Dr. Ryan Burke

Deputy Department Head - Curriculum
Research Director, Homeland Defense Institute

Dr. Ryan Burke is an Associate Professor and Deputy Department Head (Curriculum) in the Department of Military & Strategic Studies (MSS) at the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA). He is a two-term (2019-2020; 2020-2021) Non-Resident Fellow with the Modern War Institute at West Point, where he is also the Co-Director of Project 6633. Ryan is also an Affiliate Faculty member with the University of Alaska – Fairbanks (UAF) College of Business and Security Management's Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management as well as the UAF Center for Arctic Security and Resilience. Additionally, he is the Research Director for the Homeland Defense Institute (HDI) within USAFA's Institute for Future Conflict (IFC). As Deputy Department Head for Curriculum in MSS, Dr. Burke oversees the design and implementation of 26 MSS courses taught to over 2,000 students per year. He teaches courses on international security studies, international power projection, strategy in the Americas, and other contemporary military and defense issues. In addition, he is the 2021 recipient of USAFA's William H. Heiser Award for Outstanding Senior Faculty Educator and the 2021 recipient of USAFA's Robert F. McDermott Award for Faculty Research Excellence in the Social Sciences.

Ryan received his USAFA appointment after completing a Department of Defense-funded post-doctoral research fellowship in the University of Delaware's Joseph R. Biden School of Public Policy and Administration. He also earned his Ph.D. from the Biden School where – in addition to teaching undergraduate public policy courses – he served as a University Research Fellow during his final year. Ryan's research emphasizes military strategy and defense policy across the spectrum of conflict. His research is currently funded by the DOD Minerva Research Initiative and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. He has completed other funded projects via the Strategic Studies Institute; the Department of Homeland Security; and the US Marine Corps. Ryan has authored, co-authored, or edited greater than 50 publications to date, including multiple monographs focused on defense policy; journal articles; book chapters; conference papers; technical reports; winning essays in national competitions; and various policy pieces for public venues. His latest book, The Polar Pivot: Great Power Competition in the Arctic and Antarctica is forthcoming with Lynne Rienner Publishers (fall 2021). He is also the chief editor of Military Strategy, Joint Operations, and Airpower: An Introduction (Georgetown University Press, 2018) and is an opinion contributor to The Hill on national security matters. Ryan has been interviewed, quoted, or otherwise featured on TV and in print with Fox News, NBC News, ABC, Business Insider, USA Today, the Weekendavisen (Denmark), and other media outlets. He is also a Council Member for the American Political Science Association (APSA) International Security Section; serves as a peer-reviewer for multiple journals and presses; and consults for the Department of Defense and other entities on a variety of matters.

Prior to his academic pursuits, Ryan was a U.S. Marine Corps officer where he served as a platoon commander, operations officer, and company commander during his fleet tour. He then served as the Deputy Marine Officer Instructor at the University of Pennsylvania's Naval ROTC unit teaching naval science courses. After leaving the Marines, he worked as a Senior Consultant and Defense Analyst for Booz Allen Hamilton supporting Department of Defense projects in the Pentagon and with the Marine Corps Combat Development Command in Quantico, VA. He earned his bachelor's from Penn State University – where he attended on a Marine-Option Naval ROTC scholarship – and his master's from Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia prior to earning his doctorate at the University of Delaware.

Ryan will be on sabbatical from USAFA for the 2021-2022 academic year pursuing a Masters of Public Administration at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge, MA.

Education

Ph.D., University of Delaware, Newark, DE.

M.S., Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA.

B.A., Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.

Professional Experience

Academic Positions and Affiliations:

Research Director, Homeland Defense Institute, USAFA Institute for Future Conflict, USAF Academy, CO (2021-Present)

Co-Director, Project 6633, Modern War Institute, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, West Point, NY (2021-Present)

Affiliate Faculty, University of Alaska – Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK (2021-Present)

Associate Professor, U.S. Air Force Academy, USAF Academy, CO (2018-Present)

Assistant Professor, U.S. Air Force Academy, USAF Academy, CO (2015-2018)

Post-Doctoral Researcher, University of Delaware, Newark, DE (2015)

Instructor, University of Delaware, Newark, DE (2015)

University Research Fellow, University of Delaware, Newark, DE (2014-2015)

Research Assistant, University of Delaware, (2013-2014)

PhD Student/Candidate, University of Delaware, Newark, DE (2012-2015)

Adjunct Instructor, Wilmington University, New Castle, DE (2012-2015)

Naval Science Instructor, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (2010-2011)

Professional / Military Experience:

Senior Consultant, Booz Allen Hamilton, Pentagon / Quantico, VA (2011-2012)

Deputy Marine Officer Instructor, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (2010-2011)

Company Commander, LS Co, CLR 27, 2D MLG, Camp Lejeune, NC (2009-2010)

