Experts
Dr. Rafael Marrero
Founder | Senior Fellow | Economy & US-China Affairs
A nationally recognized strategic economist, bestselling geopolitical author, and founder of the Miami Strategic Intelligence Institute (MSI²), a leading think tank advancing U.S. national security, economic sovereignty, and resistance to authoritarian influence in the Western Hemisphere. A Stanford- and Cornell-educated expert with nearly four decades of cross-sector experience, he has guided thousands of American firms through federal certification and contracting, supporting more than $2 billion in awards. Previously a Fortune 500 C-level executive overseeing multibillion-dollar procurement portfolios and mission-critical programs for the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community, he also leads Rafael Marrero & Company, one of the nation’s premier B2G consulting firms. A bestselling author and host of the Apple podcast La Amenaza China, he is an accredited member of AFIO.
Dr. Luis Noguerol
Co-Founder | Senior Fellow | SME – CYBER
Dr. Luis Noguerol is an IT executive and cybersecurity strategist with extensive expertise in Federal regulatory frameworks, including NIST 800, FIPS, and FISMA, as well as advanced data protection for both private and public sectors. He specializes in identifying and mitigating enterprise-level cyber risks, drawing on a Ph.D. in Management with a concentration in Organizational Leadership–Information Systems & Technology, an MS in Applied Mathematics and Information Systems, and multiple industry certifications such as CEH, CHFI, and Security+. Dr. Noguerol is also a published author and academic scholar whose work bridges technical innovation and organizational resilience. A recognized media contributor, he appears regularly on television and radio to analyze cyber threats, digital sovereignty challenges, and emerging technology trends affecting national and corporate security.
LTC Octavio Perez, U.S. Army (Ret.)
Co-Founder | Senior Fellow | Politico-Military Affairs
Lt. Colonel Octavio Pérez is a U.S. Army intelligence officer with more than two decades of active-duty service and additional reserve assignments focused on intelligence, security, and Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Warfare. He commanded operations at Fort Leonard Wood, served in the Republic of Korea, and later joined the Defense Intelligence Agency, where he analyzed North Korean military capabilities and supported crisis responses to the Achille Lauro and TWA 847 incidents. Pérez volunteered with the 1st Cavalry Division during Desert Shield/Storm and subsequently became 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 (SOUTHCOM), where he served as a strategic intelligence officer in J2 Operations, supporting hemispheric security missions.
Joseph E. Hage
Co-Founder | Senior Fellow | Middle Eastern Affairs & Counterterrorism
Joseph E. Hage is a seasoned political analyst specializing in Middle Eastern affairs, counterterrorism, U.S. policy toward Lebanon and Syria, and global security dynamics. He serves as Executive Director of the American Lebanese Policy Institute–PAC and previously led the American Lebanese Coalition and the Lebanese-American Kataeb organization. Active in U.S. Middle East policy since 1992, Hage played a key role in advancing the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act and supporting UN Security Council resolutions that enabled the Cedar Revolution. He provides confidential regional briefings to U.S. government agencies and serves as an expert witness in political asylum cases. Fluent in Arabic, French, Spanish, and English, he appears frequently on major international media and has lectured at the University of Miami, FIU, and FAU. Hage holds a BA in Economics from FIU and an associate degree in Business Administration from the Holy Spirit University of Lebanon.
Willie Lora
Co-Founder | Senior Fellow | International Affairs
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.
CDR José Adán Gutiérrez, USN (Ret.)
Senior Fellow | SME – LATAM
CDR José Adán Gutiérrez, USN (Ret.), is a retired U.S. Navy Commander with more than three decades of distinguished service in intelligence, defense, and national security and emerging global strategic trends. His military career included groundbreaking assignments as the first Director of Intelligence (N2) for the Western Hemisphere Group and as the first U.S. Naval Attaché to Panama, where he advanced regional security cooperation and intelligence integration. After retiring from active duty, he transitioned to the private sector, leading multimillion-dollar security and defense business development programs across Latin America with firms such as SAIC and MissionEssential. He currently serves as Principal Consultant at Rafael Marrero & Company, advising on strategic business development and federal contracting throughout the region, and as Senior Analyst at MSI². Commander Gutiérrez is widely recognized as an expert on U.S.–Latin American relations, national security, and the growing strategic influence of China in the Western Hemisphere.
