Not all heroes wear their uniforms forever. Some transition their battlefield expertise into groundbreaking academic disciplines that continue to protect and serve in different, equally vital ways. National security isn’t solely about military strategy and intelligence operations—it’s increasingly about understanding the human mind, particularly when damaged by trauma and stress. At this critical intersection of neuropsychology, psychology, military service, and criminal justice stands a remarkable pioneer who has created an entirely new field of study.
Dr. Monique M. Chouraeshkenazi has never approached her work conventionally. She doesn’t simply apply existing frameworks—she builds new ones. From military service to academia, from security operations to groundbreaking neuropsychopathological research, she has consistently pushed boundaries to forge connections between seemingly disparate fields.
From Military Service to Academic Leadership
After serving 13 distinguished years in the U.S. Air Force, Dr. Chouraeshkenazi has established herself as a leading expert in forensic neuropsychopathology and national security. As CEO and Chief Clinical Neuropsychometrician at The Chouraeshkenazi Group (TCG) in Northern Virginia, established in 2014 and revamped in 2018, she embodies the rare combination of military discipline, academic rigor, and clinical expertise. In addition to her leadership at TCG, she serves as a Professor of Psychology at both the American Public University System and American Military University, further solidifying her commitment to academic excellence and shaping the minds of future professionals
Dr. Chouraeshkenazi‘s military journey began in 2002 when she enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. During her 13-year service, she gained extensive experience in information management, knowledge operations, security management, and antiterrorism operations—all crucial aspects of national security. Rather than compartmentalizing this knowledge, she began teaching antiterrorism in 2009, laying the groundwork for her future academic career.
Her path toward psychology took a decisive turn during her deployment to Afghanistan, where she witnessed firsthand the psychological toll of war on both herself and fellow service members. This pivotal experience ignited her interest in understanding how trauma affects the brain and behavior—a curiosity that would later define her professional trajectory.
“My deployment to Afghanistan was eye-opening,” Dr. Chouraeshkenazi reflects. “It established my deep interest in understanding the psychological effects of trauma and how they influence behavior and decision-making.”
Instead of pursuing a conventional career path after military service, Dr. Chouraeshkenazi channeled her experiences into academia. She authored her first textbook in 2018 and developed courses in homeland and national security, criminal justice, and related fields. Her graduate thesis and doctoral dissertation on severe mental illnesses and violent crimes formed the foundation for what would become forensic neuropsychopathology—a discipline she pioneered to explore how brain dysfunction influences criminal behavior, with significant implications for forensic psychology and law.
Forging a New Discipline at the Intersection of Brain Science and Security
The transition from military service to academia and clinical work wasn’t without challenges. Dr. Chouraeshkenazi had to adjust from the structured, fast-paced military environment to the reflective, research-driven world of academia. Translating real-world experiences into academic theory required further education to provide the theoretical foundation that would complement her practical insights.
“Balancing full-time professional responsibilities with pursuing advanced degrees required effective time management,” she explains. “Adaptability, continuous learning, and leveraging my military strengths helped me navigate these transitions successfully.”
Dr. Chouraeshkenazi’s unique military background gave her firsthand insight into the psychological toll of war, trauma, and operational stress, shaping her understanding of how external factors impact mental health and national security interests. This perspective allowed her to develop a stronger awareness of the psychological resilience required in high-stakes environments, influencing her approach to teaching and research on the intersection of security and mental health.
“Working in the national security field, I developed a strong awareness of the psychological resilience required in high-stakes environments,” she notes. “This has profoundly influenced my approach to teaching and research on the intersection of security and mental health.”
As a chief clinical neuropsychometrician, Dr. Chouraeshkenazi assesses how brain dysfunction from trauma affects military personnel’s behavior and decision-making—particularly how severe mental illnesses impair cognitive functions like emotional regulation and impulse control, which are critical in high-pressure situations.
This unique approach has significant implications for both national security and the criminal justice system. By evaluating how brain injuries and trauma impact cognitive functions, Dr. Chouraeshkenazi can identify at-risk individuals and provide pathways for early intervention, enhancing military readiness and resilience. Her work also offers deeper understanding of how brain dysfunction influences criminal behavior and legal responsibility in national security contexts.
“By understanding the relationship between brain dysfunction and psychiatric disorders,” she notes, “my work provides valuable insights for early intervention, legal assessments, and better outcomes in both national security and criminal justice contexts.”
Advancements in Neuropsychology and Security
Dr. Chouraeshkenazi’s research explores how severe mental illnesses interact with brain function, examining how these conditions, combined with brain injuries, can significantly impair cognitive abilities. In high-stress environments like military service, these impairments can influence decision-making, potentially leading to harmful behavior or criminal actions.
