National War College Biographies

Dr. Zachary M. Abuza

Press Operations — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 14:07:00 GMT

Dr. Zachary Abuza is a Professor at the National War College, in Washington, DC, where he focuses on Southwest Asian politics and security issues, including governance, insurgencies, democratization and human rights, and maritime security. He is the author of five books, four monographs on security issues in Southeast Asia, authored the Southeast Asian chapter in the acclaimed study, Leaving Terrorism Behind, as well as the National Endowment for Democracy’s 2015 report on the media and civil society in Vietnam.

He is currently working on a project for the National Defense University's Project in Irregular Warfare, as well as a study on Thai counter-insurgency strategy. He has twice served as a Congressional witness. In 2004-05, he was a Senior Fellow at the US Institute of Peace and a recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship. He received his B.A. from Trinity College (1991), and M.A.L.D. (1994) and Ph.D. (1998) from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University.

Dr. Richard Andres – DOW

Press Operations — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 15:55:00 GMT

Dr. Richard B. Andres is a Full Professor of National Security Strategy at the U.S. National War College, where he teaches strategy and war. His research focuses on technology and national security, with particular emphasis on cyber, artificial intelligence, and aerospace. His recent publications examine cyber offense, deterrence, China, and defense reform. He earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, Davis.

Ms. Dannielle Andrews – DOS

Press Operations — Thu, 04 Aug 2022 16:35:00 GMT

Dannielle Andrews, a Senior Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State, is a Faculty

Dr. David C. Arnold – DOW

Press Operations — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 20:12:00 GMT

Dr. David C. Arnold is a Professor of National Security Strategy. He received his PhD from Auburn University, his MA from Colorado State University, and his BA from Purdue University, all in history. He is also a 2004 graduate of Air Command and Staff College and a 2011 graduate of U.S. Army War College. Before joining the faculty at the National War College in 2013, Dr. Arnold did space policy and strategy work in the Pentagon, responsible for developing policy and strategy on space issues related to national, international, and commercial topics. He is a career space and missile professional who retired from the Air Force in 2015 as a colonel. Before his second assignment to the Pentagon, he served as Deputy Commander, 821st Air Base Group, and deputy installation commander, Thule Air Base, Greenland, a remote facility 700 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Prior to that assignment, he served as the commander of the 22d Space Operations Squadron, responsible for operational direction of the eight worldwide remote tracking stations constituting the Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN). A native of Washington, DC, he has served as an ICBM operations officer and a satellite operations crew commander. He also served a remote assignment at the AFSCN site aboard U.S. Navy Support Facility Diego Garcia in the British Indian Ocean Territory.

Dr. David P. Auerswald – DOW

Press Operations — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 17:26:00 GMT

Dr. David P. Auerswald is Professor of Security Studies at the U.S. National War College (NWC) in Washington, DC. Since joining the NWC faculty in 2001, he has served as Acting Dean of Faculty, Associate Dean of Academic Programs, and as a Course Director for major portions of the NWC curriculum on five separate occasions. Dr. Auerswald previously served on the faculty of George Washington University’s Department of Political Science and the Elliott School of International Affairs. He has worked as a congressional staff member on three separate occasions. Dr. Auerswald received his Ph.D. and M.A. in political science from the University of California, San Diego, and undergraduate degrees in political science and English literature from Brown University.

Mr. Glenn Baek – Treasury Dept.

Press Operations — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 12:40:00 GMT

Mr. Glenn Baek is the National War College Treasury Chair and an Assistant Professor of National

Dr. Natalie D. Baker – DOW

Press Operations — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 15:03:00 GMT

Dr. Natalie D. Baker is an Associate Professor of Strategy at the National War College. Her main research focus is on the importance of social order and the re-establishment of a sense of normalcy within instances of disruption. Examples include large-scale crises like disasters and war. Past research provided empirical critiques of disaster preparedness and resilience concepts. She dispels social chaos mythologies in the context of large-scale crises, and the role of mediated popular culture (e.g., movies and mass media) in perpetuating misconceptions of human behavior. Specific instances of crises studied have been Hurricanes Katrina and Harvey, the 2014 Ebola situation in the US, the Covid-19 pandemic, and climate change. Another way she studies the re-establishment of order is through alternative forms of governance, such as what can be thought of as 'criminal insurgencies.' She has written on criminal factions in Brazil for Smal Wars Journal-El Centro, and journalist safety issues. Her most recent focus has been on the murder of reporters in Mexico. Baker also studies military culture and veteran trauma. Her forthcoming book is tentatively titled, Hellscapes.

