New board brings practitioner insight to strengthen curriculum, workforce alignment, and student success
SAN DIEGO, CA (March 2, 2026) National University (NU), a nonprofit, Veteran‑founded institution serving more than 130,000 working, military, and career‑focused learners annually, has established a new School of Public Service Advisory Board to support academic quality and student engagement across its public service programs.
The advisory board was created to advance two strategic priorities within the University’s College of Law and Public Service: ensuring programs remain aligned with evolving workforce needs and supporting student engagement and persistence. By bringing working professionals into the curriculum review process, the board helps ensure students are prepared for what public service careers require today.
“Our students are preparing for roles that demand both academic knowledge and real-world readiness,” said Lisa Hutton, JD, dean of the College of Law and Public Service at National University. “This advisory board helps us stay closely connected to what is happening in the field so our curriculum reflects current practice and supports students as they move forward in their careers.”
Board members, which includes a student representative, were identified through faculty recommendations and reviewed to ensure representation across School of Public Service programs, regions, and professional sectors. The inaugural advisory board includes the following members:
- Scott Blough, strategic consulting manager and principal cybersecurity leader at Google, with prior experience in law enforcement and cyber defense education.
- Dr. Nicole J. Jones, chief development and innovation director at AmPac Capital, with a background in public administration and small business development.
- Vice Adm. Joana Nunan (Ret.), former superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and a national leader in homeland security policy and intergovernmental coordination.
- Krista Placko, forensic services manager for the City of Mesa Crime Laboratory, overseeing multidisciplinary forensic operations.
- Col. Randy Pugh, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.), vice provost at the Naval Postgraduate School and an international expert in artificial intelligence and warfare studies.
- Dr. Fred Roberts, director of the Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence at Rutgers University, specializing in data analytics and risk analysis for homeland security.
- Justin Russell, executive director of the International Council of Mediation, with extensive experience in diplomacy, conflict resolution, and international policy.
- Rachell Sierzega, National University student representative and fire battalion chief at Argonne National Laboratory, with expertise in emergency management and hazardous materials response.
- Capt. Drew Tucci (Ret.), former chief of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Office of Port and Facility Compliance and a recognized expert in maritime security and cybersecurity policy.
- Edward Westfall, former deputy director of California’s Office of Emergency Services, with extensive experience in statewide emergency response and public administration.
- Lt. Dalin Webb, law enforcement leader with the Phoenix Police Department and longtime criminal justice educator.
- Andre Wilson, senior director of Indo‑Pacific programs at Premise, bringing decades of experience in national security, intelligence, and global policy leadership.
The School of Public Service offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in areas including criminal justice, homeland security and emergency management, public administration, and forensic sciences. The advisory board will meet virtually on a regular basis and work collaboratively with faculty and academic leadership to support continuous program improvement.
About National University
National University, a Veteran-founded nonprofit, has been dedicated to meeting the needs of nontraditional, working, and military students by providing accessible, affordable higher education opportunities since 1971. As San Diego’s largest private nonprofit university, NU offers over 150 online and on-campus programs with flexible four-week and eight-week classes and one-to-one graduate education models designed to help students reach their goals while balancing busy lives. Since its founding, the NU community has grown to 130,000 learners served per year—50,000 degree-seeking students and 80,000 workforce and professional development students—and 250,000 alumni around the globe, many of whom serve in helping industries such as business, education, health care, cybersecurity, and law and criminal justice. To learn more about National University’s new possibilities in education including next-generation education, value-rich education, and whole human education, visit NU.edu.
