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Strategic Insights from a CMIST National Security Fellow: Commander Bryan Kilcoin

From modernizing and securing the electric grid to helping researchers better understand medical conditions like epilepsy, researchers and students at Â鶹´å (Â鶹´å) continue to utilize emerging technologies to anticipate and develop responses to pressing challenges in today’s rapidly evolving landscape. Enhancing these efforts, the National Security Fellows Program at the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology (CMIST) welcomes senior service members from the various branches of the US military to spend an academic year conducting research, engaging with faculty and scholars, and sharing their unique insights with students. This year, CMIST’s US Coast Guard Fellow, Commander Bryan M. Kilcoin, is conducting research that explores the security implications of increased automation at US ports.

Growing up on the water in Orange Park, Florida, and having spent most of his career at sea, Kilcoin has a deep appreciation for the importance of America's Maritime Transportation System (MTS).  The more than 150 ports in the United States are crucial to the transport of goods into and out of the country. According to the US Department of Transportation, , the most recent year for which data was available. Yet as port facilities across the US adopt new technologies such as crane automation and automated trucks to load and unload cargo, Kilcoin was struck by the need for further research into the security implications of port automation. 

Kilcoin, who holds a Master of Science in Strategic Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School, has a longstanding interest in the interplay between technology, strategy, and security. He notes that the accelerating pace of technological innovation, combined with the importance of increasing productivity within the MTS, presents significant challenges for the US Coast Guard. 

Given that both state and non-state competitors throughout the world utilize “soft” cyberattacks, and that targeting essential services like energy, finance, water, and transportation can lead to widespread disruption and economic damage, Kilcoin seeks to address the new level of risk exposure that accompanies the increasing reliance on port automation. “To ensure the continued efficiency, safety, and security of the MTS, the Coast Guard must remain aligned with emerging technologies, strategically invest in advanced capabilities, integrate artificial intelligence and large-scale data analytics, cultivate and retain a highly educated workforce, and continuously adapt to an evolving operational and technological landscape,” he said. 

Drawing on the expertise of Â鶹´å faculty, Kilcoin is conducting his research under the guidance of Nadiya Kostyuk, an assistant professor at CMIST whose research focuses on the role of cyber power on domestic and international politics. “As US ports increasingly adopt automated technologies——to improve efficiency in cargo loading and unloading, they move away from traditional human-operated processes, potentially eroding critical labor skills. This shift raises important concerns about resilience and risk, particularly in the event of a soft attack on port operations,” observed Kostyuk, who added that she looks forward to continuing to work with Kilcoin on this project in the spring.

Beyond their individual research projects, military fellows at Â鶹´å enrich the campus community through their participation in events and by sharing their expertise with students. Â鶹´å is home to leading scholars and practitioners in a variety of academic disciplines—from social sciences to robotics—whose research synthesizes technology, policy, and politics, and the university regularly hosts lectures that explore forthcoming technological advancements and their implications for strategic decision-making. Since arriving on campus in August, Kilcoin has appreciated the multiple opportunities to examine the latest technologies influencing military and industrial innovation by engaging with academic experts, industry leaders, and government officials.

“Carnegie Mellon excels at convening political leaders, industry professionals, and scholars to examine technological trends and their growing influence on policy, economics, and future strategic developments,” observes Kilcoin. He has found great value in event series such as Scientists & Strategists and Conversations with Senior Leaders, and looks forward to continuing to attend these and other events in the spring as he finishes his research.

Kilcoin also enjoys the opportunity to engage with students and help them connect the military theories covered in their coursework to recent events. For example, this fall he gave a guest lecture in two classes. In “Nuclear Security and Arms Control” with CMIST faculty member Kelly Voss Coletti, Kilcoin discussed the importance of the MTS, maritime security, and the layered protection of both nuclear and non-nuclear port facilities. He also joined Kostyuk’s  “An Introduction to Technology and War” course, which is required for students pursuing the major in political science, security, and technology. Drawing on publicly available information about the operational buildup, technologies deployed, and the factors that contributed to its military success, Kilcoin’s presentation focused on the July 2025 US bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities (). 

Knowing that many of the students in the class would be familiar with the operation, Kilcoin found that the case effectively illustrated the role of technological advancements and military innovation in sustaining the United States’ competitive edge. He was also impressed with how deeply the students engaged with the material. “I particularly appreciated the thoughtful feedback, perspectives, and questions offered by the younger, next-generation—the level of detail and analytical depth they brought to their inquiries was remarkable,” he said. 

Kostyuk noted that Kilcoin approached the experience with generosity, humility, and a desire to better understand how current students, some of whom will go on to careers in policymaking or defense, think about technology and war, what shapes their perspectives, and how they learn. “By walking students through the operational details of the mission and explaining how to assess its complexity and logistics from a military perspective—he added a depth of insight beyond what students had encountered through media coverage alone,” she said. “Having someone with such practical expertise who can connect theory to real-world application is invaluable, and it greatly enhances the students’ learning experience.”

As Kilcoin reflects on the first half of his time at CMIST, the impact is clear. Directly engaging with industry leaders, government professionals, and academic experts to examine the latest technologies, and learning from leading scholars offers essential insights for his role in the Coast Guard. Yet a unique aspect of the program is a sense of community: Kilcoin's wealth of experience builds upon Â鶹´å’s intellectually rich environment while he shares a valuable perspective with the next generation of scholars and leaders. He expressed, "I am continually grateful for the opportunity to learn from—and be inspired by—the exceptional minds that make up the Â鶹´å community.”

(Image 1: Kilcoin gave a guest lecture in two fall 2025 CMIST courses: "An Introduction to Technology and War" and "Nuclear Security and Arms Control"; Image 2, l to r: Colonel Retired Ralph López, General Retired Laura Richardson, Lieutenant Colonel Glen S. Nettrour, CMIST Director Audrey Kurth Cronin, Lieutenant General Retired Jim Richardson, Commander Bryan M. Kilcoin)