Dr. Angel Diaz
Senior Fellow | Geopolitics & Military Affairs
Dr. Angel Diaz is the founder and CEO of Allegient Defense, a federally focused consultancy delivering programmatic, IT, and science-based solutions to U.S. government agencies. A U.S. Navy veteran with more than two decades of experience in defense innovation, he has advised DHS, the FBI, and other national security entities on cloud computing, data analytics, artificial intelligence, and next-generation weapon systems. Dr. Diaz holds a Doctor of Education in Executive Leadership from The George Washington University, along with an MBA, an M.S. in Management Information Systems, and a B.S. in Computer Studies. His career bridges military service, advanced research, and organizational leadership, positioning him as a trusted authority on cybersecurity, emerging technologies, and mission-focused transformation. Guided by a commitment to public service and organizational excellence, Dr. Diaz continues to shape strategic initiatives that enhance national security and technological resilience.
Jaime (Jim) Gonzalez
Senior Fellow | Analytical Tradecraft SME
Jaime (Jim) Gonzalez is a veteran intelligence professional and U.S. Army officer with more than 40 years of service, distinguished for leading intelligence operations, counterdrug analysis, and strategic threat assessments across the Army and the Intelligence Community. His career includes service as a U.S. Military Attaché in Latin America, Provost Marshal in Germany, and Senior Intelligence Officer overseeing HUMINT operations and critical defense analyses. A recognized expert in intelligence tradecraft, he has developed training programs, authored classified publications, and mentored emerging leaders while shaping national security policy. He also served in senior roles at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), including Chief of Military Forces Analysis. His contributions have earned multiple honors, among them the DIA Negus Award for Outstanding Analytical Excellence, three ODNI National Intelligence Team Awards, and the National Intelligence Council Intelligence Award.
Frank Rodriguez
Senior Fellow | Bilingual Education & Cultural History
Frank Rodríguez is a veteran editor, educator, and historian with more than 50 years of experience in bilingual publishing, language instruction, and cultural preservation. He has led the development of hundreds of Spanish and English educational programs for major publishers including Simon & Schuster, Scott Foresman, and Berlitz, and is the creator of the acclaimed Auto Inglés® course for Spanish speakers. A respected figure in bilingual education, Rodríguez also served as a news producer for América TeVé and currently works as a historian at the American Museum of the Cuban Diaspora, where he develops exhibit texts and guides cultural programming. He has translated more than 150 books, authored and edited numerous works on Cuban history, and contributed to Cuban Exiles: A Struggle for Truth and Freedom. Rodríguez holds BA and MA degrees in Economics from the University of Miami and has dedicated his career to advancing language learning and preserving the Cuban exile narrative.
Leonardo Morales Coca
Senior Fellow | Investigative Journalist
Leonardo Morales Coca is a veteran journalist and editorial leader with more than 30 years of experience covering political and economic affairs across the Americas. A graduate of the University of Havana, he began his career in 1992 at CMHW Radio in central Cuba before joining The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald in 2003, where he served as an editor for nearly 16 years. Specializing in U.S. and global politics and economics, he led coverage of major international events and directed the 36-page Bloomberg supplement for El Nuevo Herald, delivering in-depth economic reporting and analysis. Morales also worked as a producer and writer for Univision, one of the leading Spanish-language networks in the United States. Since 2020, he has served as U.S. Politics and Economics Editor at Diario Las Américas, authoring hundreds of investigative and analytical articles widely cited by national and international media, academia, and policy institutions.
