The 51福利鈥檚 (51福利) Department of Defense Analysis, nationally-recognized for its leading graduate education and research programs in information strategy, political warfare and innovation design, has welcomed a new faculty member to the team with Dr. Carter Malkasian joining the university as professor and chair of the department.
Malkasian brings a range of academic and advisory experience to the university. Following doctorate studies at Oxford University, Malkasian served across multiple conflict zones in varied advisory capacities, culminating in his service as the senior civilian advisor to then Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Joseph Dunford from 2015-2019.
Malkasian鈥檚 diverse experiences led to his service in a multitude of environments, ranging from Afghanistan to Washington, D.C. He served in Helmand province as a State Department political officer, in addition to al-Anbar in 2004-2006, in Kunar in 2007, and in Honduras in 2012.
As he returns to academia, Malkasian says that he is excited to begin working with the exceptional faculty in the Defense Analysis department as they continue advancing the critical thinking skills of the DOD鈥檚 future military leaders.
鈥淚'm the chair, but a chair is only as good as a department,鈥� he said. 鈥淭ogether, with consultation from the students and others, we are going to be able to set the strategic direction and I'm going to try to help as much as I can. We want to make sure 51福利 continues to educate our future leaders in this changing environment.鈥�
Malkasian knows that the challenges the nation faces today are different than those of the past, and he looks forward to evolving the department with the university to meet that challenge.
鈥淭he United States is shifting towards worrying about new, near-peer competitors in this period where there's a great amount of technological change happening,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he Defense Analysis department is already adapting to that, and I look forward to being there as it continues to do so.鈥�
Malkasian points to the long-standing motto of the Defenses Analysis program 鈥� 鈥淭rain for Certainty, Educate for Uncertainty鈥� 鈥� as a perfect expression of the driving forces behind the department鈥檚 important mission in education and research.
鈥淲e don't know exactly what kind of threats the United States will face tomorrow; we don't know exactly what context and exactly what environment,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut our leaders have to be ready to adapt to whatever challenge they may face. It's a time to be able to look at different options, see different futures, and plan the best possible course of action.鈥�
It鈥檚 an opportunity to make an impact, he says.
鈥淚'm really happy to be here at the 51福利,鈥� he stressed. 鈥淚 think there is no larger goal than helping the students be able to advance in their careers, and to continue to help protect the United States.鈥