Education

PhD, Political Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, 2006

MA, National Security Studies (With Distinction), Naval Postgraduate School, 1982

BS, Political Science, Oregon State University, 1975

Academic Administration

For three years, deputy division director of the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences at the U.S. Naval Academy. This position equates to the vice dean of a college at a major university. Supervised and evaluated five civilian department chairs with over 173 faculty. In that capacity, managed the day-to-day administration, travel, supply, and budget for the division that was in excess of a half a million dollars, which excluded faculty salaries. Chaired the standing committee on academic advising at USNA. Other significant academic administrative jobs included senior naval officer, US Air Force Academy, and Nationwide curriculum director for the NROTC seapower and naval history course.

Management

For two years commanded all naval patrol and reconnaissance forces in the Indian Ocean. Command of 250 personnel and patrol plane force. Handled sensitive military interoperability with and US naval access to littoral nations including Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Kenya, Somalia, Oman and Djibouti to name just a few. Directed reconnaissance and anti-submarine support for four different aircraft carrier battle groups when they operated in the Indian Ocean. Praised by the Fleet Commander as having “sparkling leadership and unsurpassed management skills.

Dissertation

“A Question of Balance: Strategic Culture and the Cold War” tests the hypothesis that strategic culture can form a lens for misperception of threats between adversaries. Structural realism explains a great deal of the standoff between the US and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, yet does not explain all of the interactions nor the demise of the USSR. Cultural variables particularly strategic culture can elucidate those lacunae in the explanatory power of realism. Strategic culture caused the USSR and the US to actually underestimate the threat/capability of its respective adversary in several cases. Although neorealism explains most of the Cold War’s interaction, strategic culture as an explanatory variable can provides a more nuanced understanding of the mechanisms of arms races than can just the security dilemma.

Teaching Interests

International Relations, International Organizations, Russian Politics, Revolutions and Terrorism, American Government, American Political Thought, The US Congress, U.S. Foreign Policy, Political Behavior and Public Opinion, National Security Policy,

Teaching Experience

University of Northern Colorado. 2008-Present: Assistant Professor of Political Science:

PSCI 100 - U.S. National Government

PSCI 200 - Introduction to Comparative Politics

PSCI 320 – U.S. Foreign Policy

PSCI 321 – War and Peace

PSCI 425 – Problems in International Relations

University of Colorado, Boulder 2000-2008: Lecturer

IAFS 1000 – Introduction to International Affairs & Global Issues. (2 semesters)

IAFS 4500 – The Post Cold War World

POLSCI 3054 - American Political Thought (3 semesters)

POLSCI 2223 - Introduction to International Relations

POLSCI 3123 – War, Peace and Strategic Defense

POLSCI 4173 - International Organizations (4 semesters)

POLSCI 3191 - National Security Organization and Policy Making (2 semesters)

POLSCI 1101 - American Government (2 semesters)

POLSCI 3041 - The U.S. Congress (2 semesters)

POLSCI 3051 - Public Opinion and Political Behavior

ARSC 3700 - McNair Scholars Program Research Methods

US Air Force Academy 1993-1998: Assistant Professor of Political Science.

PS211 - American Government and Constitutional Development (Taught 6 semesters and course directed for 850 students for 1 semester.) Co-authored a study guide for the American Government course, printed by Kendall Hunt, used for 1000 American Government students per year for three years.

PS212/312- International Relations

PS477- Middle East Politics

PS421- International Security, Revolution and Terrorism

PS495- Russian National Security Policy

HIST372- Naval History

US Naval Academy 1990-1993: Master Instructor of Political Science.

FP130- American Government and Constitutional Development

FP322- Comparative Politics of Western Europe

FP340- Government and Politics of the Soviet Union

FP347- Soviet Foreign Policy

FP486B- National Security Policy of the Soviet Union

Central Texas College 1989-1990: Instructor, Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory.

GOVT2301- American State and Federal Government (1 semester)

HIST1302- US History Since 1877 (1 semester)

University of Colorado, Boulder 1984-1987: Assistant Professor of Naval Science. Taught NS212-Seapower and Maritime affairs/Naval History and NS101 Naval Orientation. Nationwide Curriculum Coordinator for the NROTC Sea power course, Nationwide NROTC outstanding teacher award. Taught a one-hour freshmen colloquium (Sewell Hall) in Current Topics in National Security Affairs.

1985-1987 & 1990-1993: Instructor, NROTC Instructor Seminar, Naval Training Center, San Diego CA. Taught teaching methods and NROTC curriculum and participated as a practice teaching evaluator at this three week summer course for Officers enroute to all NROTC units as new faculty.

Recent Awards and Fellowships

· The Last Sentry selected as one of twenty “most notable” books for 2005 by U.S. Navy Foundation.