Dr. David A. Grantham
Senior Fellow | Intelligence & National Security
Dr. David A. Grantham is an intelligence strategist and national security expert whose research focuses on the crime-terror nexus in Latin America. He advises public and private institutions on intelligence, counterterrorism, and security operations, drawing on a distinguished career that includes serving as Senior Fellow of National Security at the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA). A former U.S. Air Force officer and Special Agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, he managed counterintelligence and counterterrorism missions across multiple operational theaters. Dr. Grantham holds a Ph.D. in History from Texas Christian University—where he taught courses on Latin American and Middle Eastern affairs—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, contributing a firsthand perspective on modern conflict and intelligence practice.
Andrés Alburquerque
Senior Fellow | Political Analysis & Democratic Studies
Andrés Alburquerque is a Cuban-born political analyst, university professor, and media commentator known for his principled defense of democratic values and his uncompromising critique of authoritarianism in Latin America. Born in Havana in 1956 to a Communist family, he witnessed firsthand the disillusionment that followed the Cuban Revolution—a defining experience that shaped his lifelong commitment to political truth and civic freedom. Forced into exile, he lived in Italy, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico before settling in the United States in 2007, where he became an active voice within the Republican Party, recognized for his independent thinking and willingness to challenge ideological conformity. Alburquerque is the author of Diez cuentos cubanos más o menos and hosts Enfoque Ciudadano, a YouTube program analyzing threats to American democracy amid rising leftist influence. He is a frequent radio and television commentator in Miami, offering insights on Cuba, human rights, and hemispheric politics.
Maibort Petit
Senior Fellow | Transnational Organized Crime & Terrorism
Political scientist and researcher specializing in transnational organized crime and terrorism in Latin America, with a focus on criminal networks operating within hybrid governance systems and the institutional capture that threatens national and hemispheric security. Her work advances policy solutions that strengthen interstate cooperation, strategic intelligence sharing, and harmonized legal frameworks grounded in sustained regional political will. With more than two decades of experience, Petit has contributed to international debates on organized crime, criminal governance, and victim protection, and is a frequent speaker at academic, policy, and security forums across the United States, Europe, and Latin America. She holds bachelor’s degrees in Journalism and Political Science, a Master’s in Political Communication from George Washington University, and a Master’s in Political Science from the University of Zulia, with further doctoral studies at the Central University of Venezuela. She also pursued advanced studies in Latin American politics at La Sorbonne and Paris III and in foreign policy at the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry.
Isabel Cuervo
Senior Fellow | Investigative Journalist
An award-winning investigative journalist and columnist from Colombia, recognized as the country’s first female war photojournalist. She covered politics, armed conflict, and cartel and paramilitary violence throughout the 1990s before continuing her career with major U.S. and Hispanic media outlets, including NBC-Telemundo, Univision, USAGM, and MegaTV. Her reporting has earned multiple distinctions, among them an Emmy in the Social Concern category. In 2018, after exposing George Soros’s networks in Latin America, Cuervo faced censorship, threats, and a federal investigation, prompting her to build an independent platform where she became the first journalist to reveal Soros’s involvement in funding the 2020 U.S. protests. With more than 175,000 followers across digital platforms, she now leads the Isabel Cuervo Foundation for press freedom and continues her work as a journalist.
Dr. Orlando Gutiérrez-Boronat
Senior Fellow | Democracy & International Relations
A leading Cuban pro-democracy advocate, political analyst, and international spokesperson for the Cuban Democratic Directorate. A founding member of the Assembly of the Cuban Resistance, he has played a central role in coordinating unified opposition efforts, promoting international solidarity, and advancing diplomatic strategies for a Free Cuba. His work includes helping establish the Justice Cuba Commission, serving as an international envoy for human rights cases, and organizing major civic initiatives such as the Anti-Communist and Anti-Socialist Caravan and Seminar. He holds bachelor’s degrees in communications and political science and a master’s degree in political science from Florida International University, as well as a Ph.D. in international relations from the University of Miami. He remains one of the most influential voices in the fight for Cuban freedom and democratic governance in the hemisphere.
