Dean, School of Advanced International Policy
Professor of Public Policy Analysis & Governance

Drew Naumann serves as the Dean of the School of Advanced International Policy, bringing a wealth of strategic and tactical expertise to the institution. He currently holds the position of Security Assistance Policy Branch Chief within the Office of the Deputy Undersecretary of the Air Force for International Affairs (SAF/IA). His distinguished career in international affairs includes serving as the Technical Advisor to the Deputy Undersecretary and as the Inaugural Foreign Affairs Advisor to the Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the international policy landscape for the nation’s newest military service branch.

Beyond his civilian leadership, Drew is a member of the Air National Guard with more than 20 years of experience as a special-operations medic, giving him a unique frontline perspective on global security and humanitarian operations. His academic foundation is equally robust, holding a Master of Science in Biodefense & Health Security and a Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security.

A lifelong learner and strategist, Drew has completed several of the nation's most prestigious executive programs. He is a graduate of the National Preparedness Leadership Initiative at Harvard University, the University of Michigan Ross School of Business Project Mercury Program, and the Legislative Studies program at Georgetown University. Furthermore, he is a graduate of the College of Naval Command and Staff at the Naval War College, ensuring his leadership is informed by the highest levels of joint military and legislative education.

Associate Dean for Academics

Professor of Foreign Policy & International Relations

Diego Yoshisaki serves as the Associate Dean for Academics at the School of Advanced International Policy, bringing over two decades of strategic and operational experience to the faculty. A recently retired Chief Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force, Professor Yoshisaki concluded his military service as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs. In this capacity, he was a principal advisor on global policy, professional development, and the effective direction of the Total Force, while also serving as the Career Field Manager for the Enlisted International Affairs community.

Throughout his distinguished career, Professor Yoshisaki specialized in building international partnerships and enhancing partner nation capacity. His expertise was forged through key assignments across seven Combatant Commands, including roles as a Political Affairs Liaison in Portugal and the Senior Enlisted Advisor for Strategic Plans and Requirements at Air Forces Northern and Air Forces Space. His work in security cooperation and interoperability has been instrumental in enabling global missions, including support for Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, where he bridged the gap between military strategy and diplomatic execution.

Professor Yoshisaki is a highly decorated practitioner of "soft power" and unconventional diplomacy. He is a designated International Health Specialist, an Advanced Air Advisor, and a scholar of the Language Enabled Airman Program (LEAP). Fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, his regional expertise spans Latin America and Europe, supported by advanced linguistic training and professional immersions in Brazil and Portugal. His ability to navigate complex cultural landscapes is complemented by a robust background in global health engagement and humanitarian assistance.

His academic credentials include a Master of Business Administration from Webster University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. He holds specialized certifications in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response from Harvard University, as well as a Project Management Professional (PMP) designation. By blending high-level Pentagon advisory experience with deep regional and linguistic fluency, Professor Yoshisaki provides students with a unique, practitioner-based perspective on the intersection of military operations, global health policy, and international security cooperation.

Professor of Foreign Policy & International Relations

Gary Woo serves as a Professor of Foreign Policy & International Relations at the School of Advanced International Policy (SAIP), following a distinguished career as a retired Chief Master Sergeant. With nearly a decade dedicated to international affairs and foreign policy, he most recently served as the Senior Enlisted Leader (SEL) for the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs. His leadership experience is further anchored by his time as an Operations Group SEL and his foundational work as an instructor loadmaster, blending high-level strategic oversight with deep operational expertise.

Gary’s impact on global defense cooperation is highlighted by his leadership in planning and executing two Senior Enlisted Leaders International Summits. These landmark events convened Airpower and Spacepower leaders from over 80 nations, representing the largest international gatherings in the Department of the Air Force's history. His ability to navigate complex multinational environments was honed through his extensive experience as an Air Advisor within a Mobility Support Advisory Squadron, where he focused on building partner capacity and strengthening global alliances.

