STEPS, Editor-in-Chief

Chief Scientist, Potomac Institute for Policy Studies

Dr. Robert Hummel serves as the Chief Scientist of the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies in the Science and Technology Policy Division and is a member of the Center for Revolutionary Scientific Thought. He is the author of the Potomac Institute book, Alternative Futures for Corrosion and Degradation Research and is also serving customers in DARPA and OSD. He is the principal author of the Institute’s forthcoming book on machine intelligence. Prior to joining the Potomac Institute, he served as a program manager at DARPA for nearly nine years, managing and initiating projects in information exploitation, computer science, and sensor design. Prior to joining DARPA, he was a tenured faculty member at NYU’s Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences in the Computer Science Department, where he did research in computer vision and artificial intelligence. Dr. Hummel earned his PhD in mathematics from the University of Minnesota, and he holds a B.A., also in mathematics, from the University of Chicago.

Rosalie Loewen

Research Economist, Potomac Institute for Policy Studies

Rosalie Loewen works as a Research Economist for the Potomac Institute. Ms. Loewen has broad experience in economic and policy research and analysis with a focus on quantitative methodologies. In the research arena, Ms. Loewen’s experience includes work in British Columbia measuring and predicting the effects of new genomics technology uptake. Within the public sphere, Ms. Loewen was privileged to serve two overseas tours with the US government as a diplomatic officer. Ms. Loewen spent her early career in the private sector, in finance, as a mergers & acquisitions analyst with a focus on modelling net present value. Ms. Loewen holds a master’s degree in Economics from the University of British Columbia, a master’s degree in International Relations from Johns Hopkins’ SAIS, and a bachelor’s degree from Harvard College.

Alden V. Munson, Jr.

Senior Fellow, Member Board of Regents Potomac Institute for Policy Studies

Mr. Munson is a Senior Fellow and Member, Board of Regents at Potomac Institute for Policy Studies. He is an advisor to the US intelligence and defense agencies and to industry, and is a member of the Board of SMA, a competition management and consulting company. He is an active member of the Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA) and the US GEOINT Foundation (USGIF). He served on the Defense Science Board and contributed to studies in cloud computing, cyber resiliency, electronic warfare, space resiliency and long-range strike, among others, and has participated in Air Force Studies Board activities on digitization of the Air Force. He was the Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Acquisition and Technology from May 2007 until July 2009. Previously he was a consultant in defense, space, and intelligence and was associated with the investment banking firm Windsor Group. He was Senior Vice President and Group Executive of the Litton Information Systems Group, leading information technology, command and control, and intelligence businesses for defense, intelligence, civil, commercial, and international customers. Mr. Munson was Vice President at TRW, in the System Integration Group, the Space and Electronics Group, and the Information Systems Group (the former TRW Credit Business). In these assignments, he led numerous space, intelligence, and information technology organizations and activities. He began his career at the Aerospace Corporation, where he provided system engineering support to many space and intelligence programs. Mr. Munson received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from San Jose State University and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. The National Reconnaissance Office named Mr. Munson as a Pioneer of National Reconnaissance, and received the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal in 2009. 

Carrie Zuckerman

Research Associate, Potomac Institute for Policy Studies

Carrie Zuckerman served as a Research Associate at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies when the essay in this issue was researched and written. At the Institute, Carrie focused on space policy issues for customers including NASA and Space Force. Prior to joining the Institute, she received a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in astrophysics at the University of California Berkeley. While at Berkeley, she contributed to astrophysics research focused on improving ground-based exoplanet imaging. Carrie currently works as the Science, Solutions, and Policy Associate for The Climate Reality Project.

Kayla Dunn

Intern, Potomac Institute for Policy Studies

Kayla Dunn is a senior at Georgetown University where she is majoring in Science, Technology and International Affairs with a focus in Business, Growth and Development. In 2024, she completed the Potomac Institute S&T Internship program, where she investigated algorithmic targeting on social media platforms. Motivated by an interest in science policy, Kayla plans to pursue a Masters Degree after graduation in Data Science and Applied Analytics, where she hopes to leverage her understanding of the data systems and data analytics to strengthen her advocacy and research efforts.