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I was honored to have been selected as a Postdoctoral Researcher for Academic Year 2021-22 at the U.S. Air Force Academy's Institute for Future Conflict (IFC). The IFC focuses on research and education that examines the changing character and technologies of armed conflict while providing future officers with the skills to be agile and adaptive throughout their careers. In this capacity I researched topics as they related to the human domain and how that impacts future conflict, as well as supported cadet education through the departments of Behavioral Science and Military & Strategic Studies. |
Select Active Memberships
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Professional Activities/Service
I am a founding member of the British International Studies Association working group on Political Violence, Conflict and Transnational Activism, and served on the International Studies Association's executive committee for the Peace Studies Section from 2019-2021. I have had the privilege to benefit from a variety of sponsored professional and network development activities including the following:
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NED Council on Foreign Relations Stephen M. Kellen Term Member Program 2019-2024
The Stephen M. Kellen Term Member Program provides young professionals in government, media, nongovernmental organizations, law, business, finance, and academia the opportunity to participate in a sustained conversation on international affairs and U.S. foreign policy. The program allows these younger members to interact with seasoned foreign policy experts and participate in a wide variety of events designed especially for them. Penn Kemble Fellow 2020 The Penn Kemble Forum on Democracy promotes bipartisan conversation among young foreign policy leaders in Washington, DC. The Forum is an opportunity for them to share ideas across sectors and explore the role of democracy and human rights within the context of a broad range of policy questions. CSIS Africa Policy Accelerator 2020 The Africa Policy Accelerator (APA) aims to develop, elevate, and connect the next generation of U.S.-Africa policymakers in Washington. This CSIS Africa Program initiative enables participants to grow their expertise and deepen their professional networks by connecting young individuals from government, non-governmental organizations, academia, and the private sector. Jamestown Foundation Young Professionals Program 2019-2020 Jamestown’s Young Professionals Program is a year-long lecture series that provides young professionals interested in international security with the opportunity to engage with current and former top U.S. policy makers, diplomats and Jamestown analysts. Each series will be dedicated to a particular region or issue that is important to U.S. strategic interests, giving participants the chance to gain the insight of subject matter experts and seasoned practitioners while also connecting with peers. Clements Center Summer Seminar in History and Statecraft July 2018 The Clements Center for National Security at the University of Texas at Austin will convene a weeklong seminar for doctoral students focused on the connections between statecraft and history. Several sessions will examine the ways in which policymakers have used or misused historical knowledge in the past, and how different scholarly disciplines approach history. Sessions will also ask how policymakers should use history and what methods might be available for refining the use of the past in decision-making. Summer Workshop on the Analysis of Military Operations and Strategy (SWAMOS) July 2017 SWAMOS was designed to expose young scholars to a body of knowledge that is seldom made available in conventional graduate programs, to encourage some of them to specialize in the field in order to nurture a critical mass of academics competent to contribute to defense policy debates, to preserve expertise in strategic studies outside of government, and to foster a network of analysts interested in and committed to the subject, capable of giving each other support and promoting the field within academia. BRIDGING THE GAP International Policy Summer Institute (IPSI) June 2017 IPSI is a five-day professional development program for professors (all ranks) and post-docs in the field of international affairs who want to build the tools and networks to produce and disseminate policy-relevant academic research. The Institute delivers an intensive curriculum designed to teach participants how to develop and articulate their research for a policy audience, what policy-makers are looking for when they look to scholarship on international issues, whom to target when sharing research, and which tools and avenues of dissemination are appropriate. IPSI also provides a forum for scholars to develop professional networks with their colleagues and with the broader policy community. FOREIGN POLICY INITIATIVE’S FUTURE LEADERS PROGRAM 2016-2017 The purpose of the Future Leaders Program is to cultivate the next generation of foreign policy leaders in Washington, D.C. The program identifies young professionals who share FPI’s commitment to international engagement, support for America’s allies, expanding political and economic freedom, and a strong military. FPI connects these young leaders with foreign policy experts and former senior government officials, while offering networking, education, and training opportunities with FPI experts and program alumni, as well as media personalities. U.S. ARMY WAR COLLEGE NATIONAL SECURITY SEMINAR (NSS) June 2015 The NSS is a one-week event that creates an environment for Army War College students and distinguished civilian guests to examine current national security issues and exchange candid dialogue. ▪ Received “Certificate