Operations Officer, LS Co, CLR 27, 2D MLG, Camp Lejeune, NC (2009)

Platoon Commander, LS Co, 2nd Plt, Camp Lejeune, NC (2008-2009)

Military Training:

USAF Arctic Survival School (research participant-observer) (2021)

USMC Logistics Officer Course (2008)

USMC Basic Officer Course (The Basic School) (2007-2008)

USMC Officer Candidates School (2006)

USMC Mountain Warfare School (2005)

Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps, Penn State, Marine-option scholarship, (2003-2007)

Honors & Awards

William H. Heiser Award for Outstanding Senior Faculty Educator (top professor award; cadet voted), USAFA (2021)

Robert F. McDermott Award for Faculty Research Excellence in the Social Sciences, USAFA (2021)

Top 10 Nominee, William H. Heiser Award, (2021)

Department of Defense, Minerva Research Initiative – Defense Education and Civilian University Research (DECUR) Partnership, “Foreign Military Training: Building Effective Armed Forces in Weak States,” $382,897 (2020-2022)

Non-Resident Fellow, Modern War Institute at West Point, (2019-2020; 2020-2021)

Air Force Office of Scientific Research, “The Polar Pivot: Great Power Competition in the Arctic and Antarctica,” $19,358 (2020-2021)

Top 10 Nominee, William H. Heiser Award, (2020)

Air Force Institute of Technology, “Assessing Anti-Ballistics Capabilities of Non Newtonian Fluids and Composites,” $100,000 (2018-2020)

Top 10 Nominee, William H. Heiser Award, (2019)

Erwin E. Bleckley and Harold E. Goettler Outstanding Instructor in Military and Strategic Studies, U.S. Air Force Academy (2018-2019)

Selected Participant, Columbia University Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies, Summer Workshop on Analysis of Military Operations and Strategy (SWAMOS), Hosted at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (2018)

Co-Inventor, U.S. Patent Application No. #62477355 (Air Force Invention Number AFD-1643), Soft Anti-Ballistics Composite Armor (with Hayley Weir). Patent Pending.

Outstanding Academy Educator, U.S. Air Force Academy (2017-2018)

Department of Homeland Security, Science and Technology Directorate, Center of Innovation, “Assessing Anti-Ballistics Capabilities of Non Newtonian Fluids and Aramid Fiber Composites,” $14,500 (2017)

Selected Participant, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, Phillip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies Basin Harbor Teachers’ Workshop, Basin Harbor, VT (2017)

United States Marine Corps Systems Command, “Assessing Anti-Ballistics Capabilities of Non Newtonian Fluids and Fiber Composites,” $7,000 (2016-2017)

Allen E. Dorn Award, U.S. Air Force Academy, Outstanding Researcher of the Year (2016-2017)

Department of Defense, Postdoctoral Fellowship, Strategic Studies Institute – External Research Associates Program, “Investigating the Benefits and Drawbacks of Realigning the National Guard under the Department of Homeland Security,” $29,248, (2015)

University Dissertation Fellowship, University of Delaware. $36,000 (2014–2015)

Winning Essay, Annual Essay Competition, Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) (2014)

Winning Essay, Graduate Student Case Study Competition, American Society for Public Administration (ASPA), Center for Accountability and Performance (2014)

Department of Defense, Strategic Studies Institute – External Research Associates Program, “Towards a Unified Military Response: Hurricane Sandy and the Dual Status Commander,” $18,000 (2013-2014)

Department of Defense, Strategic Studies Institute – External Research Associates Program, “Maturing Defense Support of Civil Authorities through the Lens of Process Improvement,” $18,000 (2013-2014)

Academic Merit Scholarship, Biden School of Public Policy and Administration, University of Delaware (2013)

Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2011)

Homeland Security Award (top overall graduate), Criminal Justice and Public Safety Institute, College of Arts and Sciences, Saint Joseph’s University (2011)

Alpha Epsilon Lambda, National Graduate Honor Society (2011)

Alpha Phi Sigma, National Criminal Justice Honor Society (2007)

Honor Graduate, USMC Officer Candidates School (2006)

General Society of the War of 1812 Outstanding ROTC Student Award (2005)

Research and Scholarly Interests

Polar Region defense and security

Security Force Assistance in the Middle East, Asia, and the Sahel

Defense policy and law

Defense support of civil authorities

Foreign humanitarian assistance / disaster response

Transportation logistics and infrastructure

Publications

BOOKS:

Ryan Burke, The Polar Pivot: Great Power Competition in the Arctic and Antarctica, (Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2021).

Ryan Burke, Michael Fowler, & Kevin McCaskey, Eds. Military Strategy, Joint Operations, and Airpower: An Introduction. (Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, 2018). ISBN: 9781626166233.

Ryan Burke and Sue McNeil, Investigating the Benefits and Drawbacks of Realigning the National Guard Under the Department of Homeland Security, (Carlisle: U.S. Army War College Press, 2016). Strategic Studies Institute. ISBN 1-58487-730-8.

