2025 INSF Scholarship Recipients
The Intelligence and National Security Foundation (INSF) is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2025 undergraduate and master's scholarship program. This year, the Foundation awarded eight scholarships totaling $60,000. Since 2021, INSF has awarded $210,000 in scholarships.
"This year's students represent the very best of what the future holds for our intelligence and national security workforce," said INSA/INSF President Suzanne Wilson Heckenberg. "Their passion, intellect, and sense of purpose are truly inspiring. We are proud to support their journeys and excited to see the difference they will make."
Meet our 2025 Scholarship Recipients!
Investing in the Future of the IC Workforce - Master's
Underwritten by Nightwing
Hannah McCoy
Johns Hopkins University
Hannah McCoy is a master's student at Johns Hopkins University pursuing a degree in Global Security Studies and also serving as a full-time Intelligence Specialist in the U.S. Navy Reserves. With a strong commitment to national security, Hannah has over four years of professional experience supporting intelligence operations across tactical, operational, and strategic levels. She is currently on active duty supporting law enforcement, focusing on counternarcotics and transnational criminal organizations.
Hannah's academic pursuits complement her military service, exposing her to critical issues in asymmetric warfare, military strategy, and global political economy. She has been recognized by faculty for her analytical skills, insightful contributions to policy discussions, and her ability to integrate diverse perspectives. Balancing rigorous coursework with active duty, she exemplifies dedication, intellectual curiosity, and leadership. As she prepares to apply for the Navy's Direct Commission Officer program, Hannah is well on her way to continuing a meaningful and lasting career in the intelligence and national security community.
Erin Naumann
George Washington University
Erin Naumann is a student at George Washington University. She has maintained a 3.9 GPA while pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Asian Studies with a specialization in China Policy and Economics. Her academic journey and professional experiences are driven by a deep commitment to advancing U.S. national security through intelligence and economic statecraft. Erin's passion for the Indo-Pacific region and Mandarin language began in high school and has been honed through immersive study in China, internships with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and most recently, the Department of State's Division for Counter Threat Finance and Sanctions.
Erin has distinguished herself academically in rigorous courses such as Understanding Chinese Diplomacy, where her research on U.S. trade policy and the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act demonstrated sophisticated analysis and strong Chinese language skills. Her professors have praised her intellectual curiosity, maturity, and ability to apply complex concepts to real-world policy challenges. With a unique blend of language proficiency, economic expertise, and policy insight, she is well-prepared to support intelligence efforts that safeguard U.S. interests. Erin aspires to a federal career at the intersection of intelligence and economic policy.
Investing in the Future of the IC Workforce - Undergraduate
Buckley DeJardin
Carnegie Mellon University
Buckley "Buck" DeJardin is an undergraduate student at Carnegie Mellon University, majoring in Business Administration, International Relations, and Political Science with a 4.0 GPA. With a sharp analytical mind and a strong sense of purpose, Buck transitioned from the fast-paced world of finance, where he interned on the equity trading desk at Fidelity Investments, to a career path rooted in service and national security. His academic and professional journey reflects a deep desire to apply critical thinking and risk analysis to protect U.S interests abroad.
Buck has developed a strong foundation in intelligence through his work at the American Enterprise Institute's Critical Threats Project, where he contributed over 40 open-source intelligence updates on Iranian military and proxy activity. His self-driven research into Lebanese Hezbollah has earned praise from faculty mentors. Known for his integrity, teamwork, and leadership, qualities honed as a collegiate basketball player, Buck is poised to make meaningful contributions to the intelligence community.
Raven Dukane
Georgetown University
Raven DuKane is an undergraduate student at Georgetown University. Raven has combined a deep commitment to public service with academic excellence and a drive for leadership. Through her role as a High School Work Study and Intelligence Analysis Intern with the DoD, Raven developed a strong foundation in intelligence work and later expanded her global perspective as a recipient of the State Department's Critical Language Scholarship in Taiwan, where she studied Mandarin and deepened her understanding of Chinese culture and diplomacy.
At Georgetown University, Raven has maintained a 3.9 GPA while pursuing a degree in Regional and Comparative Studies with a minor in Psychology, tailoring her education to explore the intersections of culture, politics, and security. Her coursework, including a National Security Leadership seminar, has earned her recognition for her intellectual maturity, self-awareness, and ability to lead and collaborate with empathy. As she continues her academic journey and prepares a thesis on Chinese political asylum seekers in the U.S., Raven is poised to bring thoughtful, culturally informed insights to the national security field.
