Erick Miyares, PhD

From the Front Lines to the Digital Frontier

Dr. Erick Miyares’ journey to cyberpsychology was not a straight line—it was forged across decades of service, leadership, and lived experience at the intersection of human behavior and national security. A 29-year Veteran of the United States Marine Corps and U.S. Army, Dr. Miyares spent much of his career conducting special operations and intelligence missions where technology, cognition, and human decision-making converged under extraordinary pressure. Long before cyberpsychology entered the mainstream lexicon, he was witnessing firsthand the psychological realities of operating in complex digital environments.

This blend of service, observation, and reflection ultimately guided his academic trajectory, leading him to help shape an emerging discipline focused in the human dimensions of technology.

A Scholar of Operational Cyberpsychology

At Capitol Technology University, Dr. Miyares earned his Ph.D. in Cyberpsychology, grounding his doctoral research in the realities he had observed throughout his military and intelligence career. His dissertation, Operational Cyberpsychology: Support to Cyberspace Operations, examined the cognitive and psychological impacts of sustained engagement in high-consequence cyber environments. The research explored how cyber operators experience cognitive load, immersion, stress, and identity within digitally mediated operational spaces and why understanding these human factors is essential to mission success and long-term resilience.

His research introduced original constructs, including Cyberspace Operator Syndrome and Cognitive Cyberpresence, offering new ways to conceptualize the lived experience of cyber operators and professionals operating at the edge of human performance. Supported by the prestigious National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship and recognized as a Pat Tillman Scholar, Dr. Miyares’ academic achievements reflects Capitol Tech’s emphasis on applied research with real-world impact.

Applying Cyberpsychology to National Security

Today, Dr. Miyares serves as a Senior Cyber Threat Subject Matter Expert with the Department of Defense Insider Threat Management & Analysis Center’s Behavioral Threat Analysis Center (BTAC). In this role, he applies cybersecurity, cyberpsychology, cyber behavioral science, and intelligence tradecraft. He assesses insider threat risk and analyzes concerning digital behaviors across complex socio-technical systems.

His current focus extends to a pressing, little-understood area of digital risk: human–AI interaction. He researches the national security implications of AI companions and emotionally responsive artificial agents. As AI-driven relationship, romantic, and companion systems become more common, his work explores how these technologies may influence cognition, behavior, mental health, vulnerability to exploitation, and susceptibility to manipulation. These developments raise new questions for security, ethics, and behavioral risk management.

Through Cyber Behavior Analysis, he studies how individuals interact with digital platforms, AI systems, and online communities, translating behavioral indicators into actionable insights that support prevention, mitigation, and resilience within national security environments.

Mentorship, Leadership, and Building the Field

Dr. Miyares’ impact extends beyond research and operations into mentorship and academic leadership. He serves as a Doctoral Chair and Dissertation Committee Member at Capitol Technology University, mentoring Ph.D. candidates in Cyberpsychology and Forensic Cyberpsychology, and supporting interdisciplinary doctoral research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and digital behavior.

Grounded in the Tillman Scholar ethos of service beyond self, Dr. Miyares views mentorship as a responsibility expressed through leadership, community impact, and academic excellence. Having navigated the transition from enlisted service member to doctoral researcher, he is deeply committed to supporting students and early-career professionals as they develop rigorous, ethical, and evidence-based approaches to cyberpsychology. His mentoring philosophy reflects a belief that developing people is as critical as advancing research, particularly in emerging disciplines where professional standards are still being shaped.

In addition to his mentoring and academic leadership roles, Dr. Miyares actively contributes to the broader cyberpsychology scholarly community. He serves on the Editorial Board of Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking and is a featured contributor to the forthcoming academic volume Building a Career in Cyberpsychology. He remains engaged as a cyberpsychology practitioner-scholar, fostering international connections with research groups and participating in the global cyberpsychology community through ongoing collaboration, conference engagement, and professional service. He was honored to present his doctoral research at the 28th International Conference on CyberPsychology, CyberTherapy, and Social Networking, held in Australia, further contributing to the international dialogue on cyber behavior, human–technology interaction, and national security.

Looking Ahead

As technology continues to reshape how humans think, interact, and form relationships, the need to understand behavior in digital environments has never been more urgent. Dr. Miyares’s work reflects a belief that cyberpsychology is not simply an academic pursuit but a necessary lens for addressing modern challenges in national security and emerging technology risk.

Looking forward, he is committed to advancing the responsible integration of cyberpsychology and cyber behavior science across national security, intelligence, and law enforcement communities. Through research, mentorship, and applied practice, he advocates for greater recognition of cyber behavioral science as core capability in understanding digital risk, cybercrime, insider threat, and human-AI interaction.

From cyberspace operations to AI companions, his career embodies Capitol Technology University’s mission: preparing leaders who can bridge disciplines, confront complexity, and apply knowledge in the service of the greater good.

Dr. Miyares’ story is not just about where cyberpsychology has been—it is about where the field is going, and how human insight will remain central in an increasingly digital world.