Narrative Strategies is pleased to announce the addition of Dr. John Pennell to our Team as Senior Diplomacy Fellow.

John is a highly accomplished, retired US diplomat with over 20 years of executive-level experience leading multidisciplinary, interagency, and joint teams to implement foreign assistance programs across Africa, Eurasia, the Indo-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East. 

“John brings deep expertise in irregular warfare, strategic competition, public diplomacy, strategic communications, and countering hybrid threats, including in high-threat, gray-zone environments,” said Dr. Ajit Maan, Founder and CEO of Narrative Strategies. “We are delighted that he is joining our efforts to protect our country and our clients.”

John is also a Senior Practitioner with the Irregular Warfare Center in the operations in the information environment, intelligence, and emerging technology networks, assisting in the development of curricula, support doctrine, and mentoring emerging subject matter experts.

John earned his PhD in War & Defense Studies from King’s College London and Master’s degrees from the National War College and American University. He also recently published a book on Russia’s irregular warfare activities in Syria and Ukraine.