In addition to his practical experience in the field, Gary holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs. By integrating his background in global summitry and tactical advisory roles into the classroom, he provides SAIP students with a comprehensive understanding of how American statecraft is executed at both the strategic and interpersonal levels. His work ensures that the next generation of policy leaders understands the critical intersection of military diplomacy and long-term international strategy.

Professor of Security Cooperation & Partner Engagement

Kale Meyer serves as a Professor of Advanced International Policy at the School of Advanced International Policy, bringing more than two decades of operational, advisory, and enlisted leadership experience to the faculty. A Chief Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force, he currently serves as the Senior Enlisted Leader for the 53d Weapons Evaluation Group at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, where he advises the commander on readiness, utilization, morale, welfare, and professional development for more than 400 Airmen across five squadrons and three geographically separated locations.

Chief Meyer’s career is distinguished by deep experience in Aviation Foreign Internal Defense and unconventional warfare-adjacent mission sets. As a Combat Aviation Advisor and Team Sergeant with the 6th Special Operations Squadron, he led Operational Aviation Detachments conducting Aviation Foreign Internal Defense across the globe, working with partner aviation forces in complex, politically sensitive, and operationally demanding environments. His work placed him at the intersection of airpower, special operations, partner-force development, and strategic competition, where tactical execution directly supports broader foreign policy and security objectives.

Across multiple deployments and contingency operations, Chief Meyer supported joint air detachments and partner-nation aviation capabilities while operating in environments that required cultural fluency, mission command, technical expertise, and disciplined advising. His experience maintaining and advising on diverse platforms—including C-130E/H/J, CASA 212, C-208, PC-6, BT-67, and AC-130J aircraft—gives him rare practical insight into how aviation capacity, irregular warfare, and security cooperation are translated from policy concepts into operational outcomes.

Prior to his current assignment, Chief Meyer held senior leadership roles across the special operations maintenance enterprise, including Acting Senior Enlisted Leader for the 27th Special Operations Maintenance Group. His academic foundation includes a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy from New England College, complemented by advanced joint and senior enlisted professional military education. At SAIP, he brings students a practitioner’s perspective on how Aviation Foreign Internal Defense, special operations aviation, and partner-force advising shape the conduct of international policy in contested environments.

Professor of American Statecraft and Strategic Thought

Rob Montaño serves as a Professor of American Statecraft and Strategic Thought at the School of Advanced International Policy (SAIP). A Chief Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force (USAF), he currently leads as the Senior Enlisted Leader for the USAF Pathfinder Program, where he guides a community of exceptionally talented Airmen from across the force to develop innovative solutions for the Air Force’s most complex challenges.

Rob’s career encompasses a broad spectrum of national security activities, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, space and cyberspace operations, special operations, acquisitions, and special programs. He has held several advisory and leadership positions, such as Senior Enlisted Advisor for the Commander’s Action Group at U.S. Cyber Command, Deputy Legislative Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), Legislative Advisor to the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the CJCS, Defense Fellow within Congress, and Senior Advisor for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s International Affairs Directorate.

Rob is also recognized for his robust academic background in national security theory and operational planning and has extensive experience collaborating across joint, interagency, intergovernmental, and multinational environments. He holds a Master of Defense and Strategic Studies from the University of Texas at El Paso and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Counterterrorism from Norwich University. He is a graduate of the National Defense University’s Joint and Combined Warfighting School, the Joint Special Operations Forces Senior Enlisted Leader Academy, and the United States Army Strategic Broadening Program in Navigating Great Power Competition at William & Mary.

Professor of American Statecraft & Strategic Thought

Jen Thurman is a Professor of American Statecraft and Strategic Thought at the School of Advanced International Policy (SAIP). As a Senior Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force (USAF) with over twenty years of service, Jen brings extensive experience from both the Intelligence Community and academia, providing SAIP with valuable insight into how the U.S. collaborates with allies and competes with competitors within the international system.

