The Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies is pleased to welcome Mykel Kochenderfer as the incoming natural science co-director of the Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC), effective January 1, 2027.

An associate professor of aeronautics and astronautics at Stanford School of Engineering, Kochenderfer is the director of the Stanford Intelligent Systems Laboratory (SISL), where he conducts research on advanced algorithms and analytical methods for decision-making systems. His earlier work on airspace modeling and aircraft collision avoidance led to the creation of the Airborne Collision Avoidance System X (ACAS X), an onboard safety system meant to prevent midair collisions that uses advanced algorithms to detect nearby aircraft and provide maneuver recommendations to pilots.

Kochenderfer is also a senior fellow at the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI (HAI), where he is applying the principles that have made flying one of the safest ways to travel toward addressing the safety and governance concerns around artificial intelligence.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Mykel to CISAC and FSI,” says Colin Kahl, director of the Freeman Spogil Institute for International Studies. “Cross disciplinary collaborations like this are what allow our centers and programs to create tremendous amounts of value and impact within Stanford and beyond. The challenges the world is facing today are highly interconnected, and the research we do to solve them has to reflect that.”

Kochenderfer will work alongside James Fearon, CISAC’s social science co-director, to advance the center’s mission to produce rigorous research on pressing security and international cooperation issues and foster intellectual exchanges that help build a safer world.

Fearon, a leading expert on conflict and interstate violence and a senior advisor in the U.S. Department of Defense, welcomes Kochenderfer’s expertise. 

“This is a huge win for CISAC and next-generation research and policy development at the intersection of emerging technologies and international security,” says Fearon. “Mykel is perfect for this role. I am very excited to work with him on the broad range of new problems that the world is throwing at us in this area."

Below, Kochenderfer shares more about his research, what he’s excited to do as part of CISAC, and his advice for staying curious and finding innovative solutions to pressing global issues.

What drew you to accept an appointment at FSI?

I am excited by the opportunity to connect the ideas we have been exploring in the School of Engineering with broader questions of international security. Ever since I took the class “International Security in a Changing World” from Prof. Scott Sagan as an undergraduate, I have greatly admired the scholarship at the Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC). The faculty and senior fellows there are truly world class.

Your research centers on advanced algorithms and decision-making systems. How are you thinking about the opportunities and challenges presented by the use of AI across so many sectors?

AI has tremendous potential in many important areas, ranging from basic science to medicine. AI can now do things that I would not have imagined possible just five years ago. What worries me is premature reliance on these technologies before they have been adequately validated. We need to understand how to ensure their safety, particularly in high-stakes applications, and how to coordinate internationally when AI-related security incidents occur.

What challenges do you see in the world right now that you think can benefit from more collaborative research between the social sciences and natural sciences?

The rapid advance of AI capabilities is forcing us to confront important safety and security issues in areas such as biosecurity and cybersecurity. Addressing these challenges will require not only technical advances but also a deeper understanding of the social and political systems in which these technologies operate. We need to understand how to protect critical infrastructure, how AI is changing the way we consume information, and what policies and institutions will help us navigate these changes.

What are you looking forward to working more closely on with your colleagues at CISAC and the scholarly community at FSI?

I am particularly interested in how we can build international consensus around the responsible development and use of AI. There are important lessons to be learned from other safety-critical industries, including aviation and nuclear technologies, where international cooperation, shared standards, and the exchange of safety information have played important roles. I am excited to explore how those lessons might apply to AI and understand what needs to be done differently.

For students looking to find their niche in the social sciences, natural sciences, or both, what advice do you have for how they can navigate a rapidly changing world and evolving academic landscape?

I would encourage students to develop deep expertise in something they find fascinating while also taking advantage of the many interdisciplinary opportunities available on campus. It is very hard to predict how the world will evolve, and some of the most important challenges will require us to work across traditional disciplinary boundaries. Being able to learn from people who approach problems differently is an incredibly valuable skill.

Where do you find sources of inspiration that help you stay curious and look at the world from new angles?

I have been fortunate to work with Stanford undergraduate and graduate students who bring such diverse backgrounds and interests to our lab. I am constantly inspired by their curiosity, creativity, and insights.