Dr. María Herrera Mellado
Senior Fellow | International Law & National Security
A licensed attorney in both the U.S. and Spain with extensive experience in business law, immigration, 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. from the University of Arizona (specializing in mining law), and an MBA from Florida International University. She has published widely on data protection, emerging technologies, and comparative banking law, and co-authored two books on technology and privacy in comparative legal systems. Dr. Herrera Mellado has been recognized with a Certificate of Merit from the City of Miami and was named one of the most influential women in Florida by Diario Las Américas. Fluent in English, Spanish, and French, she is a frequent commentator on Univision, Telemundo, and Diario Las Américas, and serves as Editor-in-Chief of Gateway Hispanic.
Alexis Torres
Senior Fellow | Public Safety & Homeland Security | Liaison to Puerto Rico 🇵🇷
An expert in federal, state, and municipal security operations, with extensive experience in national security policy, law enforcement strategy, and interagency coordination. He previously served as Secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Public Safety and held senior leadership roles with Homeland Security Investigations, working under a Top Secret/SCI clearance. As Secretary, he directed a large-scale restructuring of Puerto Rico’s public safety system, generating more than $80 million in cost savings and securing over $137 million in federal funding to strengthen critical infrastructure and emergency response capabilities. Torres worked closely with the Fiscal Oversight and Management Board (FOMB) to develop long-term financial strategies for public safety and resilience. He specializes in federal grant acquisition, intelligence-led policing, and the integration of advanced security technologies to combat transnational crime and support safer, more resilient communities across Puerto Rico and the broader U.S. homeland security enterprise.
Fabián Calle
Senior Fellow | Liaison to Argentina 🇦🇷
A political scientist, strategist, and Senior Fellow at the Miami Strategic Intelligence Institute (MSI²), where he serves as Country Liaison for Argentina. He holds a degree in Political Science from the University of Buenos Aires, two master’s degrees in International Relations (FLACSO and Università di Bologna), and specialized training in economic strategy, defense, and counterterrorism from institutions such as the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in History at Torcuato Di Tella University. Calle has taught at leading universities in Argentina and abroad and has held research positions at the Argentine Council for International Relations (CARI) and CONICET. Professionally, he has served as an analyst for the Argentine Navy General Staff, advisor to multiple administrations at the Ministry of Defense, and consultant for the Bapro Group and Codesur. He is Director of CARI’s International Security Institute and a columnist for Infobae and DEF TV.
Dr. José J. Sanmartín
Senior Fellow | Liaison to Europe 🇪🇺
A Political Science Professor at the University of Alicante and President of Radix Intelligentia, widely recognized as one of Spain’s leading experts on disinformation and cognitive security. A collaborator of Crystal Code and a member of the Advisory Council of Harvard Business Review (HBR) in the United States, he brings a distinguished academic background that includes two PhDs—one in Philosophy from the University of Murcia and another in Political Science from UNED—as well as master’s degrees in Public Policy and European Union Law. A lifetime member of several international scholarly associations, Dr. Sanmartín has conducted research at Harvard University and McGill University and presented at major scientific conferences, including those held at Oxford. He is the author of more than sixty indexed scientific publications, contributing significantly to the study of political behavior, strategic communication, and information warfare.
Verioska Velasco
Senior Fellow | Liaison to Taiwan 🇹🇼
Verioska Velasco is a journalist and strategic communications advisor with more than twenty years of experience in government affairs, crisis management, political campaigns, civil society engagement, and investigative journalism across Latin America and the United States. She served as Communications Advisor to former Paraguayan President Mario Abdo Benítez (2015–2023) and has held leadership roles in major media and nonprofit organizations, including directing communications for Fundación Juan Guillermo Cuadrado in Colombia and contributing investigative reports on illegal mining for SOI TV. Velasco has collaborated with NPR on its Crime in Latin America series and served in editorial leadership at Globovisión.com in Caracas. She holds a degree in Social Communication with a specialization in Audiovisual Journalism from the University of Zulia and is pursuing a Master’s in Strategic Studies on Asia-Pacific and Latin America at Tamkang University. Work blends journalism, political analysis, and media strategy with a hemispheric perspective.
