Basic HTML Version

|  | Table of Contents |  | View Full Version

Page 31 - The Indian EYE 040326
P. 31

    Newsmakers of the Week                                                   APRIL 03, 2026    |  The Indian Eye 31

                           MATTHEW AARON VAN DYKE                                                      REENA KHOSLA

                 US mercenary key figure in NIA’s                                       WSU names special assistant

                      probe on insurgent training                                                    to the provost

                   ew Delhi: American national has emerged as the key figure in an ongo-
                   ing investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into an
            Nalleged international network involved in training insurgent groups and   ullman,  WA:  Washington  State  University  is  intensifying  its  push  for
            smuggling drones into Myanmar.                                           data-driven decision-making with the appointment of Reena Khosla as
                Van Dyke, a self-described combat specialist and founder of the securi-
            ty firm Sons of Liberty International (SOLI), was arrested at Netaji Subhas   Pspecial assistant to the provost for data strategy. Joining the Office of the
                                                                                Provost, Khosla will assess the university’s data landscape and help advance its
            Chandra Bose International Airport on March 13, around 9 pm, as part of a   overall data strategy.
            coordinated crackdown.
                He was detained along with six Ukrainian nationals -- Hurba Petro, Sly-
            viak Taras, Ivan Sukmanovskyi, Stefankiv Marian, Honcharuk Maksim and  Khosla brings over 20 years of experience driving strategic ini-
            Kaminskyi Viktor -- who are now in NIA custody till March 27 following or-  tiatives through data-informed decision making. Most recently,
            ders of a special Delhi court.
                As per intelligence sources, Van Dyke operated as a freelancer, actively  she served as director of enterprise data warehouse in the Of-
            marketing his combat expertise through social media platforms such as X,   fice of Data, Assessment, and Institutional Research (DAIR) at
            YouTube and a personal website to secure assignments.
                Investigators have sought detailed data from these platforms to track his  Kansas State University, where she led transformative efforts in
            activities and operational links.                                   developing and advancing institutional data strategy, organiza-
                The NIA’s FIR alleges that Van Dyke and his team entered India on tour-
            ist visas on separate dates, flew to Guwahati, and then travelled to Mizoram  tional realignment, modernization of data architecture, and data
            without a mandatory Restricted Area Permit (RAP) or Protected Area Per-  governance. She also led the development of the university’s first
            mit (PAP), before illegally crossing into Myanmar.
                At the heart of the probe are allegations that Van Dyke’s network con-  cloud-based data warehouse and built high-performing teams to
            ducted “pre-scheduled training” for Myanmar-based ethnic armed groups,   support institution-wide decision making.
            focusing on advanced asymmetric warfare techniques, including drone opera-
            tions, drone assembly and electronic jamming systems.                   Khosla is a nationally recognized thought leader, serving as board mem-
                The agency has told the court that the accused admitted to conducting
            such training sessions on multiple occasions.                       ber and secretary of Higher Education Data World, an organization dedicat-
                                                                                ed to advancing collaboration and best practices in higher education data and
                Investigators further allege that the group smuggled “huge consignments
            of drones” originating from Europe into Myanmar via India to enhance the   analytics. She also served as an expert panelist contributing to the 2025 ED-
                                                                                UCAUSE Horizon Report | Data & Analytics Edition. She has completed
            operational capabilities of these armed groups. These militias, the NIA claims,   leadership programs including the HERS Leadership Institute, the Harvard
            are known to support insurgent outfits active within India.         Management Development Program, and the Carruthers and Jackson Chief
                The anti-terror agency has also informed the court that the accused
            were in contact with unidentified armed operatives carrying AK-47 rifles   Data  Officer  Summer  School.  Additionally,  she  holds  the  Certified  Data
                                                                                Management Professional (CDMP) credential.
            and had abetted terrorist and illegal activities. It further alleged that the net-  Khosla  holds  a  master’s  degree  in  computer  science  from  Virginia
            work provided weapons, training and tactical support to proscribed Indian   Tech. Prior to her time at Kansas State University, she worked at Colo-
            insurgent organisations.                                            rado State University, where she spent 19 years in data management and
                Van Dyke’s background, as revealed through his social media footprint,
            points to a long and highly publicised career as a mercenary. He reportedly   business intelligence. She brings a collaborative leadership style, a robust
                                                                                professional network, and a deep commitment to advancing data maturity
            fought in conflicts across Syria, Libya, Afghanistan and Iraq, including the   in higher education.
            2011 Libyan Civil War against Muammar Gaddafi, where he was held as a
            prisoner of war for over five months before returning to combat. He later
            established SOLI, described as a military contracting firm offering train-  To read more about Indian diaspora and Global Indians, log on to and follow
            ing and advisory services in global conflict zones, including Iraq, Syria and         our website www.TheIndianEYE.com
            Ukraine.

                                                                   www.TheIndianEYE.com

| 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 |