Department of International Security Studies

Published Sept. 11, 2024
Air War College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL

Department of International Security Studies

The Department of International Security Studies develops senior leaders who can evaluate today's complex, interdependent, and dynamic international system; develop and assess competing strategies for securing national objectives that integrate joint military, multinational, and multi-agency instruments of power; assess the context and content of the processes used in planning US national security policies; and be prepared to work effectively in the national security decision making arena. Our curriculum consists of two courses: Great Power Studies (GPS) and Regional Security Studies (RSS).

Col Eric Tramel, USAF, Department Chair
Advising and Research Interests: European Security Issues, Eurasian Security Issues, Nuclear Deterrence, Airpower's Role in Deterrence
Degrees: History, Masters in Public Administration, Masters in National Security Strategy in Europe and Eurasia, Masters in Security Studies
Email: eric.tramel@au.af.edu

Dr. Sean Braniff, Assistant Professor of International Security Studies, Deputy Department Chair
Advising and Research Interests: Political psychology, international relations theory, causes of war, power transitions, Middle East politics, qualitative research methodology
Degrees: PhD in Political Science (University of Notre Dame), MA in Political Science (University of Notre Dame), MA in Arab Studies (Georgetown University), BA in History (Brigham Young University – Idaho)
Experience: School of Advanced Air and Space Studies (Post-doctoral fellow), Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (Assistant Professor), Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies (Research Associate)
Email: sean.braniff@au.af.edu

Dr. Andrew "Andy" M. Akin, Associate Professor of International Security Studies, Director of the Russian Research Task Force
Advising Interests: Soviet and Post-Soviet Russian politics and security studies, civil wars, regime transitions.
Research Interests: Soviet Elites in Transition, Conflict in the Post-Soviet World, Social Network Analysis
Degrees: PhD, MA Political Science, University of Alabama; MS, International Relations, Troy University; BA, Political Science/Russian Language, Wabash College
Experience: Assistant Professor, International Security Studies, Air Command and Staff College; Assistant Professor, Global College of Professional Military Education
Email: andrew.akin@au.af.edu

Dr. Anna Batta, Associate Professor of International Security Studies
Advising Interests: Russian foreign policy, Eastern European politics, Former Soviet States, Ethnicity and conflict, Authoritarian regimes, Secessionist civil wars, State building, Balkans
Research Interests: Russian politics, Former Soviet States, Post-Communist studies, Civil Wars, Conflict management, Ethnic minorities, Politics of new states, Unrecognized states
Degrees: PhD, Political Science, Conflict Studies, University of North Texas; MPA Public Administration, University of Texas at Arlington; Honors BA Political Science, University of Texas at Arlington; Associate Degree, Public Administration College Budapest, Hungary
Experience: 2013-2014 Southern Methodist University, Adjunct Lecturer of Political Science; 2014-2015 Eckerd College, Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science; 2015-present Air War College, Assistant Professor of International Security Studies; Martin Heisler Graduate Student Research Paper Award ISA 2012; Language Program Liaison Air War College 2017-present
Email: anna.batta@au.af.edu

Dr. Stephen F. Burgess, Professor of International Security Studies
Advising Interests: African and Asian security issues, Peace and Stabilization Operations, and Weapons of Mass Destruction and US Grand Strategy and Foreign Policy Decision-making.
Research Interests: African and Asian security issues, Peace and Stabilization Operations, and Weapons of Mass Destruction.
Degrees: PhD, Michigan State University
Experience: Faculty member at the University of Zambia, University of Zimbabwe, Vanderbilt University, and Hofstra University
Email: stephen.burgess.1@au.af.edu

Dr. Chad Dacus, Associate Professor of International Security Studies, Director of the Cyber Research Task Force
Research Interests: Intellectual property theft, risk modelling, and the economics of cybersecurity.
Degrees: PhD in economics from Rice University, MS in Statistics from Texas A&M University
Experience: Before joining the Air War College, Dr. Dacus worked at the Air Force Cyber College, Air Force Research Institute and served as a Research Analyst and Fleet Forces Command Field Representative for the Center for Naval Analyses
Publications: “Defensive Industrial Policy: Securing the Industrial Base and Beyond,” “Designing Cybersecurity into Defense Systems: An Information Economics Approach,” and “China-US Relations: Moving Toward Greater Cooperation or Conflict.”
Email: chad.dacus@au.af.edu

Dr. Joshua R. Goodman, Assistant Professor of International Security Studies
Advising Interests: Civil-Military relations and executive branch politics; Irregular Warfare; Coercion and civilian victimization; Middle East politics and history; Saudi-Iran rivalry; Arab-Israeli Conflict.
Research Interests: Civil-military relations and strategic planning; Intragovernmental and Bureaucratic Politics; Irregular warfare; Civilian victimization; Middle East politics and history; Colonialism; Arab-Israeli Conflict; Persian Gulf and US Foreign Policy; Tribe-State relations; Internal security and combat effectiveness.
Degrees: PhD, Yale University, Department of Political Science; MA, Tel Aviv University, Department of Modern Middle East History; BA, Emory University, International Studies.
Experience: 2018-2020, Visiting Assistant Professor, Government Department, St. Lawrence University
Email: joshua.goodman.11@au.af.edu

