Dr. John Riley
Senior Associate Dean & Professor of Political Science
Bio
John Riley is Professor of Political Science at the United States Air Force Academy. He received his Ph.D. in political science from the George Washington University. A recognized expert on security studies of later developing states, Dr. Riley has conducted rigorous field work in dozens of countries spanning across numerous continents. His more recent research interests have focused on disengagement of rebel groups, prevention of radicalization among refugees, and the use of private military contractors. Dr. Riley is an editor on American Defense Policy 9 (Johns Hopkins University Press), and his work has been published in such venues as Terrorism and Political Violence, Journal of Military Ethics, Armed Forces & Society, and the Wisconsin Journal of International Law.
Education
Ph.D. Political Science, Spring 2002, The George Washington University
Major Field: International Relations, Minor Field: Comparative Politics
M.Phil. Political Science, 1998 The George Washington University
B.A. 1992 Le Moyne College
Professional Experience
Academic Positions
2018-current Associate Professor, United States Air Force Academy
2015-2017 Assistant Professor, United States Air Force Academy
2013-2014 Distinguished Visiting Professor, United States Air Force Academy
2010-2015 Associate Professor, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
2002-2010 Assistant Professor, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
1999-2001 Assistant Professor, The George Washington University
Honors & Awards
Selected Awards
William H. Heiser Professor of the Year, Class of 2018
Team Award: DF Quarterly, 3rd Quarter 2019-202
Team Award: Social Science Division Annual, AY 2019-2020
Outstanding Academy Educator, US Air Force Academy, AY 2017-2018
Gilletti Award, Department of Political Science Service Award, AY 2017-2018
Coble Award for Outstanding Research, Department of Political Science, AY 2017-2018
Outstanding Upper Division Instructor, Political Science, AY 2015-2016
Coble Award for Outstanding Research, Political Science, AY 2013-2014
Research and Scholarly Interests
Security Studies, Fragile States, Human Rights, and Genocide/Mass Atrocities
Publications
Selected Publications
(co-editor with Miriam Krieger, Lynne Chandler Garcia, and William Atkins, American Defense Policy 9th edition Johns Hopkins University Press Forthcoming June 2021. Please see supporting documentation.
(co-authored with Mary Kate Schneider) “The Disengagement Puzzle: An Examination of the Calculus to Exit a Rebellion.” Terrorism and Political Violence Published online Forthcoming 32 no. 8 (2020).
(co-authored with Lynne Chandler Garcia) “Protecting Privacy in a Sexual Assault Prevention Program.” Colette Mazzucelli ed. The Ethics of Personal Data Collection in International Relations: Inclusionism in the Time of COVID-19 Anthem Press, Forthcoming Summer 2021. Please see supporting documentation.
(co-authored with Michael Gambone) “The New Veterans.” Journal of Military Ethics 20 no. 3 (2021).
(co-authored with Mary Kate Schneider) “Congressional Oversight of U.S. Intelligence” in Keith Logan ed. Homeland Security and Intelligence. Westport: Greenwood Publishing Group Westport, 2018.
(co-authored with Kristin Pearson, Lindsey Stimeling, and Mary Kate Schneider, “Escaping the LRA: An Examination of the Decision to Disengage from Militarized Dissident Groups.” African Security 10, no. 2 (Spring 2017).
(co-authored with Mario Schulz) “Shifting Norms: Development Policy and the Role of Security Sector Reform in Advancing Human Security.” Journal of Global South Studies 23, no. 1 (Spring 2016).
(co-authored with Michael Gambone) “Old Wounds, New Warriors: The Problem of Contractor Medical Care During and After Contemporary American Contingency Operations.” Armed Forces & Society (Spring 2016).
“Contracted Leadership: the Evolving Role of Private Contractors in the Military Command Structure.” Journal of Leadership & Character Integration 3, no. 1 (Spring 2015).
(co-authored with Michael Gambone and Robert Portada) “Security Sector Reform in South Sudan: Identifying Roles for Private Military and Security Companies.” Journal of Third World Studies 31, no. 2 (Fall 2014).
(co-authored with Michael Gambone) “The Year of the Rat: China’s Rise and the Importance of Private Military Corporations to Its Global Power.” Yale Journal of International Affairs 3, no 2 (Spring/Summer 2011).
Lem, Steve B., John Riley Jr., and Kristin Bremer. Kenya Democratization Survey Project, 2006. ICPSR32041-v1. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2011-10-13. http://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR32041.v1
(co-authored with Michael Gambone) “Men with Guns.” Wisconsin Journal of International Law 28/1 (Spring 2010).
(co-authored with Mary Kate Schneider) “Congressional Oversight of U.S. Intelligence” in Keith Logan ed. Homeland Security and Intelligence. Westport: Greenwood Publishing Group Westport, 2010.
Associate Editor. Political Handbook of the World 2007-2008. Washington D.C.: Congressional Quarterly, October 2006.
Associate Editor. Political Handbook of the World 2005-2006. Washington D.C.: Congressional Quarterly, November 2005.
(co-authored with Mathew J. Hoffmann) “The Science of Political Science: Linearity or Complexity in Designing Social Inquiry,” New Political Science 24 (2002).