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.
Patrick Howell
Director
Col. Patrick Howell is the Director of the Modern War Institute at West Point. A career Engineer and Strategic/Operational Planner, he has deployed in support of combat operations to Afghanistan, Iraq, and East Africa.
Noel Sioson
Deputy Director
Maj. Emmanuel Sioson is the Deputy Director 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.
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.
Donald Patton
NCOIC
Sgt. 1st Class Donald Patton currently serves as the NCOIC of the Modern War Institute. He is also the NCOIC of the Irregular Warfare Group club and an officer representative with the wrestling team and the dive club.
Matt Schardt
Executive Officer
Maj. Matt Schardt serves as the Executive Officer of the Modern War Institute and teaches DS455 Comparative Defense Policy.
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.