Dr. Chris Hemmer, Professor of International Security Studies
Advising/Research Interests: American foreign policy, political psychology, and Middle East politics
Degrees: PhD, 1998, Department of Government at Cornell University with a specialty in international relations; BA, Political Science Major and Psychology Minor, State University of New York at Albany.
Publications: Which Lessons Matter? American Foreign Policy Decision Making in the Middle East, 1979-1987 (State University of New York Press, 2000), American Pendulum: Recurring Debates in U.S. Grand Strategy (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2015).
Email: christopher.hemmer@au.af.edu

Col Ryan “Rhino” Hill, PhD, Seminar Director
Advising Interests: Leadership, Operational Design, Alliances.
Research Interests: Alliances, International System Structure, Air Advising, Design, Leadership.
Degrees: PhD, Political Science, Vanderbilt University, MA, National Security & Strategic Studies, Naval War College, MMAS, Army School of Advanced Military Studies, MMAS, Air Command & Staff College, BS in Biology, US Air Force Academy.
Experience: A-10 & A-29 Instructor/Evaluator Pilot, 81st Fighter Squadron Commander, Air Advisor, Airborne Battalion Air Liaison Officer, Lead Operational Planner at United States Forces Korea, Professor of Leadership & Ethics at Naval War College.
Email: ryan.hill@au.af.edu

Dr. Jared Morgan McKinney, Assistant Professor of International Security Studies
Advising Interests: China, Theories of War and Peace, Ancient History, Deterrence, Taiwan and English School/Classical Realism
Research Interests: Deterring a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, periods of great power peace across world history, and Sino-American relations
Degrees: PhD, International Relations, BA, History, MA, International History, MS, Defense and Strategic Studies
Experience: Instructor, Assistant Professor, and then Chair, Strategy and Security Studies, Global College of Professional Military Education, Air University; Adjunct Professor, Defense and Strategic Studies, Missouri State University
Publications: “Broken Nest: Deterring China from Invading Taiwan” (co-authored with Peter Harris), Parameters (Winter 2021): 23-36; “The Scholar and the Ghost: Thucydides, China’s Rise, and Major Power War,” Journal of Contemporary China (2022); “Nothing Fails Like Success: The London Ambassadors’ Conference and the Coming of the First World War,” Journal of Strategic Studies (2018): 947-1000.
Email: jared.mckinney@au.af.edu

Col Jared "Shachi" Paslay, USAF, Instructor
Advising and Research Interests: Agile Combat Employment (and all joint/coalition variants), Contested Operations, Integrated Deterrence, Great Power Competition, Perceptions Management, Information Operations, Contested Command and Control, Contested Logistics, Mission Command, International Relations, Indo-Pacific Foreign Affairs.
Degrees: Military Strategy (Master of Philosophy), International Relations and Conflict Resolution (Master of Arts), Japanese (Associate of Arts), Biology (Bachelor of Science).
Experience: PACAF Agile Combat Employment Joint Integration Team Lead, Deputy Division Chief PACAF Strategy and Plans, Japan National Institute for Defense Studies, C-130J Flying Training Unit Squadron Commander, Wing Chief of Safety, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Mansfield Fellow, JASDF C-130 Instructor Pilot, USAF C-130 Instructor/Evaluator Pilot, Tohoku Disaster, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Joint Task Force Horn of Africa.
Email: jared.paslay@au.af.edu

Dr. David S. Sorenson, Professor of International Security Studies
Advising Interests: Middle East politics and security; American defense policy-making, including military base closure, defense budget politics, defense acquisition.
Research Interests: Middle East politics and security, including Middle East civil-military relations; American defense policy, defense economics
Degrees: PhD, Graduate School of International Studies, (now the Korbel School of International Studies), University of Denver, MA, BA, California State University at Long Beach.
Experience: 1973-1991: Auburn University at Montgomery, Adjunct Professor of Political Science and Public Administration, 1994 – 2000; Denison University, 1975-1991, Department of Political Science, instructor - full professor; (Department Chair, 1986-1989); Mershon Center, The Ohio State University, Senior Faculty Research Associate, 1981-1991; University of Colorado at Denver, Instructor, 1974-1975.
Email: david.sorenson@au.af.edu

