Rick Rodriguez, a retired Army Intelligence Officer and Chief of the Training Support Branch at U.S. Army TRADOC G-2, has joined the University of Arizona’s National Security Interdisciplinary Design Team, bringing over 25 years of intelligence, training, and exercise design expertise to the interdisciplinary group. 

Rodriguez is known for designing realistic, high-impact training environments for Army and joint-force exercises, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. His work has supported programs like the Military Intelligence Training Strategy (MITS) and the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center (JPMRC).

"A lot of what I do is blending real-world data with imaginative threat scenarios. It’s definitely a mix of science and creativity."

“A lot of what I do is blending real-world data with imaginative threat scenarios,” Rodriguez explained. “It’s definitely a mix of science and creativity.” 

He builds complex operational environments, from cyberattacks on logistics networks to morale-impacting psychological operations, that reflect emerging global threats. “We build scenarios that make soldiers think and adapt before they face it in real life.” 

Rodriguez connected with the NSI team through colleague Nathan Hogan, after their collaboration on An Unwelcome Guest—a scenario that portrayed a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Now, he’s lending his experience to help shape NSI’s partnerships with defense, academia, and industry. 

“Nathan’s trying to build something special at Arizona,” he said. “I’m happy to support wherever I can.”

“If you want to learn something new, read an old book.”

For young intelligence professionals, Rodriguez has simple advice: “Read.” He recommends fiction like Ghost Fleet and geopolitical works by Robert D. Kaplan. “If you want to learn something new, read an old book.” As the NSI team continues to grow, Rodriguez’s insight and operational experience provide a crucial link between military realism and academic innovation.