Leadership
Gen. (Ret) Charles Jacoby
Distinguished Chair
General Charles H. Jacoby, Jr. is the Senior Vice Chairman for Capitol Peak Asset Management Company. He also serves as the Distinguished Chair of the Modern War Institute at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Liam Collins
Director
Col. Liam Collins is the Director of the Modern War Institute at West Point and serves as the Defense and Strategic Studies Program Director in the Department of Military Instruction. A career Special Forces officer, he has conducted multiple combat operations to Afghanistan and Iraq as well as operational deployments to Bosnia, Africa, and South America.
Rick Montcalm
Deputy Director
Maj. Rick Montcalm is the Deputy Director of the Modern War Institute. As an armor officer, he has served in Armor, Stryker, and Infantry BCTs, has deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, and served most recently as an XO in the US Army TRADOC Command Group.
Full-Time Staff
John Amble
Editorial Director
John Amble is the editorial director of the Modern War Institute at West Point. He is a military intelligence officer in the US Army Reserve and a veteran of both Iraq and Afghanistan. He writes on terrorism, intelligence, the military, and the Middle East.
Lionel Beehner
Director of Research
Dr. Lionel Beehner is the Director of Research for the Modern War Institute at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He also serves as the course director for DS345 Military Innovation within the Defense and Strategic Studies program.
Jeff Bender
Operations Officer
Capt. Jeff Bender is the Operations Officer of the Modern War Institute. He also serves as an instructor of DS350 Persuasive Communication.
Jake Miraldi
Executive Officer
Maj. Jake Miraldi is the Executive Officer of the Modern War Institute at West Point. He also serves as an instructor for MS300 Platoon Operations.
Doreen Pasieka
Administrative Assistant
Doreen Pasieka is currently the Administrative Assistant for the Modern War Institute at West Point. Prior to this, she spent thirteen years working for the Transportation Security Administration. She is also a former member of the US Navy.
Noel Sioson
Strategic Planner
Maj. Emmanuel Sioson is the Strategic Planner of the Modern War Institute at West Point and serves as a Defense and Strategic Studies instructor in the Department of Military Instruction. A career Special Forces officer, he has conducted multiple combat operations to Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Philippines as well as numerous operational deployments throughout Asia.
John Spencer
Chair of Urban Warfare Studies
Maj. (ret) John W. Spencer is the Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point and Co-Director of MWI’s Urban Warfare Project.
Scott Woodbrey
Air Force Liaison Officer
Maj. Scott C. Woodbrey is the Air Force Liaison Officer to the United States Military Academy and an instructor for the Defense and Strategic Studies Program. He teaches DS385 Sustaining the Force and MX400 Officership.