As part of its commitment to fostering critical thinking and advancing strategic research in defence and international security, the Baltic Defence College (BALTDEFCOL) is pleased to welcome two emerging scholars into its academic community this year. These fellows bring fresh perspectives and promising research agendas that align with the College’s mission to contribute to regional security through education, innovation, and scholarly dialogue. Their presence reflects BALTDEFCOL’s ongoing efforts to support the next generation of security thinkers and practitioners.

Arun Dawson: Rethinking Deterrence with Technological Innovation
Mr Arun Dawson is a Ph.D. candidate at the Department of War Studies, King’s College London, based at the Freeman Air and Space Institute. His thesis explores the complex relationship between airpower and British grand strategy during the Cold War. His broader research interests examine how the development, production, and diffusion of military technology shape international relations.

At the Baltic Defence College, Mr Dawson's research project is titled Lines and Walls: Rethinking Deterrence by Denial in the Baltics. This initiative explores the effectiveness and scalability of two cutting-edge defence concepts: the Baltic Defence Line and the Baltic Drone Wall. By drawing on recent scholarship, including his own work on small drones, Mr Dawson contributes critical insight into how emerging technologies influence deterrence strategies in the Baltic context.

His research has been recognised with several prestigious awards, including the Guggenheim Fellowship from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. He also brings significant practical experience, having interned with NATO’s Defence Investment Division and regularly engaging with military and policymaking communities around the world.

Kaspars Auziņš: Bridging Civilian and Military Paradigms Through Communication Competence
Mr Kaspars Auziņš joins BALTDEFCOL as a Ph.D. fellow with research focusing on the integration of civilian and military domains. His work investigates how civilian methodologies, strategic frameworks, and theoretical knowledge—originating in sectors such as business, academia, and civil society—can be meaningfully applied within military contexts. Likewise, he explores how military concepts can be adapted to strengthen civilian domains.

At the core of his research lies the concept of communication competence as a strategic tool for achieving military leadership objectives. His goal is to both theoretically clarify and practically develop a "communication competence-based military command system model." This proposed model integrates tangible and cognitive elements, dynamic and static components, and factors such as strategic reasoning, time management, and operational algorithms. While his study is primarily tailored to the Latvian military context, its design supports applicability across diverse global leadership scenarios.

Mr Auziņš has more than six years of academic experience as a lecturer at Turība University in Riga, specialising in Security Theory, Organisational Security, Hybrid Threat Resistance, and social communication strategies like Practical Conflictology and Negotiation. His interdisciplinary approach emphasises "concurrence dominance"—the strategic alignment of perspectives and methodologies to achieve superior leadership outcomes across varying engagement contexts, whether cooperative or adversarial.