distinguished guest speakers from academia, industry, and government, providing students with diverse perspectives on AI.”

As a MARC codirector, Kirkpatrick is engaged in “responsible AI” initiatives. “I bring a unique blend of academic expertise and practical experience,” he said. “My work spans creating ethical AI frameworks, consulting on AI policy, and teaching at the intersection of ethics, technology, and public policy.

He adds, “This course reflects my commitment to equipping students with the knowledge and tools to address the profound ethical challenges and opportunities posed by AI technologies in society.”

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Funda Çakmak: Mother, Entrepreneur, and Schar School Junior

Andrew J Schappert — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 17:34:42 +0000

Funda Çakmak: Mother, Entrepreneur, and Schar School Junior Andrew J Schappert Tue, 12/03/2024 - 12:34

Embracing a new chapter: Funda Çakmak displays her certificate at her citizenship ceremony in August. Photos provided.

Funda Çakmak’s journey is anything but ordinary. A transfer student from Northern Virginia Community College, she’s now navigating her first semester as a junior at ��AV’s Schar School of Policy and Government, majoring in international security and law, an innovative undergraduate degree program that’s one of the first of its kind in the nation.

Funda Çakmak

Born and raised in Germany to Turkish parents and transplanted to the United States in 2011, Çakmak is a newly minted American citizen, having been naturalized in August. And on November 5, at her first opportunity, she found profound satisfaction in casting her first vote in a U.S. election, at an elementary school near her home in Haymarket, Virginia. Her milestone vote drew the attention of an ABC news program curious about first-time voters. (You can see her interview on this page.)

Çakmak once envisioned herself wearing a badge or a uniform, working in law enforcement or the military. At 20, however, she took a detour—a one-year au pair position for a family in Virginia.

“I wanted to travel and improve my English, and my goal was to spend a year on the East Coast and a year on the West Coast and then visit other countries, like Australia. But I came here and then ended up staying,” she said with a laugh. “Which was not the plan.”

Çakmak met former Virginia governor and Distinguished Visiting Professor Terry McAuliffe at a Schar School event in November.

Divorced since February 2023, the single mother of three—twin 11-year-old boys and a 9-year-old daughter—Çakmak stays busy with her family and her studies while also managing a limited liability corporation.

In 2021, she ventured into entrepreneurship, founding FC International GMBH, a Germany-based company specializing in fiber optic cable infrastructure.

But what she really wants to do, she said, is use her Schar School degree to work for the government in some capacity, ideally for a national security or diplomatic agency that would offer opportunities for travel once her children are grown.

As she works toward her goals, she imagines a day when she’s not just traveling the world but leaving a mark on it, a legacy her children can be proud of.

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Terry McAuliffe

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