Today, I spoke to Bryan Stern, who has 25 years of service focused on intelligence and special operations with the US. He specializes in counter-terrorism, counter-proliferation, hostage rescue, personnel recovery, critical technology protection, and unconventional warfare against near-peer threats. He is a Purple Heart recipient and is credited with being a military first responder at the World Trade Center on the morning of the 9/11 attacks. Currently, he manages Project Dynamo, a non-profit international search, rescue, aid, and assistance organization. Initially established to aid individuals in leaving Afghanistan after the US withdrawal, Project Dynamo has since been involved in extracting people from Ukraine, Sudan, and various other perilous locations.
You can find Project Dynamo on:
We spoke about:
- Bryan’s background (0:56)
- Bryan on the focus of near-peer threats (4:40)
- US-China strategy and national focus (7:40)
- Developing US capability to fight near-peer threats (11:26)
- Questioning China’s combat experience (15:06)
- China’s legal claim to Taiwan (17:10)
- Do Americans care about Taiwan? (20:18)
- Project Dynamo and its origins during the withdrawal from Afghanistan (21:15)
- Project Dynamo after Afghanistan (31:57)
- Discussing what human infrastructure is (41:28)
- Project Dynamo in Sudan (49:02)
- Preparing for an evacuation from Taiwan (59:28)
- Advice (1:10:36)
- Being disarming (1:12:04)
- Advice continued (1:15:06)
- Cultural recommendations (1:24:50)
Related Links: - So, You Want To Be An Intelligence Analyst?
- A Guide to Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT)
- OSINT, Military Career Transition & Language Skills with Skip Schiphorst
- OSINT & SOCMINT for Threat Intelligence with Jordan Ponath
- GEOINT, OSINT & Facing Vicarious Trauma with Benjamin Strick
- Intelligence Led-Policing, OSINT & Facing PTSD with Julie Nel
- Interview with former CIA Officer, Jason L.
- Former DIA Intelligence Analyst, Marcel Plichta
- Corporate Intelligence, Global Risk, & OSINT Tips with Gareth Westwood
- ChatGPT, The Intelligence Community & Career Advice with Mike Evans
- Expert advice for getting into Intelligence
- Intelligence Tradecraft Week, Tools, Tips & Tricks
The Grey Dynamics Podcast is available on all major platforms!
