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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Leonardo Morales Coca

Senior Fellow | Investigative Journalist

Leonardo Morales is a veteran journalist and editorial leader with over 30 years of experience in political and economic reporting across the Americas. A graduate of the University of Havana with a degree in journalism, Morales began his career in 1992 at CMHW Radio in central Cuba.

In 2023, Morales joined The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald, where he served as an editor for nearly 16 years. Specializing in U.S. and global politics and economics, he led coverage of high-impact events and developments. He also served as the lead editor of El Nuevo Herald’s 36-page Bloomberg supplement, delivering in-depth economic reporting and analysis. Concurrently, he worked as a news producer and writer at Univision, one of the leading Spanish-language networks in the United States.

In 2020, Morales was appointed U.S. Politics and Economics Editor at Diario Las Américas, contributing to both the weekly print edition and the digital platform. Over the past five years, he has authored hundreds of investigative and analytical articles, widely cited by national and international media. His reporting has become a trusted source for radio and television commentary, as well as for academic and policy discussions on economic and political trends.

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.

Jaime (Jimmy) Gonzalez

Senior Fellow, Military Intelligence

Jaime Gonzalez is a veteran intelligence professional and military officer with over 40 years of service in the U.S. Army and Intelligence Community. He has led intelligence operations, counterdrug analysis, and strategic threat assessments, shaping national security policies and mentoring future leaders. He served as a U.S. Military Attaché in Latin America, as Provost Marshal in Germany, and later as a Senior Intelligence Officer, overseeing HUMINT operations and key defense analyses. A recognized expert in intelligence tradecraft, he has developed training programs, authored classified publications, and received multiple national intelligence awards for his contributions.
As a Senior Intelligence Officer, he guided analytical efforts that informed national security decisions and served with distinction in multiple senior roles at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), including as Chief of Military Forces Analysis. Gonzalez’s outstanding performance has earned him numerous military and civilian awards, including the DIA Negus Award for Outstanding Analytical Excellence, three ODNI National Intelligence Team Awards, and the National Intelligence Council Intelligence Award.

Alexis Torres

Senior Fellow | Public Safety & Homeland Security

Mr. Alexis Torres is a seasoned expert in federal, state, and municipal security operations. He previously served as Secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Public Safety and held senior positions with Homeland Security Investigations. With a Top Secret/SCI clearance, he has advised on national security policies and law enforcement strategies at the highest levels, contributing to key intelligence-led initiatives.
As Secretary, he led a major restructuring of Puerto Rico’s public safety system, achieving $80 million in cost savings and securing more than $137 million in federal funding to strengthen critical infrastructure. He also worked closely with the Fiscal Oversight and Management Board (FOMB) to develop long-term funding strategies for public safety.
Alexis specializes in federal grant acquisition, interagency coordination, and the integration of innovative security technologies to combat transnational crime and support resilient communities.

Frank Rodriguez

Senior Fellow

Frank Rodríguez is a veteran editor, educator, and historian with over 50 years of experience in bilingual publishing, language instruction, and cultural preservation. He has led the development of hundreds of educational programs in Spanish and English at major publishers such as Simon & Schuster, Scott Foresman, and Berlitz, and created the acclaimed Auto Inglés® course for Spanish speakers.

A recognized leader in bilingual education, Rodríguez has also served as a news producer for América TeVé and is currently a historian at the American Museum of the Cuban Diaspora, where he curates exhibit texts and leads tours. He has translated over 150 books, authored and edited numerous works on Cuban history, and contributed to Cuban Exiles: A Struggle for Truth and Freedom.

Rodríguez holds an MA and BA in Economics from the University of Miami and has dedicated his career to advancing language learning and preserving the Cuban exile narrative.