Jen began her career as a Chinese Language Analyst and has since become a key figure in the China research community, recognized as one of the Department of War’s (DoW) foremost experts on the Chinese Communist Party. She previously served as the Senior Enlisted Leader for China Education at Air University’s Chinese Aerospace Studies Institute, where she advanced U.S. understanding of the strategy, doctrine, operational concepts, and capabilities of China’s aerospace forces. Additionally, Jen’s expertise in China’s “gray war” efforts has provided senior DoW leaders with a nuanced understanding of China’s national and military strategies. Her strategic insights have fostered greater strategic empathy and encouraged senior leaders to rethink U.S. approaches to competition with China. Recognized for her subject matter expertise, Jen has served as a guest lecturer at both the USAF Air Command and Staff College and the Air War College.

In addition to her operational experience, Jen possesses a remarkable academic background in national security theory, strategy and policy, and international relations. She is a PhD candidate in Public Policy and Administration at Walden University. She also holds a Master of Public Administration from Walden University, a Master of Arts in International Relations from Webster University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Southeast Asian Languages from the University of Maryland University College. Additionally, she is a graduate of the three-year Military Language Analyst Program, the Intelligence Community’s premier technical training and career development program hosted by the National Cryptologic University.

Associate Professor of Public Policy Analysis & Governance

Mustafa M. Sidik is an emergency management executive, public health strategist, educator, and systems leader whose work focuses on public policy, governance, healthcare systems, and crisis management. He currently serves as EMS Region III Coordinator for the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS), where he leads regional emergency preparedness, interagency coordination, operational policy implementation, and strategic planning across Maryland’s EMS system.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Professor Sidik served as Maryland’s State EMS Infectious Diseases Coordinator and Planning Section Chief for the statewide EMS response, helping guide emergency policy development, healthcare systems coordination, and disaster preparedness operations. His research and leadership have focused on evidence-based governance, institutional resilience, and healthcare systems performance, with published work examining pandemic triage protocols and EMS operational outcomes.

In addition to his government leadership, Professor Sidik serves as Associate Faculty and Course Director within the University of Maryland’s Master of Trauma Sciences program and holds adjunct faculty appointments at several Maryland institutions. He also serves as a gubernatorial appointee to the Maryland Fire-Rescue Training & Education Commission and previously chaired the Harford County Redistricting Commission, reflecting his longstanding commitment to public service and civic governance.

Associate Professor of Foreign Policy & International Relations

Derrek Lyons is an Associate Professor of Foreign Policy and International Relations at the School of Advanced International Policy, bringing fifteen years of high-stakes operational, advisory, and program management experience to the classroom.

A retired United States Navy veteran, Professor Lyons culminated his military service as the Deputy Director of Operations at the U.S. Defense Attaché Office in Rome. In this role, he served as a principal advisor on bilateral engagement, foreign clearance policy, and intelligence collection within one of the Department of Defense’s most strategically vital European partnerships. During his tenure, he spearheaded more than 100 multinational engagements and successfully negotiated 6 defense cooperation agreements with the Italian Ministry of Defense.

Professor Lyons is a proven leader in interagency coordination and crisis management. While in Rome, he directed an intelligence task force that synchronized collection across multiple agencies, driving a 300-percent increase in finished intelligence reporting. He also served as the senior operations coordinator for G20 and G7 Presidential visits and negotiated the critical basing and transit frameworks that enabled emergency evacuation operations from Afghanistan and Niger. In an earlier expeditionary assignment, he expanded U.S. operational reach by securing ten forward operating locations across the European theater for Navy anti-submarine warfare operations.

Across his career, Professor Lyons’s work has spanned technical operations, intelligence collection, and international defense cooperation across four geographic combatant commands. Today, he leverages his active network across the attaché, defense, and intelligence communities to bridge the gap between theory and practice. In his courses, he draws on his extensive field experience to show students exactly how enlisted leadership and ground-level execution shape American defense policy on the global stage.