VADM Francisco Calisto Giampietri (Ret.)
Senior Fellow | Liaison to Peru 🇵🇪
A distinguished Peruvian naval officer (Ret.) with more than 40 years of service in national defense, hemispheric security, and Pacific geostrategy. An expert in counterterrorism and in assessing the strategic influence of China and Russia in Latin America, he has held senior positions within the Peruvian Navy, the Joint Command of the Armed Forces, the Office of the Presidency, and key multilateral institutions. As Peru’s representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London, he secured the nation’s election to the Governing Council and contributed to global maritime governance. He also led major operational security efforts for International Olympic Committee events and, in 2015, served as General Coordinator and Chief of Security for the World Bank–IMF Annual Meetings, where he implemented Peru’s first civilian C4 Center—an internationally recognized innovation. His career establishes him as a regional authority in defense, security, and high-complexity strategic management.
Enzo Ibaceta
Senior Fellow | Liaison to Chile 🇨🇱
Commercial engineer with specializations in marketing, economics, and operations, and postgraduate studies in human resources and business development. With 25 years of experience in Latin America’s defense, security, maritime, aeronautical, and government sectors, he has led the negotiation and execution of complex technological programs exceeding USD 100 million. His expertise includes C4ISR and Command & Control, Data Link communications, real-time, and AI- and big-data optimization solutions. Ibaceta spent nine years in Mexico as General Director of SISDEF, working with the leadership of the Mexican Armed Forces on C2, intelligence, and transfer initiatives. He is currently a partner in a defense and security consultancy and serves as CEO and shareholder of a startup focused on optimization. Originally from Chile, he is recognized for his strategic vision, leadership, and ability to build relationships across institutional and cultural.
Roberto Ampuero Espinoza
Senior Guest Analyst | Chile 🇨🇱
Chilean novelist, professor, and former diplomat whose life and work span countries and political eras. Exiled after the 1973 coup, he lived in Cuba and East Germany before settling in West Berlin, where he broke with the left, embraced liberalism, and began a career as a journalist for outlets as the New York Times Syndicate and El Mercurio de Valparaíso. He later earned an M.A. and Ph.D. in Spanish from the University of Iowa, where he taught creative writing and Latin American literature. Internationally recognized for his detective series starring Cayetano Brulé and a catalogue of than fifty titles translated into nine languages, Ampuero has combined literary achievement with public service: he served as Chile’s Ambassador to Mexico and Spain, Minister President of the National Council for Culture and the Arts, and Minister of Foreign Affairs. He currently resides in Olmué, Chile, where he is dedicated to writing, publishing opinion columns, lecturing, and serving on the board of a Chilean university.
Lic. Pelegrín Castillo Semán
Senior Guest Analyst 🇩🇴 | Sovereignty & Energy Strategy
Political leader, legal scholar, and national strategist with experience in energy governance, sovereignty, and security policy. He served as the Dominican Republic’s first Minister of Energy and Mines (2014–2020), following a long legislative career in which he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies and became one of the nation’s most voted lawmakers in 2006. A two-time presidential candidate (2012, 2016), Castillo currently serves as President of Fuerza Nacional Progresista (FNP), where he has been a voice in debates on state modernization, territorial integrity, and strategic development. He has taught Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, and Political Thought at Dominican universities and is active in platforms such as ProNación, the Formosa Club, CONFENAGRO, and the Geopolitical Observatory at UNICARIBE, while leading FHL and FOPPREDOM. He is an advocate for sovereignty, energy strategy, and regional geopolitics.
We also have professionals experienced in:
- Geopolitical Dynamics in Latin America
- State-Level Legislative and Regulatory Frameworks
- Cybersecurity and Emerging Technologies
- Risk Management and Crisis Preparedness
We offer services in multiple languages—Spanish, English, and Portuguese—to bridge cultural and linguistic gaps effectively.