CAPT Kenneth J. Boda – USCG

Press Operations — Sun, 04 May 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Captain Kenneth J. Boda is the Deputy Director of Marine Transportation Systems at U.S. Coast Guard

Dr. Mark A. Bucknam – DOW

Press Operations — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 18:16:00 GMT

Dr. Mark A. Bucknam is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force School of Advanced Airpower Studies, and in 1999 he was awarded a PhD in War Studies from King's College, University of London. He is the author of several journal articles on national security strategy and policy and of one book, Responsibility of Command, on the political-military dynamics behind decisions to use military force. Dr. Bucknam is a graduate of the National War College, Class of 2001, and is a member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies and of the Council on Foreign Relations (having spent a year as a Senior Military Fellow with the Council in Manhattan, New York, 2005-2006). In addition to overseeing the college’s research and writing programs, he teaches courses on nuclear weapons and national security, South Asia, and the global context. He has previously taught courses on foundations of strategy, the military instrument of power, memoirs in American foreign policy, and air power in modern war. He is also very interested in science and energy. Functional Expertise: Nuclear Weapons, Deterrence, Airpower, U.S. Security Policy and strategy Regional Expertise: South Asia

Dr. Robert E. Burnett – DOW

Press Operations — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 17:00:00 GMT

Dr. Robert E. Burnett is Professor of National Security Strategy and Policy in the National War

Dr. Colton C. Campbell – DOW

Press Operations — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 18:17:00 GMT

Colton C. Campbell is Professor of Security Studies at the National War College. His career includes senior roles in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, work as an analyst at the Congressional Research Service, and a faculty member at Florida International University. He has published several books on Congress and the lawmaking process, most recently Religion and Congress: The Intersection of Faith and Politics (Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2025)

COL Justin Considine – USA

Press Operations — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 16:40:00 GMT

Colonel Justin Considine, USA joined the NWC as a member of the military faculty in July 2024. He

Dr. Dylan Craig – DOW

Press Operations — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 15:00:00 GMT

Dr. Dylan Craig is a scholar of proxy wars, the intermediarization of violence more generally, and the "sovereign interstices" to which these intermediarized forms of violence are adapted; this is also the topic of his last book, "Sovereignty, War and the Global State" (Palgrave Macmillan, 2019). Before joining the NDU community in 2022, he taught security studies, colonial and Cold War history, and research methods at American University's School of International Service and at Rhodes University in South Africa. He holds an MA in Historical Studies from the University of Cape Town and a PhD in International Relations from American University. FUNCTIONAL EXPERTISE: Piracy, state-sponsored warfare, gray zone conflicts, state formation

Col Ryan A. F. Crowley – USAF

Press Operations — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Colonel Ryan A. F. Crowley, USAF, joined the National War College as military faculty in July 2025.

Mr. Matthew C. Frankel – CIA

Press Operations — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Mr. Matt Frankel has had a distinguished career in the intelligence community since joining the

COL Benjamin J. Fernandes, Ph.D. – USA

Press Operations — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Colonel Benjamin Fernandes, USA joined the National War College as military faculty in April 2025 following a tour as the Director for Defense Policy and Strategy at the National Security Council, Executive Office of the President. He earned a PhD in public policy from George Mason University, MS in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University, an MBA from Auburn, and a BS in International Relations with minors in Russian and Systems Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He is also an adjunct professor at GMU teaching a graduate course on National Security Technology and Policy and a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Col Brian Finnerty – ANG

Press Operations — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 16:00:00 GMT

Colonel Brian Finnerty, USAF, joined the National War College as the National Guard Chair and

