Honors Week: Exploring Global Rivalries and Climate Change

During VMI’s annual Honors Week, Earl Filgo ’25 presented research that bridges global strategic competition and climate change. 

Filgo, an international studies major with minors in national security and Arabic, plans to commission into the U.S. Army as a military intelligence officer after graduating this spring. His presentation, “Strategic Rivalry and its Implications for Climate Change Mitigation,” brings together his academic interests and his drive to confront complex global challenges. 

“I chose this topic because of my interest in international relations theory, its ties to national security, and my concern over climate change,” Filgo said. “Climate change deserves more scrutiny outside the scientific community, especially from those studying security and diplomacy.”

His thesis explores how rivalry between states affects their willingness to cooperate on global environmental initiatives. The research required a hybrid of qualitative and quantitative methods, evolving over time as Filgo engaged more deeply with data and theory.  

“Initially, I thought it would be mostly qualitative,” he said, “but as I progressed, I realized how powerful quantitative research could be for this topic.” 

Filgo found the thesis process to be intensive.  

“It takes time, loads of time,” he said. “You need to understand different theories and studies, then link them together into one cohesive project. It’s not enough to have a great research question. You need solid data to back it up.” 

Filgo’s advisor, Col. Patrick Rhamey, observed Filgo’s growth throughout the process.  

“Once he got started, he showed initiative and diligence,” Rhamey said. “He learned to work with limited and sometimes poorly coded data, using both statistical software and theoretical frameworks to produce a well-rounded study.” 

Rhamey highlighted the relevance of Filgo’s work for the VMI community. “His research connects global environmental priorities with military spending, a subject directly tied to the paths many of our cadets pursue.” 

“I gained credibility and confidence in my research skills, and a way to show my capabilities to future employers,” he said about how the experience expanded his academic and practical skill set. “It’s a burden, but also an exciting challenge not many cadets get to experience.”