of Leader Development in National Security and Strategy” ▪ Army War College resident class of 2015 includes 387 students who represent a cross-section of the joint military, federal agency and multinational security environment: 217 Army officers, 12 Navy, 32 Air Force, 17 Marine Corps officers and one Coast Guard officer of the Active, Reserve/ National Guard forces. The class includes 79 international officers from 73 countries, and 29 senior civilians of federal agencies, plus a cadre of 155 civilians. ▪ National Security Seminar serves as the capstone event of the Army War College's 10-month curriculum, just prior to the Class of 2015’s graduation for the Master's degree in Strategic Studies. DoD FED FORUM: PAKISTAN-AFGHANISTAN COORDINATION CELL 2012-2013 ▪ Attend weekly meetings at the Pentagon at the invitation of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) to liaise with representatives working on AfPak security issues to learn about diverse issues pertaining to AfPak relations, operations, and current events. Network with organizations working in similar industry space to realize potential synergies. ICoC: INTERNATIONAL CODE OF CONDUCT FOR PRIVATE SECURITY SERVICE PROVIDERS 2011-2013 Contributor to Working Group 3: Independent Governance & Oversight Mechanism Structure, Governance, and Funding ▪ Work with over 150 international industry, government, and civil society stakeholders/representatives to develop an international code of conduct promoting accountability and ethical operations among entities providing private security services ▪ Working Group 3 strives to assist the Temporary Steering Committee in meeting the requirements laid forth in the Code of Conduct relevant to constructing an independent framework to ensure proper implementation and execution of commitments tied to the ICoC. YOUNG PROFESSIONALS IN FOREIGN POLICY 2013 Research Fellow, The YPFP Fellowship Program is an intensive research training experience designed for young professionals who are preparing for careers in foreign policy and international affairs. ▪ Civil-military relations and defense research focus with special attention to U.S. Government contracting practices pertaining to Foreign Internal Defense (FID) and military training programs ▪ Awarded Fellowship for base period of six months with potential for option periods thereafter ▪ Delivered paper on persistent security engagement with African states at Boston University's Africa grad studies program ▪ Paper published with PRIAD Journal (peer reviewed) ▪ Paper published with Stability: International Journal of Security & Development (peer reviewed) ▪ Invited to present paper at Institute for Humane Studies conference (declined) ▪ Invited to present poster at 2013 APSA Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL (accepted) EURASIA FOUNDATION 2012-2013 Young Professionals Network, designed to cultivate the next generation of professionals working on the Eurasia region by connecting young professionals with influential foreign policy experts and practitioners ▪ Selected to participate in highly competitive one year professional development program. |
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Select Conference Presentations
- Sandhurst Trends in Conflict "Practicing/Employing/Working/Doing/Making Security: the Women, Peace and Security agenda in Military Operations.” "The Djiboutian National Action Plan and Related Women, Peace and Security Programming," 3-4 March 2022, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, United Kingdom.
- International Studies Association IS-ISSS. “DDR absorptive capacity in fragile militaries: the challenges of demobilizing or integrating irregular fighters," 12-14 November 2021, Bloomington, IN.
- Northwestern University Foreign Military Assistance Workshop re: DoD Minerva grant, 7-9 October 2021, Evanston Illinois
- 13th Annual Conference of the International Society of Military Sciences. "Principal-Agent Problems: US Government Use of Contractors” at conference “Progress in Military Sciences for Resilience and Cohesion in the Face of New Forms of Disruption,” 11-14 October 2021, hosted by Royal Military College of Canada.
- International Studies Association ISSS-ISAC Annual Conference, “Foreign Military Training as an Exit Plan,” 13-14 October 2017, Washington, DC.
- CDA Institute (Canadian Conference of Defense Associations) 20th Annual Graduate Student Symposium, “USG Use of Civilian Contractors to Deliver Foreign Military Training,” 12-13 October 2017, Kingston, Canada. [travel grant awarded]
- Sandhurst Trends in Conflict “War Amongst the People: A Critical Assessment Symposium”. ""USG Use of Civilian Contractors to Deliver Foreign Military Training," 30 June 2017, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, United Kingdom.
- International Studies Association (ISA) 56th Annual Convention: Global IR and Regional Worlds: A New Agenda for International Studies. “Nonkinetic Solutions: Using UAVs to Combat Animal Poaching,” 18-21 February 2015, New Orleans, LA.
- Southern Political Science Association 2014 Annual Meeting, "Fifty-Four Durand Lines: The Importance of Persistent Security Assistance in Africa," on the panel entitled, "Issues in African Politics and Beyond," 9-11 January 2014, New Orleans, LA.
- American Political Science Association 2013 Annual Meeting poster session, “Shohna ba Shohna: U.S. Interests in Transition from Coalition to Afghan National Security Forces.” 29 August -1 September 2013, Chicago, IL.
- Boston University 21st Annual Graduate Student Conference in African Studies paper presentation “Fifty-four Durand Lines: The Necessity of Persistent Security Assistance in Africa.” 29-30 March 2013, Boston, MA.
- University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs Alum Career Panelist: Government Contracting. 12 March 2013.