Hormis Tharakan, an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Kerala cadre (1968 batch), was Chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India's external intelligence agency, from February 1, 2005 to January 31, 2007. He is the former Director General of the Kerala Police. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor to Department of Geopolitics, Manipal University.

Dr. Lawrence Prabhakar Williams is Author, Researcher & Professor, International Relations & Strategic Studies, Formerly with the Department of Political Science, Madras Christian College. His books are Growth of Naval Power in the Indian Ocean Region: Dynamics and Transformation (2016), The Maritime Balance of Power in the Asia-Pacific: Maritime Doctrines and Nuclear Weapons At Sea (2006), Maritime Security in the Indian Ocean Region: Critical Issues of Debate (2008).

His research fellowships have been at IDSS & RSIS Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (2004-07); The Fulbright Fellowship at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (1996); Policy Research Fellowships at The Henry Stimson Center, Washington DC (2001) & Center for Naval Analysis ,USA (2001).

Other research assignments have been with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington DC; Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, Hawaii (2003); Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, Australian National University, Canberra (2007); Near East South Asia Center-National Defense University, Washington DC 2009-2012; Consultant, Net Assessment Directorate, IDS, Ministry of Defence, New Delhi (2001-04). Adjunct Professor & PhD Supervisor Naval War College, INS Mandovi; China Studies Centre, IIT-Madras

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