My research and writing focus is primarily on geopolitically motivated violence and challenges to human security, specifically protection of civilians in their daily lives; how international civilian and military organizations negotiate their work in volatile circumstances; how timelines accelerated by cyberspace has increased the need for deeper analysis to avoid unintended consequences when making decisions on civ-mil interventions.  I am also interested in exploring a range of philosophical issues that help to better understand human behavior in violent situations and are relevant to real life geo-political issues and policy decision making processes driving civilian and military interventions.

• Redefining civilian-military roles in real and virtual space to support civilian security during complex crises and emergencies
• Examining challenges to the diffusion of human security strategies and interventions in regions emerging from political violence in the information age
• Examining the relationship between security and justice in countries and regions emerging from violence (focusing on legitimacy of institutions)
• Understanding tipping points between deterrence and provocation and relationship to civilian security and protection in real and virtual space
• Focusing on comparative regional interests:  North Africa/Middle East and Asia-Pacific especially North/South Korea, also peripherally on Latin America

This work builds upon earlier interdisciplinary research and fieldwork in Northern Ireland, Serbia, and South Africa to complete a doctorate examining perceptions of justice, identity, forgiveness and revenge in early post-conflict transitions, International Development, University of Oxford UK and a M.Sc. International Development, London School of Economics UK. Work on economies emerging from crisis (Eastern Europe, Northern Ireland) was completed for a B.A. in economics and government, Smith College U.S.A.

I am interested in expanding upon this research either independently or collaboratively by launching a much larger interdisciplinary, multi-institutional project that will potentially influence and contribute to policy making discussions on the intended and unintended effects of civilian and military interventions around the world. I especially enjoy exploring areas that initially appear to be unrelated to research questions but that often provide critical insights into complex problems.

My book “Negotiating Civil-Military Space, Redefining Roles in an Unpredictable World” was published in 2016 by Routledge.

Previously I worked with the Scholars Program, Center for the Study of Civil Military Operations (CSCMO), U.S. Military Academy, West Point; was a Visiting Scholar, United States Institute of Peace (2012); Public Policy Scholar, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Washington DC (2011); embedded Civilian Advisor with U.S. Forces Iraq Reconciliation Team and Military to Civilian transition (2009-2011) and received The Joint Civilian Service Commendation Award (with medal) for reconciliation activities in Iraq.