· 2001-2002 Graduate Teaching Excellence Award

· Fall 2002 Political Science Department Graduate Fellowship award

Publications

The Last Sentry: The True Story that Inspired the Hunt for Red October. With Nate Braden. Annapolis MD: US Naval Institute Press, 2005.
“The Hidden Cost of the Cold War: Families of Russian Sub Casualties Need Help.” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings. Vol. 131:4 (April 2005)

· Master's Thesis: “Mutiny on the Storozhevoy: a Case Study of Dissent in the Soviet Navy” received national acclaim. Government Publication # DTIC 32086784. This Study was the basis for Tom Clancy's best selling book The Hunt of Red October.

Conference Presentations

· “Admiral Guven Erkaya: A Naval Hero in War, A Hero for Democracy in Peace.” Paper presented at the 2007 Naval History Symposium, Annapolis MD, September 20-22, 2007.

· “Why the U.S. Can’t Win the War on Terror.” Paper presented at the annual meeting of the international security and arms control division of the International Studies Association (ISA), Denver, Colorado, October 2005.

· “The Realist Cultural Dilemma: How Tom Clancy got it Wrong.” Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association (APSA), Washington DC, September 2005

· “The Cold War Arms Race: A Dilemma of Security or Culture?” Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association (APSA), Boston MA, September 2002

· “The Nuclear Arms Race: The Misperception of Culture.” Paper presented at the Midwest Political Science Association Convention, Chicago IL, April 2002

· “The Cold War Arms Race: Security Dilemma or Strategic Culture.” Paper presented at the International Studies Association Convention, New Orleans LA, March 2002

· “Caught in the Middle: Are Moderate Supreme Court Justices More influenced by Public Opinion than the Extremists.” Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, Il, Apr 2001

· “Morale in the Russian Navy, A Comparative Approach.” American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies, Seattle WA, November 1997

· “The Indian Navy, A New Challenge in the Indian Ocean” Colorado/Wyoming Political Science Association. Regis College, Denver CO, November 1995

Research Experience

University of Colorado, Boulder

-Lead Research Assistant for Prof. Scott Adler under NSF grant #SES-0080061 on Congressional Bill Introductions. Constructed a data set for all bills introduced into the US Congress from 1946 to 1970, over 250,000 bills. Supervised as many as twelve undergraduate and graduate research assistants on a four-year project.

Administration, Committees and Service

-University of Colorado, Boulder:

- Advisor McNair Scholars Program

American Politics Search and Hiring Committee

- APSA Preparing Future Faculty Fellow

- Journal of Politics Review May 01

- Conference on World Affairs Moderator and International Affairs Committee

- NROTC ethics and leadership instructor

-US Air Force Academy:

- Commander, Naval Contingent, USAFA

- Coordinator, Distinguished Speakers Program

- Public Affairs Speakers Program

- Political Science Comparative Politics Hiring Committee

-US Naval Academy: In addition to the following administrative responsibilities, served on numerous yardwide committees and Boards and participated in numerous collateral activities to include:

- Executive Assistant to the Dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences

- Core Curriculum Review Committee

- Standing Committee on Midshipman Advising

- Teaching Excellence Award Committee

- Advisor Political Science Honor Society

- Political Science Department Olin Foundation Committee Chair

- Political Science Department Hiring Committee (Interviewed 45 applicants at 1992 APSA convention in Chicago)

US Navy Career Progression

1975 Commissioned Ensign USN, NROTC Oregon State University

1975-1976 Naval Aviation Training

1976-1977 Air Force Navigation School, Honor Graduate Mar 1977

1977-1980 Patrol Squadron 19 NAS Moffett Field CA- Personnel Officer, Ops/Tactics Officer. Qualified as Mission Commander in the P-3 Orion aircraft.

1980-1982 Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey CA.

1982-1984 Patrol Wing One Detachment NAS Cubi Point, RP -Operations Officer

1984-1987 NROTC Unit University of Colorado- Assistant Professor of Naval Science

1987-1988 Student, Patrol Squadron 31/Fleet Replacement Squadron

1988-1989 Patrol Squadron 4- Tactics and Training Officer, Second tour as Mission Commander

in the P-3 Aircraft.

1989-1990 Commander Patrol Wing One Detachment Diego Garcia-Commander Indian Ocean Air Patrol Group/CTG 72.8. Commanded a detachment of 120 sailors, directed all US Navy patrol and reconnaissance operations in the Indian Ocean.

1990-1993 U.S. Naval Academy- Associate Chairman Political Science Department (1 year), Executive Assistant to the Director of the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences (2 years). Master Instructor of Political Science

1993-1998 U.S. Air Force Academy- Assistant Professor of Political Science

Commander Naval Contingent US Air Force Academy

Professional Qualifications and Organizations

· Member, Pi Sigma Alpha, Political Science Honor Society

· Member, American Association of Slavic Studies

· Member, American Political Science Association

· Sub specialist Political Military Affairs/Strategic Planning, U.S. Navy

· Sub specialist Training and Education Management U.S. Navy

· Qualified as P-3 Mission Commander, TACCO NATOPS Evaluator/ Instructor

· Qualified as Project Beartrap Mission Commander P-3 Aircraft

Military Awards

· Meritorious Service Medal

· Navy Commendation Medal (4 awards)

· Numerous unit awards

· Leo G. Codding Award for outstanding NROTC instructor