Dr. Michael Torres
Research Fellow, PLIANT Institute
Biography
Dr. Michael Torres is a Research Fellow at PLIANT, where he focuses on advanced OSINT methodology, cross-border digital infrastructure security, and the intersection of cyber and physical vulnerabilities in global logistics networks. His research draws on a decade of experience in government intelligence and policy research to develop rigorous frameworks for identifying and attributing nation-state activity in commercial supply chains.
Prior to joining PLIANT, Dr. Torres served as an intelligence analyst at the Defense Intelligence Agency, specializing in transportation network disruption and adversarial logistics targeting, and subsequently held a research position at RAND Corporation.
Dr. Torres holds a PhD in Political Science from UCLA, an MS in Cybersecurity from Carnegie Mellon University, and a BA in International Studies from the University of Arizona.
EMAIL:
m.torres@projectpliant.com
Research Areas
Dr. Torres focuses on the intersection of open-source intelligence methodology and nation-state threat attribution in global logistics networks. His current work investigates:
OSINT METHODOLOGY & ATTRIBUTION
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Structured frameworks for identifying and attributing nation-state activity in commercial supply chains
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Open-source intelligence collection standards for adversarial logistics targeting analysis
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Confidence calibration in multi-source attribution assessments and detection
CYBER-PHYSICAL THREAT CONVERGENCE
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Detection methods for cyber intrusions designed to produce physical logistics disruption
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Threat pattern analysis across terminal operating systems and port community networks
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Dwell time and detection rate analysis for cyber-physical attack categories
Publications
Selected academic contributions and forthcoming research projects.
2022 - DECLASSIFIED EXCERPT
2024 - PLIANT INSTITUTE