Welcome to the first issue of our Seventh edition! Global Security and Intelligence Studies is a double-blind peer-reviewed academic journal that aims to bridge the two-way gap between academia and practitioners. We serve as common ground to a diverse and growing audience ranging from policymakers to academics to operators on the front lines. GSIS strives to provide work pertaining to the most current and relevant topics in an ever-evolving and rapidly expanding threat-scape. The summer issue is packed with informative and instructive research that spans the psychological, cyber, political, and strategic domains. Contents: Editorial Welcome Carter Matherly, Matthew Loux and Jim Burch

Graduate Lectern Mikhail Gorbachev: A Transformational Leader Andreea Mosila

Research Articles & Critical Analysis Coming Together: Strengthening the Intelligence Community Through Cognitive Diversity David Kritz

Physician, then Political Dictator: Bashar al-Assad, President of the Syrian Arab Republic Casey Skvorc and Nicole K. Drumhiller

The Soft Path to U.S. Hegemony in the 21st Century: An American Brain Drain Policy Against Strategic Competitors Ryan Burke and Jahara Matisek

Politics With Other Means: Aligning U.S. Military and Diplomatic Efforts in the Indo-Pacific Command Region J. E. Schillo

The Ideology of "Strategic Conservatism" from Russia's Imperial Perspective Eugene Vertlieb (translated by Dennis T. Faleris)

Notes from the Field BLOCKCHAIN: A Cyber Defense Force Multiplier Dorian Belz

Intelligence Communities and the Media-The Case of the Danish Spymaster Lars Findsen Ardavan M. Khoshnood