The Marshall Center concluded its Baltic alumni scholar event Sept. 4, 2025, bringing together researchers and practitioners to share original studies on regional security challenges and hybrid threats.

This project marked the completion of the fifth group scholar project since 2020, bringing the total to 16 group scholars and 118 individual alumni scholars since the alumni program began in 2004. This year’s group project included alumni from Finland, Lithuania, Poland, and Sweden, alongside experts from Poland’s National Security Bureau and Marshall Center faculty.

The research, themed “Deterrence and Defense in the Baltic Sea Region,” addressed the region’s changing strategic landscape, identified security and defense challenges, and offered mitigation measures relevant to NATO and EU partners.

• The event featured eight sessions led by regional experts, academics, and practitioners, including:
• Iro Särkkä, Ph.D., postdoctoral fellow, Finnish Institute of International Affairs  
• Filip Bryjka, Ph.D. senior analyst, Polish Institute of International Affairs  
• Vaida Hampe, head of threat analysis, Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs  
• Lt. Senior Grade, Antti Kurkivuori, head of Navigation Training Unit, Finnish Naval Academy  
• Lt. Col. Tomasz Sykala, senior expert, Global Threat Analysis Team, Polish Ministry of National Defense  
• Cmdr. Stefan Lundqvist, pro-dean, Department of War Studies, Swedish Defence University  
• Pawel Turowski, expert, Polish National Security Bureau  
• U.S. Navy Cmdr. Rachael Gosnell, Marshall Center military professor of strategic security studies

The program concluded with editorial and publication guidance from Aneta Wilewska, managing editor at the Doctrine and Training Center (DTC) of the Polish Armed Forces, and Polish Col. Andrzej Lis, Ph.D., DTC director.

“The work of this group demonstrates the power of collaborative scholarship in advancing our understanding of hybrid threats and regional security,” said Lis. “Through joint research, we not only develop practical recommendations but also strengthen the bonds between our academic and defense institutions.”

The Baltic scholar initiative reflects the Marshall Center’s mission to reinforce networks of alumni, academics, and practitioners dedicated to credible deterrence and defense across Europe. It also highlights the enduring German–American partnership at the heart of the Marshall Center, and the shared transatlantic commitment to addressing evolving threats.

The research presented will undergo a peer-reviewed editorial process led by DTC. Following revisions, the collection will be published in electronic form later this year, with a print edition expected in early 2026. The forthcoming volume will provide policymakers, academics, and practitioners with fresh perspectives and recommendations on deterrence and defense in the Baltic Sea region.

“The cooperation throughout this project has been fantastic, and we couldn’t do it without you,” closed Fritz Rademacher, Marshall Center professor of international security studies, who co-led the joint research project with Lis. “Your generous dedication is what makes these kinds of collaborative efforts possible.”