Naval Postgraduate School

November 6, 2022 | Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Charles T. Cleveland, Daniel Egel, Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Russell Howard, David Maxwell, Col. (Ret.) Hy Rothstein

Defense Department needs to capitalize on historic opportunity

Excerpt The Department of Defense (DOD) may be facing a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fix a critical gap in its national security arsenal. Congress has authorized the creation of an institution dedicated...

October 19, 2022 | Dr. Brenda Shaffer |

How Iran’s Ethnic Divisions Are Fueling the Revolt

Non-Persian minorities, often overlooked in the West, may hold the key to the uprising’s course.

September 29, 2022 | Dr. Brenda Shaffer |

As Winter Approaches, Europe Is Walking Off a Cliff

Facing the worst energy crisis since World War II as the cold-weather heating season starts, Europe continues to dither. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has presented a series of new...

September 9, 2022 | Dr. Brenda Shaffer |

Israel’s Role in the Second Armenia-Azerbaijan War and Its Implications for the Future

Excerpt For a quarter of a century, Israel and Azerbaijan have maintained deep strategic cooperation that touches on national security issues of the highest importance to both sides. The defense relationship...

August 23, 2022 | Dr. Brenda Shaffer |

Washington wins as Turkey and Israel restore normal ties

Last week, Turkey and Israel announced that they would normalize their diplomatic relations and exchange ambassadors and consuls for the first time since 2018. The announcement follows a series of recent...

August 17, 2022 | Dr. Brenda Shaffer |

Iran’s policy toward the Caucasus and Central Asia

Excerpt Much of the analysis on Iranian foreign policy focuses on both Iran’s positonality in relation to the Middle East, and its claim to the mantle of Shia Islamic leadership. However, a more detailed...

July 13, 2022 | Dr. Brenda Shaffer |

Europe’s Tiny Steps Won’t Solve Its Energy Emergency

The bad policies that created the crisis are still in place.

April 22, 2022 | Dr. Brenda Shaffer |

Energy in Conflict: The Case of the 2020 Armenia-Azerbaijan War

Excerpt With the rise in frequency of hybrid warfare, combatants in various conflicts are increasingly targeting domestic energy infrastructure and energy supply flows.1 In conventional warfare, militaries...

April 18, 2022 | Dr. Erica Lonergan, RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery

What is the Future of Cyber Deterrence?

Excerpt Scholars and practitioners alike have debated the feasibility of applying deterrence models to cyberspace. Advocates of “cyber persistence theory,” for instance, posit that deterrence strategies...

February 28, 2022 | Dr. Brenda Shaffer |

Putin Just Pushed the World Into an Even Bigger Energy Crisis

Even without sanctions, Russia’s war will increase the shortage of oil and gas.

December 3, 2021 | Avinoam Idan, Dr. Brenda Shaffer

Israel’s role in the Second Armenia-Azerbaijan War

Excerpt The Republic of Azerbaijan and the State of Israel have enjoyed extensive ties and cooperation since the restoration of Azerbaijan’s independence in 1991 and strategic cooperation since the mid-1990s....

December 3, 2021 | Dr. Brenda Shaffer

The Trigger for War: Energy in the 2020 Armenia-Azerbaijan War

Excerpt Traditionally, militaries at war seek to meet their operational energy1 needs, gain access to energy supplies, and deny energy supplies to their adversaries. However, in the 2020 Armenia—Azerbaijan...

November 15, 2021 | Dr. Brenda Shaffer |

It’s Time to Be Honest About Fossil Fuels’ Role in Energy Transition

As soaring fuel inflation turns into a political risk, Biden needs a smarter energy policy fast.

October 5, 2021 | Dr. Brenda Shaffer |

Is Europe’s Energy Crisis a Preview of America’s?

Europe has itself to blame for shortages and spiking prices, but Washington is copying many of its policies.

August 12, 2021 | Alan Howard, Dr. Brenda Shaffer

The Hidden Dangers of a Carbon-Neutral Military

If the U.S. military goes electric, it could be good for the planet—and bad for national security.

August 2, 2021 | Dr. Brenda Shaffer

Renewable Isn’t Always Green

The Biden Administration and the European Union have launched unprecedented and far-reaching policies to promote the use of renewable energy and low carbon emitting energy. While commonly people use the...

July 18, 2021 | Dr. Brenda Shaffer |

The Impact of the Ahwaz protests in Iran

Iran’s Ahwazi Arab minority on July 7 launched extensive anti-regime protests centered in the country’s western Khuzestan Province. Extreme water shortages affecting the Ahwaz were the catalyst for...

June 25, 2021 | Dr. Erica Lonergan, RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, Brandon Valeriano

The Challenge Of Educating The Military On Cyber Strategy

Malicious cyber activity is ranked by some as the primary threat to international security. The strategic implications of cyberspace are particularly salient in the military context. From an offensive...

March 5, 2021 | Dr. Brenda Shaffer |

Armenia’s nuclear power plant is dangerous. Time to close it.

In late 2020, the Armenian government announced that its Metsamor nuclear power plant would close for five months in 2021 to attempt significant upgrades. Soon after, the EU urged Armenia to make the closure...

March 4, 2021 | Dr. Brenda Shaffer |

Iran Conducts Major Wave of Executions and Shootings of Ethnic Minorities

Tehran has killed dozens of members of Iran’s ethnic minorities in recent weeks, especially among Iran’s Baluch and Ahwazi Arab communities. Ethnic minorities are increasingly conducting anti-regime...