Nick Mararac

Background

About Nick Mararac

I hold a PhD in Interactional Sociolinguistics, a subfield of linguistics that examines the interplay of language, society, and culture. I also have 7 years of military service as a Surface Warfare Officer, 5 years in military research, and 5 years of teaching experience. As a qualitative social scientist, I specialize in data collection and analysis, particularly through focus group moderation and in-depth interviews. My research interests include national security, technology protection, and artificial intelligence. Currently, I am an American Association for the Advancement of Science Science & Technology Policy Fellow, supporting the Science & Technology Program Protection Office within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering (OUSD(R&E)), contributing to initiatives at the intersection of science, technology, and policy. Before the fellowship, I was an applied social scientist at Fors Marsh, supporting the Office of People Analytics (OPA) in the Department of Defense. I played a key role in developing the Comprehensive Integrated Primary Prevention (CIPP) Plans System, which integrates command climate data in leadership decision making. My role as a researcher applied discourse analysis, focus group moderation, and conducting interviews. Additionally, I am an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where I teach Interpersonal Communication and National Security & Communication.