Frejus Bakpe

Frejus Bakpe is an Operations Management Specialist at the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center, where he supports the execution of security cooperation programs that advance regional and international security objectives. With more than a decade of professional experience supporting U.S. Government-sponsored initiatives, he has played a significant role in the successful delivery of complex multinational programs and strategic engagements. His career includes service with the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, the NESA Center, and the William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies, where he contributed to operations and international security cooperation efforts across diverse geopolitical environments. 

Prior to his current role, Frejus served as a Data Center Cloud Engineer at Amazon Web Services (AWS), where he supported mission-critical cloud infrastructure operations and managed the lifecycle of information technology assets within large-scale data center environments. This experience provided him with practical expertise in cloud computing, infrastructure management, and emerging technologies that continue to shape the modern cybersecurity landscape. 

Frejus holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the National Institute of Economics of the Republic of Benin and a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity from Strayer University. He is currently a Master Candidate in Cybersecurity Policy and Compliance at The George Washington University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.  

His areas of interest include international security cooperation, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, cyber warfare, cyber resilience, and cyber diplomacy. 

Frejus has authored multiple articles on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence published in Cyber Defense Magazine. His publications explore the human, technological, and strategic dimensions of cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and international cyber affairs, including: 

Selected Publications 

• The Human Factor in Zero Trust Architecture: Can Users Keep Up?  

• AI as a Friend, Not a Threat: Building Trustworthy Security Systems in the Age of Autonomy. 

• From Embassies to Firewalls: The New Tools of Diplomacy.