Research & Policy Fellow Felipe I. Martinez is pursuing a master’s degree in Latin American and border studies with a graduate certificate in intelligence and national security at The University of Texas at El Paso. Martinez has also earned a bachelor's degree in film and television production from The Los Angeles Film School. He served as the community engagement manager at the Latino Community Credit Union, a nonprofit financial institution in North Carolina, where he led state-level programs that provided financial capability to disadvantaged communities. Martinez also worked as a master’s research assistant at the Center for Inter-American Border Studies. As a first-generation student from the South Texas border, Martinez’s background shaped his commitment to studying how borders define nations, shape identities, and create systemic challenges for marginalized communities. As a Graduate Archer Fellow, he will advocate for federal policies that promote sustainable water infrastructure and effective global water resource management as key pillars of national security.