Col Erik Fisher – USAF

Press Operations — Sun, 13 Aug 2023 16:00:00 GMT

Colonel Erik S. Fisher, USAF, joined the National War College as military faculty in July 2023. He

Col Jamila W. Fitzpatrick, Ph.D. – USAF

Press Operations — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Colonel Jamila Fitzpatrick joined the National War College faculty in June 2025. She recently served

Ms. Erin Fitzsimmons – NSA

Press Operations — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 17:00:00 GMT

Ms. Erin Fitzsimmons joined the National War College Interagency faculty from the National Security

CAPT Todd Glasser – USN

Press Operations — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 13:42:00 GMT

Captain Todd Glasser, USN, is a career Naval Aviator with extensive Sea Control, ISR,

Mr. James Goslee II – NGA

Press Operations — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 16:00:00 GMT

Col Jose Gutierrez – USAF

Press Operations — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 16:00:00 GMT

Colonel Gutiérrez del Arroyo is a faculty member at the National War College, Ft McNair, Washington

CAPT Stephen Johnson – USN

Press Operations — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 16:00:00 GMT

Captain Stephen Johnson is a native of Lynchburg, Virginia, and attended the Virginia Military

Dr. Amer Latif – OSW

Press Operations — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 16:00:00 GMT

Dr. S. Amer Latif is the OSD-Chair at National War College (NWC). Before coming to NWC, Dr. Latif

Mr. Robert D. Lee – DOS

Press Operations — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Rob joined the National War College faculty in November 2025. Prior to this assignment, he served as

COL Kurt A. Leffler – USA

Press Operations — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 17:00:00 GMT

After commissioning from the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School in 1997, COL Leffler served as a

Dr. Suzanne Loftus – DOW

Press Operations — Sun, 18 Aug 2024 16:00:00 GMT

Dr. Suzanne Loftus is Associate Professor of National Security Strategy at the National War College. She is also a Global Fellow and Member of the Advisory Council at the Kennan Institute. Prior to that, Suzanne worked as a professor at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Garmisch-Partenkirchen Germany. Suzanne specializes in post-Soviet studies, Russian foreign policy and identity, transatlantic security and great power competition. Her latest book, Russia, China and the West in the Post – Cold War Era: The Limits of Liberal Universalism (Palgrave, 2023), is an analysis of the inadvertent consequences of the pursuit of liberal hegemony as an American foreign policy in the post-Cold War years and the concomitant effects of the rise of civilizational states such as Russia and China on the international system.

Dr. Carter Malkasian – DOW

Press Operations — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 17:00:00 GMT

Dr. Carter Malkasian has extensive experience in conflict zones, especially Afghanistan and Iraq,

Dr. John Mark Mattox – DOW

Press Operations — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 16:10:00 GMT

Dr. John Mark Mattox is a Professor at the National War College, National Defense University,

Dr. Bradley J. McAllister – DOW

Press Operations — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 12:40:00 GMT

Dr. Bradley J. McAllister is a Professor of National Security Studies at the National War College

Dr. Dawn Murphy – DOW

Press Operations — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 14:15:00 GMT

Dr. Dawn Murphy joined the National War College as an Associate Professor of National Security Strategy in 2022. Prior to joining NWC, her academic appointments included Associate Professor of International Security Studies at Air War College, Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science at George Washington University, and Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the Princeton (Columbia)-Harvard China and the World Program at Princeton University. Murphy specializes in Chinese foreign policy and domestic politics, US-China relations, and international relations. Her research analyzes China’s interests and behavior as a rising global power towards the existing international order. She examines China’s relations with the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa in her book China’s Rise in the Global South: The Middle East, Africa, and Beijing’s Alternative World Order (Stanford University Press, 2022). It analyzes China’s foreign policy approach towards the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa regionally (e.g., political, economic, military, and foreign aid) and through detailed case studies of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF), the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), the China-Middle East Issues Special Envoy, the China-Africa Issues Special Envoy, China’s Special Envoy for Syria, China’s naval base in Djibouti, and China’s Belt and Road initiative. Dr. Murphy holds a B.S. in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University, Master of International Affairs from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, and Ph.D. in Political Science from George Washington University.