She identifies several promising advancements in neuropsychopathology for enhancing national security: “Improved neuroimaging for early detection of brain injuries and psychiatric disorders, allowing for timely intervention is paramount. Understanding how brain dysfunction impacts decision-making and behavior leads to more accurate assessments of personnel’s mental fitness in security roles and criminal behavior in legal contexts.”
Dr. Chouraeshkenazi also emphasizes the importance of enhancing mental health programs and establishing advanced initiatives, such as cognitive resilience training and neurofeedback, to improve emotional regulation and impulse control. Given the complexity of forensic neuropsychopathology, these developments support national security and criminal justice initiatives in creating fairer, more informed approaches to legal proceedings.
Her comprehensive understanding of brain function in high-stress environments has led to innovative approaches that bridge the gap between neuroscience and practical applications in security operations. By identifying early warning signs of cognitive impairment or psychiatric disorders, she helps create more effective interventions that can prevent serious security breaches or criminal behaviors before they occur.
Leadership Shaped by Military Service
Dr. Chouraeshkenazi’s leadership philosophy is deeply influenced by her military background. She emphasizes discipline, adaptability, and clear communication in all aspects of her work—principles she honed during her Air Force service. The military taught her to lead by example, prioritize teamwork, and maintain mission focus, which translates into setting clear goals, motivating teams, and ensuring alignment with organizational vision.
“Making tough decisions not only shapes the direction of the mission but also establishes trust, drives accountability, and demonstrates a leader’s commitment to achieving the greater good, even when faced with difficult choices,” she explains. This approach has served her well as CEO of The Chouraeshkenazi Group and in her various academic and clinical roles.
In her view, effective leadership in high-stakes environments demands several critical qualities: “Effective leadership in high-stakes environments demands the ability to make tough decisions, demonstrate decisiveness, adapt to changing circumstances, show empathy, and, above all, uphold integrity.” She elaborates that decisiveness enables leaders to make swift, well-informed choices under pressure, while adaptability allows them to tackle unforeseen challenges and adjust strategies as needed.
“Empathy builds trust, strengthens team cohesion, and provides support, particularly in difficult times,” she adds. “Integrity ensures adherence to ethical standards, promoting transparency and alignment with the broader mission.”
Her leadership extends beyond organizational management to pioneering initiatives that make real-world impact. She is particularly proud of establishing forensic neuropsychopathology as a conceptual framework, which has enhanced understanding of how brain injuries and mental health conditions affect behavior, especially in high-stakes environments. This framework has significantly impacted both criminal justice and national security sectors.
Dr. Chouraeshkenazi’s commitment to service continues in her clinical work, where she offers pro bono evaluations and assessments to active-duty service members and veterans throughout the year. She also collaborates with law firms to provide evaluative services to service members and veterans in military legal cases, military service-connected disability claims, and contests regarding specific discharge types, ensuring they receive appropriate neuropsychological support.
Academic Passion and Mentorship
Teaching has always been central to Dr. Chouraeshkenazi’s mission. “From a young age, I aspired to teach,” she shares. “As I matured, my desire to share the knowledge and experiences gained from my military service and clinical work became even stronger.”
As a professor, she sought to bridge the gap between real-world experience, theoretical principles, and scientific theory, helping students navigate complex issues across various disciplines. Academia has offered her opportunities to integrate teaching, research, and clinical work, deepening her understanding of these fields while enabling her to publish her findings in forensic neuropsychopathology. Additionally, it has fostered interdisciplinary collaboration and motivated her to further advance these areas of study.
Her approach to mentoring emphasizes open communication, collaboration, and real-world application. “I emphasize the importance of critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and integrating theory with practice for students pursuing careers in national security, clinical neuropsychology/psychology, or criminal justice,” she explains. She encourages students to connect coursework with real-world scenarios, helping them understand how concepts apply to security challenges, criminal behavior, and justice system practices.
By stressing resilience, adaptability, and lifelong learning, she prepares students for leadership roles in their respective fields. “By guiding students through complex issues, I aim to prepare them for leadership roles and meaningful careers in their respective fields,” she notes.
Her advice to aspiring professionals in interdisciplinary fields reflects her own journey: “I advise aspiring professionals in interdisciplinary fields to remain curious, adaptable, and committed to continuous learning. These fields require the ability to integrate knowledge from various disciplines, so it is important to develop a broad foundation while deepening expertise in specific areas.”
She also emphasizes the importance of networking and collaboration with professionals from different backgrounds to expand perspectives and gain valuable insights. “Seek real-world experience through internships, research, or volunteer work to apply theory to practice,” she advises. “Be patient and persistent—interdisciplinary careers often require navigating complex challenges, but the impact you can make is profound.”
Pioneering Research at the Frontiers of Neuroscience and Security
Dr. Chouraeshkenazi’s current research continues to expand on forensic neuropsychopathology, with a primary focus on incorporating rigorous clinical work to deepen understanding of how brain injuries and trauma-related conditions impact behavior. She aims to integrate scientific, theoretical, and conceptual insights with real-world clinical applications, particularly in national security and the criminal justice system.
