Dr. David A. Grantham, PhD

Senior Fellow

Dr. David A. Grantham researches and publishes the crime-terror nexus in Latin America and advises public and private entities on intelligence strategies. He previously served as Senior Fellow of National Security at the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA). He was a U.S. Air Force officer and Special Agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, managing counterintelligence and counterterrorism operations.

Dr. Grantham holds a Ph.D. in History from Texas Christian University—where he taught courses on Latin America and the Middle East—an M.S. in International Relations from Troy University, and a B.A. in History from the University of South Florida. He is the author of Consequences: An Intelligence Officer’s War.

Dr. Angel Diaz

Senior Fellow | SME

Dr. Angel Diaz is the founder and CEO of Allegient Defense, a federally focused consultancy that delivers programmatic, IT, and science-based solutions. A U.S. Navy veteran with over two decades of experience, he has advised DHS, FBI, and other agencies on cloud computing, data analytics, AI, and next-generation weapon systems. He holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Executive Leadership from The George Washington University and an MBA, an M.S. in Management Information Systems, and a B.S. in Computer Studies. Guided by a mission-centric philosophy, Dr. Diaz remains a leading voice in defense innovation, cybersecurity, and organizational science.

LCDR Jesús D. Romero, USN (Ret.)

Senior Fellow | SME – LATAM

Lieutenant Commander Jesús D. Romero is a retired U.S. Navy and Army intelligence officer with 37 years of combined service. He worked in defense contracting for British Aerospace Systems and Booz Allen Hamilton and deployed aboard the USS America to Bosnia, Iraq, and Sudan. He later commanded a Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) unit in Panamá, overseeing operations in Central and South America. An Amazon bestselling author, he is a frequent expert commentator on radio, TV, YouTube, and print media.

Arthur A. Estopinan

Senior Fellow | Intl. & Public Affairs

Arthur A. Estopinan is a senior international and public affairs leader with over 30 years of Congressional experience, including serving as Chief of Staff and official spokesperson for the House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Emeritus. He counsels on legislative, governmental, and foreign policy affairs, effectively advocating initiatives across the House and Senate. With a robust global network and a deep understanding of economics, business, and politics, he drives critical issues forward in the legislative process.

LTC Octavio Perez, U.S. Army (Ret.)

Senior Fellow | Politico-Military Affairs

Lt. Colonel Octavio Perez is a highly experienced U.S. Army intelligence officer with more than two decades of active-duty service and additional reserve assignments. He specialized in intelligence and Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Warfare, commanding operations at Fort Leonard Wood and serving in the Republic of Korea. At the Defense Intelligence Agency, he focused on North Korean military analysis and responded to crises involving the Achille Lauro and TWA 847 incidents. Perez volunteered with the 1st Cavalry Division during Desert Shield/Storm and later served as Chief Intelligence Instructor at the U.S. Army School of the Americas, training Latin American officers in low-intensity conflict. His reserve career culminated at U.S. Southern Command as a strategic intelligence officer (J2 Ops).

Dr. Luis Noguerol, PhD

Senior Fellow | SME – CYBER

Dr. Luis Noguerol is a seasoned IT executive with expertise in Federal regulations (NIST 800, FIPS, FISMA) and data protection for both private and public sectors. He identifies and addresses IT security risks, leveraging his Ph.D. in Management with a focus on Organizational Leadership–Information Systems & Technology, an MS in Applied Mathematics & Information Systems, and multiple certifications (CEH, CHFI, Security+). He is a published author, scholar, and a frequent TV and radio news contributor.

Willie Lora

Senior Fellow | International Affairs Analyst

Willie Lora is a recognized expert in political crisis communications, news research, and Category One special events management. He is President of Lora Media Consulting LLC, a broadcast and media communications firm specializing in multimedia platform development, content programming, and technology-driven production for national and international markets. Mr. Lora has led major media initiatives throughout his career—from overseeing the International Press Center in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia during Pope Francis’ U.S. visit to advising on U.S. presidential campaigns and multiple presidential bids in Latin America. He is also affiliated with the International Presidential Debates Association, where he has produced debates for both television and radio. He has worked with Feature Story News (FSN) to expand Latin American markets by introducing innovative IP technologies and producing news content.

María Herrera Mellado, PhD

Senior Fellow – International Law & National Security

Dr. María Herrera Mellado is a licensed attorney in the United States and Spain. She has extensive experience in business and immigration law and consulting on national security and international policy across Europe, the U.S., and Latin America. She holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Business Law, a J.D. and LL.M. (with a mining law focus) from the University of Arizona, and an MBA from Florida International University.

A prolific author, Dr. Herrera Mellado has published articles on data protection, emerging technologies, and comparative banking law in leading professional journals across Spain, Portugal, Peru, and Brazil. She co-authored two books on data protection and technology in comparative law. She has received accolades, including a Certificate of Merit from the City of Miami and recognition as one of the most influential women in Florida by Diario Las Américas. Fluent in English, Spanish, and French (with basic Portuguese), she frequently contributes to Spanish-language media such as Univision, Telemundo, and Diario Las Américas. She serves as editor-in-chief of Gateway Hispanic.

María C. Werlau

Senior Fellow | SME – Cuba

María C. Werlau is Co-founder and Executive Director of the Free Society Project (Cuba Archive), a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit focused on human rights research and publications. A former Second Vice President at The Chase Manhattan Bank, she has provided expert testimony on Cuban affairs to the U.S. Congress, the Organization of American States, the UN Human Rights Council, and the European Parliament. Her analyses have appeared in leading media worldwide, and she was named a 2024 Trafficking in Persons Hero by the U.S. Department of State. Fluent in English and Spanish with intermediate French, Ms. Werlau holds a B.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and an M.A. in International Relations (summa cum laude) from the Universidad de Chile.

CDR José Adán Gutiérrez, USN (Ret.)

Senior Fellow | SME – LATAM

José Adán Gutiérrez oversees Latin American operations and strategy, bringing 40+ years of military, civilian, and private-sector experience. Fluent in Spanish, he has extensive intelligence, security, and diplomatic expertise across the Americas, including over two decades as a Naval Intelligence Officer and service as a U.S. Naval Attaché in Panama. He previously held senior roles at SAIC, Mission Essential, and INDETEC, and he has advanced degrees from Naval War College and NYU.