FAQ

SRPI is an independent, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit research organization dedicated to advancing U.S. national security through rigorous, open-source research, public education, and innovative counterintelligence solutions — developed entirely outside of government. Learn more on our About page.

No. SRPI is an independent academic research organization. Several board members and researchers are federal employees, but they participate in their personal academic capacities. No SRPI product reflects the views, policies, or positions of any government agency. Full disclosure language is available on every page footer.

SRPI accepts no government grants, agency contracts, or political funding of any kind. The Institute operates entirely on private contributions from individuals who support independent national security research. See our Donate page for details.

No. All SRPI research, analysis, and publications rely exclusively on publicly available, open-source materials. This is a core legal and reputational commitment of the Institute.

The Sentinel Journal is a peer-reviewed academic publication (2,000-5,000 words, double-blind review, published biannually with DOI archiving). The Sentinel Review is a policy-oriented publication (600-2,000 words, editorial review, rolling submissions on Substack) for timely commentary and analysis.

Visit our Article Submission page for full guidelines, word counts, citation requirements, and the submission form for both the Sentinel Journal and Sentinel Review.

Yes. Practitioners, scholars, and partner organizations may submit research topic proposals for SRPI's consideration. Proposals should identify a specific national security or counterintelligence challenge suited to a non-governmental, open-source approach. See the Research page or contact us directly.

A Chapter is a formal student organization at a university, requiring three founding officers and a faculty advisor. An Ambassador is an individual undergraduate representative, typically drawn from SRPI's intern cohorts, who advances SRPI's mission on campus — often laying the groundwork for a future chapter.

Recruit at least two other founding officers, identify a faculty or staff advisor, and submit the Chapter Establishment Request Form on the Chapters page. Applications are reviewed within 14 business days.

Chapters pay annual dues of $150-$500 depending on chapter type, with a 50% reduction available in the first year. Full requirements and benefits are listed on the Chapters page.

SRPI operates on an all-volunteer research model. Graduate Research Fellows and Undergraduate Analysts contribute on a volunteer basis. See the Volunteers page for current roles.

Visit the Volunteers page to review current roles for doctoral and graduate student volunteers, and submit your interest through the form there.