Resources Faculty & Staff Directory Faculty & Staff Directory F H O R Facet Last Name - Directory Faculty (-) Staff Facet Person Type - Directory Facet Area of Focus - Directory National Security Policy Center Facet UVA Partner - Directory Development Dean’s Office Information Technology Academic Affairs Center for Effective Lawmaking External Affairs Social Innovation @ UVA (-) National Security Policy Center Facet Batten Department - Directory George Foresman NSPC Executive Director & Senior Advisor gwf3n@virginia.edu Garrett Hall L056 George Foresman has over three decades of leadership experience in government and business. While serving as Virginia’s homeland security secretary, Foresman was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as undersecretary at the Department of Homeland Security. Read full bio Melissa A. Henriksen NSPC Director of Operations and Research Initiatives mah2hx@virginia.edu Garrett Hall L056 Melissa A. Henriksen serves as Director of Operations and Research Initiatives in the National Security Policy Center. Drawing on 20+ years of experience overseeing a wide array of university research activities, many with a focus on national security and defense, she provides expertise in strategic planning, program and project management, research development, and education, training, and engagement. Melissa holds a Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania, a B.A. in Chemistry from the College of the Holy Cross and is a certified project management professional. Read full bio Claire Oto Policy Research and Writer Internship Program Coordinator wcv9qx@virginia.edu Garrett Hall L056 Claire Oto is a policy researcher and writer at the NSPC. She also coordinates the Center’s internship program. Prior to joining Batten, she was a communications specialist at the U.S. Department of Energy. Claire earned an M.P.P in Space and National Security from George Washington University and holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California San Diego. Read full bio John Robinson NSPC Director of Academic Programs djr6nf@virginia.edu John Robinson is the NSPC’s Director of Academic Programs. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses focused on national security, including Innovating for Defense, an experiential course that pairs student teams with sponsors from the Department of Defense (DoD) to solve real-world national security problems. His research interests include international security and naval affairs. John holds a Ph.D. in Politics from the University of Virginia, and a M.A. from the U.S. Naval War College. Read full bio
George Foresman NSPC Executive Director & Senior Advisor gwf3n@virginia.edu Garrett Hall L056 George Foresman has over three decades of leadership experience in government and business. While serving as Virginia’s homeland security secretary, Foresman was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as undersecretary at the Department of Homeland Security. Read full bio
Melissa A. Henriksen NSPC Director of Operations and Research Initiatives mah2hx@virginia.edu Garrett Hall L056 Melissa A. Henriksen serves as Director of Operations and Research Initiatives in the National Security Policy Center. Drawing on 20+ years of experience overseeing a wide array of university research activities, many with a focus on national security and defense, she provides expertise in strategic planning, program and project management, research development, and education, training, and engagement. Melissa holds a Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania, a B.A. in Chemistry from the College of the Holy Cross and is a certified project management professional. Read full bio
Claire Oto Policy Research and Writer Internship Program Coordinator wcv9qx@virginia.edu Garrett Hall L056 Claire Oto is a policy researcher and writer at the NSPC. She also coordinates the Center’s internship program. Prior to joining Batten, she was a communications specialist at the U.S. Department of Energy. Claire earned an M.P.P in Space and National Security from George Washington University and holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California San Diego. Read full bio
John Robinson NSPC Director of Academic Programs djr6nf@virginia.edu John Robinson is the NSPC’s Director of Academic Programs. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses focused on national security, including Innovating for Defense, an experiential course that pairs student teams with sponsors from the Department of Defense (DoD) to solve real-world national security problems. His research interests include international security and naval affairs. John holds a Ph.D. in Politics from the University of Virginia, and a M.A. from the U.S. Naval War College. Read full bio