Mr. Paul Narain – DOS

Press Operations — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Mr. Paul Narain was the senior career diplomatic aide to the Secretary of State as Executive

CAPT Frank Okata – USN

Press Operations — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 16:00:00 GMT

Captain Frank Okata joined the National War College faculty as Commanding Officer of Singapore Area

Dr. Mariya Omelicheva – DOW

Press Operations — Fri, 03 Aug 2018 13:23:00 GMT

Dr. Mariya Y. Omelicheva is a Professor of Strategy at National War College with expertise in geopolitics, Russia’s foreign and security policy, regional security cooperation, and the crime-terror nexus in Eurasia. She is the author of multiple books and over a hundred of peer-reviewed articles. Dr. Omelicheva’s work bridges academia, military education, and public policy, and she has advised institutions such as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, the State Department, and congressional offices. Dr. Omelicheva holds a PhD (2007) in Political Science from Purdue University and JD in International Law (2000) from Moscow National Law Academy.

Dr. Jeffrey D. Peterson – DOW

Press Operations — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Dr. Jeffrey D. Peterson serves as a Professor of Security Studies to facilitate learning for

Col Christopher Prentiss – USAF

Press Operations — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 16:00:00 GMT

Colonel Christopher A. Prentiss, USAF, joined the National War College as military faculty in June

Mr. Mark Scheuer – DOE

Press Operations — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Col Michael Shreves – USAF

Press Operations — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 16:00:00 GMT

Colonel Michael Shreves, USAF, is the National Defense University Special Operations Forces (SOF)

Dr. Jason Smith – DOW

Press Operations — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 11:43:00 GMT

Dr. Jason Smith serves as a professor at the National War College, where he teaches courses on

COL Thomas Stevenson – USA

Press Operations — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 18:44:00 GMT

Colonel Thomas Stevenson, USA, received his commission in 1996 from the United States Military

Dr. Omer Taspinar – DOW

Press Operations — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 15:41:00 GMT

Dr. Omer Taspinar joined the faculty of the National War College in 2006. His focus is Political Economy, Europe, the Middle East and Turkey. Prior to joining the National War College he was a Foreign Policy Fellow and Director of the Turkey Program at the Brookings Institution. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). Taspinar has a Ph.D. and M.A. in European Studies and International Economics from SAIS and a B.A. in Political Science from Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey. He is the author of two books: “Political Islam and Kurdish Nationalism in Turkey” (Routledge, 2005) and “Fighting Radicalism with Human Development: Education, Employment, and Freedom in the Islamic World” (Brookings, forthcoming 2007)

Col Jon Waller – USAF

Press Operations — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 16:00:00 GMT

Colonel Jonathon C. Waller, US Air Force, joined the National War College as military faculty in

Dr. Robert B. Watts – DOW

Press Operations — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 16:07:00 GMT

Dr. R. B. Watts is a 1985 graduate of the Coast Guard Academy, Captain Watts served 26 years on active duty, including serving 6 sea tours with both Navy and Coast Guard which included commanding USCGC STEADFAST (WMEC 623) and serving as the Coast Guard liaison officer to the Chief of Naval Operations. A qualified Surface Warfare Officer and Cutterman, he holds an advanced degree from the Naval War College in Strategic Studies, and Master’s degrees from Old Dominion University in History, from American Military University in International Naval Studies, the Naval Post Graduate School in Homeland Security, and a PhD from the Royal Military College of Canada in War Studies. He has written extensively on sea power and contingencies in USNI Proceedings, the Naval War College Review and other professional journals, and most recently served as the Coast Guard Chief of Contingency Operations before retiring to take a professorship at the National War College, where he teaches courses in war and statecraft, domestic policy, homeland security, military history, and irregular warfare.

COL W. Seamas Whitesel – USA

Press Operations — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 16:00:00 GMT

U.S. Army COL Seamas Whitesel is an Instructor at the National War College, in the Department of

Col Daniel J. Wittnam – USMC

Press Operations — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 16:00:00 GMT

Colonel Dan Wittnam, is a career infantry officer and currently serves as the Marine Corps Chair and