Phil Potter's leadership, knowledge of the intelligence world and commitment to public service, including as founder of UVA Batten’s National Security Policy Center, has culminated in his appointment as the inaugural director of the newly launched National Security Data and Policy Institute, a project of UVA and the Department of Defense. 

Phil Potter, UVA Batten professor of politics and public policy, will lead the new National Security Data and Policy Institute, a partnership between the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the University of Virginia to help address the country’s most pressing national security issues.

Finding balance was an overarching theme of Monday's Batten Hour speaker, Under Secretary for the Office of Intelligence and Analysis at the Department of Homeland Security Kenneth Wainstein, who discussed election security and the role of his organization in bridging information gaps among all levels of U.S. government.

Welcome to Grounds to Listen, our new podcast hosted by Batten School Dean Ian Solomon featuring insightful conversations with leaders and scholars delving into the art of leadership in an increasingly diverse and divided world. Our first guest is former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore. 

Jim Gilmore was the featured speaker at Batten Hour on September 11, the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the U.S. when he was Virginia's governor, and reflected on America’s readiness for potential future attacks, the war in Ukraine and the ongoing threat of authoritarianism globally.

General Saltzman, the chief of space operations for the Space Force, addressed students at the invitation of the National Security Policy Center at UVA’s Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy.

Jennifer Ludovici is the Director of Operations for National Security Initiatives. She has over 18 years of experience in higher education administration in both the public and private sector. In her role at the NSPC, she focuses on faculty research collaboration, project coordination and program development as well as general operations and communications. Jennifer holds a post-graduate certificate in project management from UVA, and a BA/MEd in history and education from James Madison University.

Maggie Sparling spent part of her spring in Fiji, working on national security and having experts listen to her insights. Sparling, who graduated this spring with majors in history and economics, is in the public policy master’s program at Batten.

Batten School professors Philip Potter and Allan Stam note that the conflict in Ukraine has bolstered the NATO alliance, which may give China pause if it’s thinking of moving on Taiwan. 

We find that when groups share an ideology, and especially a religion, they are more likely to sustain material cooperation in the face of state repression.