Mr. Terry Steers-Gonzalez, State Department Chair to Air University, Instructor
Advising Interests: Diplomacy and uses of diplomatic power; foreign policy development and implementation; international law and norms; democracy and governance; the role of civil society; political-economy and trade; interagency functions; strategic communications and practical writing for senior leaders.
Research Interests: Foreign policy development and implementation; geo-economics; migration; strategic communications and practical writing; applied critical thinking; applied leadership.
Degrees: Juris Doctorate, Washington University School of Law, St. Louis, MO; Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, Washington, DC.
Experience: 2002-present: Officer Counselor, Foreign Service, U.S. Department of State. Key assignments: Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy Georgetown (Guyana); Political Counselor, U.S. Embassy Bogota (Colombia); Political Counselor, U.S. Embassy Islamabad (Pakistan); Political-Economic Counselor, U.S. Embassy Guatemala City (Guatemala); Iran Watcher, U.S. Consulate General Istanbul (Turkey); Political Internal Affairs Unit Chief, U.S. Embassy Islamabad (Pakistan); Deputy Public Affairs Counselor, U.S. Embassy Nicosia (Cyprus); and, Senior Colombia Desk Officer, Western Hemisphere Affairs Bureau (Washington, DC).
Email: steers-gonzalezt@au.af.edu

Dr. Ashly Townsen, Assistant Professor of International Security Studies, Great Power Studies Course Director
Advising Interests: Political Movements, Political Protest, Rebellion or Revolution, Psychology, Terrorism, Political and Violent Groups, African Politics, Peacekeeping Operations.
Research Interests: Subnational political violence and political behavior, usually involving experiments and/or spatial econometrics.
Degrees: PhD, Political Science, University of Illinois; BS Political Science, Sam Houston State University
Experience: 2015-18 Assistant Professor, Washington State University; 2018-current Assistant Professor, Air War College
Email: ashly.townsen@au.af.edu

Mr. Michael A. Van Horn, Defense Intelligence Chair to Air University, Instructor
Advising Interests: Indications and Warning; Operational Intelligence; the US Intelligence Community; intelligence collaboration and cooperation; intelligence ethics; intelligence oversight; the global threat environment, Joint Intelligence Planning.
Research Interests: Intelligence in war; U.S presidents and intelligence; warning analysis; homeland defense and global terrorism; naval and maritime strategy; Chinese and Russian military strategy.
Degrees: Master of Arts, University of Virginia; Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence, National Intelligence University; Master of Science in Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy, National Defense University; Bachelor of Science, United States Naval Academy.
Other Professional Military Education: USAF Air War College; College of Naval Command and Staff, Joint Forces Staff College.
Experience: 1979-2009, United States Navy; 2000-Present, Civilian (Intelligence). Key assignments: Navigator, USS HEPBURN (FF-1055); Intelligence Watch Officer, ASWOC Misawa; Wing Intelligence Officer, Reserve Patrol Wing, Atlantic; Joint Staff J2 Balkans Intelligence Task Force (1998-2000); Joint Staff Deputy Director for Intelligence (2000-2006); Iraq Survey Group, Baghdad (2003-2004); US Special Operations Command J2 Deputy Chief of Plans.
Certifications: Joint Specialty Officer; Joint Intelligence Planner (Level 1).
Email: michael.vanhorn.2@au.af.edu

Col Robert P. Vicars, PhD, Instructor
Degrees: PhD, Political Science, Baylor University; BS, Professional Aeronautics, Embry-Riddle University; MA, Theological Studies, Liberty University, Master of Military Arts and Sciences, Army School of Advanced Military Studies, Fort Leavenworth; Master of Strategic Arts, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL
Experience: Project lead for AETC’s Pilot Training Next Initiative, Bergstrom Airport, Austin, Texas, responsible for exploring the potential of current and emerging technologies in the context of USAF flight training. He has flown the F-16 in South Korea, as a Forward Air Controller-Airborne in Alaska, as well as in support of Operation Noble Eagle in Guam. He has also served in the Joint Operations Center, Combined Forces Command, Kabul, Afghanistan. He has joint service on staff at U.S. Pacific Command, as well as joint education at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Col Vicars is a command pilot with over 1,900 hours in the F-16 and T-38.
Email: robert.vicars@au.af.edu

Col Theresa Weems, USAF, Instructor
Education: MS in International Affairs from Troy University; an MS in Military Operational Art and Science from Air Command & Staff College, and a BA in Political Science from Northwestern University
Experience: 1995-1999: Supply & Fuels Officer; 2000-2008: KC-10 Pilot (Evaluator), Flight Safety Officer, Sq/DO; 2009-2011: Pol-Military Affairs Specialist (SAF/IA); 2011-2014: Chief of Wing Safety, Squadron/CC, and Wing IG; 2014-2016: Deputy Director, SECAF/CSAF EAG & speechwriter; 2016-2017: Air Force Fellow with George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies; 2017-2019: Operations Group Commander, Travis AFB. Col Weems has had multiple flying deployments for Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM, and IRAQI FREEDOM; counter-drug ground deployments to Quito, Ecuador and Bogota, Colombia; Internship with Department of State’s Political & Economics Department at U.S. Embassy, Santiago, Chile; over 3600 hrs in KC-10A; also flown C-5M and C-17.
Email: theresa.weems@au.af.edu