Endowed Undergraduate Awards
Sarah Curry
Letitia A. Long Intelligence Scholarship
Coastal Carolina University
Sarah is an undergraduate student with a 4.0 GPA at Coastal Carolina University (CCU), majoring in Intelligence and Security Studies with minors in Cybersecurity and Psychology. Her commitment to public service began early on during an internship with the Baltimore County Government, where she worked on a legislative initiative to combat human trafficking and testified before the Maryland Senate. At CCU, she has deepened her national security focus through coursework, applied fieldwork, and hands-on research, including a team project on Russian gray zone operations that was briefed to FBI analysts and will be published in a collected, editor-reviewed volume in early 2026.
Outside the classroom, Sarah serves as the Communications Officer for Working in Intelligence and National Security, where she leads professional development and networking efforts. Her leadership, paired with strong writing and analytical skills, reflects her ability to bridge policy and practice. Additionally, this summer, Sarah worked as a Research Assistant under the UMD ARLIS's Research for Intelligence and Security Challenges program. In this position, she collaborated with a multidisciplinary team to conduct research on a DoD-sponsored intelligence issue and develop a bilingual (English/Spanish) data repository supporting near-real-time information retrieval. Sarah is preparing for a career as an intelligence analyst, focused on assessing security threats and translating data into actionable mitigation countermeasures that protect U.S. interests and civil liberties.
Gauri Niwargi
Governor Tom Ridge Scholarship
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Gauri Niwargi is an undergraduate at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, majoring in Homeland Security and Intelligence and minoring in Cybersecurity Applications, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and Arabic Studies. As a first-generation American college student, Gauri brings a deep sense of purpose and perseverance to her national security studies. Her academic work is enriched by practical experience, including an internship with SafeAbroad, where she utilized OSINT and GEOINT tools to monitor global threats and brief clients on travel risks.
Gauri has also conducted faculty-mentored research on terrorist messaging, completed technical projects in GIS, and holds multiple leadership roles in student organizations, including Vice President of the First-Generation Students Association and a Senator with the Student Government Association. She is committed to a career at the intersection of forensics, security, and geospatial intelligence. Her passion for public service, combined with her academic and leadership record, reflects the diverse talent needed in the future national security workforce.
Imran Hussein
LtGen Vincent R. Stewart, USMC - Intelligence Career Pathways Scholarship
Virginia Tech University
Imran is an undergraduate student at Virginia Tech University, majoring in Computer Science with a focus on cybersecurity and national security. Growing up near Washington, D.C., he was inspired by the major agencies nearby and set his sights on a career that combined his technical skills with public service. That interest became a passion after interning as a cybersecurity analyst within the federal government, where he witnessed firsthand how cyber capabilities are deployed to defend national interests and anticipate adversary threats.
Imran has deepened his technical and operational knowledge through research with the Virginia Tech Hume Center and the DoD Senior Military College Cyber Institute Program. As a teaching assistant in Virginia Tech's computer science department, Imran is known for his leadership, clarity in communication, and commitment to mentoring others. With plans to pursue a cybersecurity rotational program after graduation, he is focused on developing the expertise needed to drive strategic cyber defense initiatives and shape the future of U.S. cyber policy. His technical acumen and service-minded approach position him to make a meaningful and lasting impact in the public sector.
Reinventing Geospatial Inc. (RGi) Scholarship
Khris Gonzalez Pebe
University of Southern California
Khris Gonzalez Pebe is a dual-degree student at the University of Southern California, pursuing a B.S. in Public Policy with a concentration in Data Analytics and an M.S. in Human Security and Geospatial Intelligence. Her academic path reflects a deep commitment to bridging policy and technology to address complex security challenges. With a strong GPA and a demanding schedule that includes over 20 hours of weekly work to support her family, Kris exemplifies both resilience and excellence.
Khris's technical capabilities span GIS, remote sensing, and satellite data analysis. She has applied these skills through research projects on illicit opium production in Afghanistan and nuclear test site monitoring in North Korea. Khris has also completed internships with the United Nations Operations and Crisis Centre, U.S. Central Command, and RFK Human Rights, where she brought together policy analysis and geospatial intelligence to inform real-world decision-making. Her work has earned her recognition at the GEOINT Symposium and among graduate-level peers at USC. Khris aspires to an intelligence career focused on mapping illicit networks, anticipating crises, and informing U.S. foreign and humanitarian policy. Her drive, technical fluency, and global awareness position her to make a lasting impact in the intelligence and national security community.
The INSF Board of Trustees extends its deepest gratitude to the selection committee members who reviewed the many applications this year.
