By Christine June
Public Affairs Office
George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany (Dec. 7, 2017) – The Alumni Programs Office is pleased to announce the winners of the 2018 George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies’ Alumni Scholarships. 

This year, the alumni team solicited applications from more than 12,000 alumni, and received more than 125 proposals for 15 available scholarships.

“The Alumni Scholars Program is an excellent opportunity for our Marshall Center Alumni to continue research in their field of security studies,” said Dean Reed, director of the Marshall Center Alumni Programs. “We provide them with everything they need to conduct in-depth research to include unlimited access to our research databases, an academic advisor, opportunities to engage with both current participants and all faculty, and opportunities to publish in a number of academic journals.

She added, “Our goal is to develop their skills and knowledge and to be able to bring these scholars back as subject matter experts as presenters, panel members, or faculty.”

The Faculty Scholarship Committee read through all proposals and careful consideration was given to each one.

In the end, 15 winners were selected based on a variety of factors, with priority given to research topics that are of the greatest interest to the Marshall Center and its stakeholders.

The 2018 Scholars are:

Dr. Constantinos Adamides, assistant professor of international relations at the University of Nicosia, in Cyprus. He will be doing research on “The Challenges and Obstructed Opportunities: Formulating National Security Strategies in the Presence of Overacting Existential Threats.” He attended the Senior Executive Seminar in 2017.

Dr. Natalia Albu, director of the Strategic Research Center, Legal and Political Research Institute of the Academy of Sciences in the Republic of Moldova. She will be doing research on “Mainstreaming Gender Perspectives in the Security Sector of the Republic of Moldova: International Commitments or National Need?” She attended the Seminar on Regional Security in 2017.

Adila Aliyeva, member of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Azerbaijan at the United Nations Headquarters in Vienna. She will be doing research on “Beyond the War of Political Elites: The Role of Civil Society towards Common Security in the South Caucasus.” She attended the Seminar on Regional Security in 2016 and the Program on Security Sector Capacity Building in 2015.

Leyla Aliyeva, head advisor for the Cyber Security Center under the Ministry of Communication and High Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan. She will be doing research on “Developing an Effective National Cyber Security Policy for Azerbaijan.” She attended the Program on Cyber Security Studies in 2016.

Daniel Bagge, director of Cyber Security Policies Department of the National Cyber and Information Security Agency in the Czech Republic. He will be doing research on “Cyber Security Revisited: Deception in Cyberspace and Impact on Military Decision Making.” He attended the Program on Terrorism Security Studies in 2013, the Executive Program on Applied Security Studies and the Master of Arts Program in International Security Studies in 2013.

Gabor Csizmazia, assistant lecturer of the faculty of international and European studies at the National University of Public Service in Hungary. He will be doing research on “All Quiet on the Eastern Flank? Examining U.S. Presence in Center and Eastern Europe.” He attended the European Security Seminar – East in 2016.

Anna Gussarova, director (expert in international security) at the Central Asia Institute for Strategic Studies in Kazakhstan. She will be doing research on “Language and Communications Strategy in Countering Violent Extremism and Terrorism in Kazakhstan.” She attended the Seminar in Weapons of Mass Destruction/Terrorism in 2013.

Constantin Tudoriu, deputy head of directorate for the Romanian Intelligence Service. He will be doing research on “Social Media Intelligence and its Role in Extracting New Threats Indicators from Jihadist Propaganda, Cyberattacks and Transnational Organized Crime.” He attended the Program on Terrorism and Security Studies in 2011.

Lt. Col. Sarder Ali Haider, detachment commander of the Army Security Unit in Bangladesh. He will be doing research on “Capitalization of ‘Rohingya Crisis’ by Transnational Militants, Assessing Security Threats to the South Asian Region and its Global Impact.” He attended the Program on Terrorism Security Studies in 2016.

Polish Navy Cmdr. Roslaw Jezewski, regional cooperation and Operations Officer at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe. He will be doing research on “Demographic Changes as the Factor Shaping Cohesion and Resilience of Countries on Europe’s Eastern and Southern Flank.” He attend the Program on Applied Security Studies in 2016.

Col. Hennadiy Kovalenko, chief of the Bilateral Cooperation Directorate and Peace Keeping Operations in Ukraine. He will be doing research on “Ukrainian Defense Capabilities as an Enabler for Deterring Russian Aggression in Eastern Europe.” He attended the Senior Executive Seminar in 2016.

Chief Inspector Vladan Lukic, chief in command of police for the Directorate Pozarevac in Serbia. He will be doing research on the “Influence of Corruption in Law Enforcement Agencies on Organized Crime in Western Balkan Countries.” He attended the Program on Applied Security Studies in 2012.

Miroslav Mizera, special advisor to the Deputy Minister of Defense of the Slovak Republic. He will be doing research on “Europe’s Eastern and Southern Flank and the Role of Strategic Communications in Security and Defense Policies.” He attended the Program on Applied Security Studies in 2012.

Susan Osembo, from Kenya attending the Durham University in New Castle, United Kingdom. She will be doing her research on “Social Media as an Early Warning System for Security in Africa.” She attended the Seminar on Transatlantic Civil Security in 2014.

Laurentiu Claudiu Sirbu, head of the Transnational Threats Department of the Romanian Intelligence Service. He will be doing research on “An Assessment of the Black Sea Route as a Potential Major Migration Corridor from Turkey to Western Europe.” He attended the Program on Applied Security Studies in 2012 and the Program on Terrorism Security Studies in 2013.