“My research continues to expand on forensic neuropsychopathology, with a primary focus on incorporating vigorous clinical work to deepen the understanding of how brain injuries and trauma-related conditions impact behavior,” she explains. “This is my next priority, as I aim to integrate scientific, theoretical, and conceptual insights with real-world clinical applications.”
She has a major project planned for this year, based on five years of research in forensic neuropsychopathology. Though she doesn’t share specific details, she indicates that this project promises to significantly contribute to national security and the criminal justice system, further advancing the understanding of how brain dysfunction influences behavior and decision-making.
“I focus on interdisciplinary collaboration, evidence-based methods, and real-world case studies to ensure my research is academically rigorous and practically applicable,” she explains. By collaborating with professionals across multiple disciplines and incorporating case studies and clinical work, she contextualizes her findings and makes them relevant to various fields. Additionally, continuous feedback from both academics and practitioners helps refine her research, ensuring it is grounded in solid evidence while offering practical solutions to national security and mental health care challenges.
Looking toward the future of forensic neuropsychopathology in national security, Dr. Chouraeshkenazi identifies several emerging trends: neurotechnology such as brain-computer interfaces and neuroimaging for real-time cognitive assessments; advances in neuroplasticity to inform rehabilitation and training programs; psychophysiological monitoring tools to detect signs of mental distress; and AI-driven psychological assessments to analyze behavioral patterns and predict potential risks.
“These trends will enhance personnel well-being, optimize training, and improve national security operations by addressing psychological challenges proactively,” she notes.
Balancing Multiple Roles with Purpose and Passion
Juggling roles as CEO, scientist, researcher, professor, and author requires exceptional time management and motivation. Dr. Chouraeshkenazi approaches this challenge by prioritizing tasks, staying organized, and breaking down responsibilities into manageable steps. She allocates specific time blocks for each role throughout the week, leverages practical time management tools, and delegates when appropriate.
“I manage my time by prioritizing and staying organized,” she explains. “I break down tasks into smaller, manageable steps and allocate specific time blocks for each role throughout the week, ensuring that each responsibility gets focused attention. I also leverage practical time management tools and delegate tasks when appropriate, allowing me to focus on high-priority areas.”
Her motivation stems from genuine passion for her work and its impact. “I love learning and being a student,” she shares, “constantly seeking to expand my understanding of complex issues like trauma, decision-making, and behavior in high-stakes environments.”
Having experienced real-world challenges firsthand, she recognizes the profound impact that knowledge from one field can have on another. This drives her to stay at the forefront of research and practice, ensuring her work remains relevant and impactful for those she serves.
“My passion for continued learning and growth across diverse fields is driven by a deep curiosity about how various disciplines intersect and influence one another,” she reflects. “Having experienced the real-world challenges, I recognize the profound impact that knowledge from one field can have on another. This drives me to stay at the forefront of research and practice, ensuring my work remains relevant and impactful for those I serve.”
Future Vision: Advancing the Field and Building Bridges
Looking ahead, Dr. Chouraeshkenazi’s primary goal is to continue advancing forensic neuropsychopathology through ongoing research, clinical work, and literature. She aims to refine understanding of how brain injuries and trauma influence behavior, particularly in military personnel, law enforcement, and those involved in national security operations.
“Looking ahead, my primary goal is to continue advancing the field of forensic neuropsychopathology, primarily through ongoing research, clinical work, and literature,” she states. “I aim to refine the understanding of how brain injuries and trauma influence behavior, particularly in military personnel, law enforcement, and those involved in national security operations.”
She plans to further integrate her research with practical applications, improving mental health programs for service members and offering more robust evaluative tools for legal and clinical settings. Mentoring the next generation of academic scholars and practitioners remains a priority, as does developing innovative courses that bridge national security and psychological sciences.
“I plan to continue mentoring the next generation of academic scholars and practitioners while developing innovative courses that bridge national security and psychological sciences,” she affirms. “Ultimately, I hope to contribute to more compassionate, scientifically informed approaches to national security and criminal justice, ensuring that mental health is prioritized in these fields.”
Dr. Chouraeshkenazi emphasizes the importance of collaboration in advancing her field: “Collaboration with other experts is crucial to refining forensic neuropsychopathology, as it ensures a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach that advances both scientific understanding and practical solutions for addressing trauma and mental health in high-stakes environments. Therefore, I encourage fellow professionals and experts to collaborate with me on this journey.”
By continuing to build bridges between military experience, academic research, and clinical practice, Dr. Chouraeshkenazi is pioneering a more integrated, humane approach to national security—one that recognizes the critical role of brain health in safeguarding our nation and serving those who protect it.