Ryan Burke and McNeil, Sue, Towards a Unified Military Response: Hurricane Sandy and the Dual Status Commander, (Carlisle: U.S. Army War College Press, 2015). Strategic Studies Institute. ISBN 1-58487-677-8.

Ryan Burke and Sue McNeil, Maturing Defense Support of Civil Authorities and the Dual Status Commander through the Lens of Process Improvement, (Carlisle: U.S. Army War College Press, 2015). Strategic Studies Institute. ISBN 1-58487-673-5.

DISSERTATION:

Burke, Ryan, “The Dual Status Commander and Hurricane Sandy: Maturing Military Response With Process Improvement,” (July 2015) Proquest, #3718321, Dissertation. Proquest LLC, Ann Arbor, MI.

PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLES:

Burke, Ryan and Olivia Cretella, “Towards a Strategic Value Proposition: Redefining 21st Century Defense Priority Assessments,” Over the Horizon Journal, April 2021.

Burke, Ryan, “The Uncommon Defense Policy: History, Evolution, and Future Directions.” Journal of Policy History, 33(2): 205-229, April 2021.

Burke, Ryan and Jahara Matisek, “The Illogical Logic of American Entanglement in the Middle East.” Journal of Strategic Security, 13(1): 1-25. March 2020.

Matisek, Jahara and Ryan Burke, “The 'Goldilocks Zone' of War and Peace,” Journal of Character and Leadership Development, 7(1): 112-123. February 2020.

Burke, Ryan and Jahara Matisek, “The American Polar Pivot: Gaining a Comparative Advantage for the 21st Century Great Power Competition,” Marine Corps University Journal., 10(2): 70-91. October 2019.

Burke, Ryan, “Challenging Command and Control: A Rejoinder to Anonymous Commentary,” International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters, 37(2): 130-137. August 2019.

Burke, Ryan, “Command and Control: Challenging Fallacies of the ‘Military Model’ in Research and Practice,” International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters, 36(2): 149-178. September 2018.

Burke, Ryan, “Lessons from Katrina: Commanding the Military during Disaster Response – Then and Now,” International Journal of Emergency Management, 12(3): 221-240. September 2016.

Burke, Ryan, “Same Objectives, Different Perspectives: Assessing the Civil-Military Culture Gap in Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Response”, Peace and Stability Journal, Volume 4, Issue 3, May 2014, pp. 16-24, Peace Keeping and Stability Operations Institute: Carlisle Barracks, PA.

BOOK CHAPTERS:

Burke, Ryan, “Operational Design: One Method of Reconciling Ends, Means, and Ways” in Military Strategy, Joint Operations, and Airpower: An Introduction. Ch. 3., pp. 33-53. Georgetown University Press. Eds: Ryan Burke, Mike Fowler, Kevin McCaskey. September 2018.

Burke, Ryan, “Expanding DoD Missions and Mission Creep” in Military Strategy, Joint Operations, and Airpower: An Introduction. Ch. 19., pp. 245-260. Georgetown University Press. Eds: Ryan Burke, Mike Fowler, Kevin McCaskey. September 2018.

Burke, Ryan, “Conclusion” in Military Strategy, Joint Operations, and Airpower: An Introduction. pp. 306-310. Georgetown University Press Eds: Ryan Burke, Mike Fowler, Kevin McCaskey. September 2018.

Burke, Ryan, “Preface and Acknowledgements” in Military Strategy, Joint Operations, and Airpower: An Introduction, pp. xi-xv. Georgetown University Press, 2018. Eds: Ryan Burke, Mike Fowler, Kevin McCaskey.

McNeil, Sue, Trimbath, Susanne, Atique, Farzana, and Burke, Ryan, “Predictive Analytics for Infrastructure Performance,” in Organizational Productivity and Performance Measurements Using Predictive Modeling and Analytics. September 2017, Ch. 1., pp. 1-16. Eds: Madjid Tavana, Kathryn Szabat, and Kartikeya Puranam. DOI: 10.4018/978-1-5225-0654-6.ch001.

NATIONAL COMPETITIONS – WINNING ESSAYS:

Burke, Ryan, “Out with the Old, In with the New: Embracing Dual Status Commanders in the Future of Homeland Defense and Security,” Homeland Security Digital Library, Annual Essay Competition Issue, June 2014, pp. 11-20, Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security: Monterey, CA.

Burke, Ryan, “Measuring NORTHCOM: Performance Measurement in Civil Support and Homeland Defense,” ASPA Center for Accountability and Performance WordPress Online, Presented at the American Society for Public Administration Annual Conference, March 2014, Washington, D.C.

CONFERENCE PAPERS:

Reno, Will and Ryan Burke, “Uniformed NGOs: Contradictions of Foreign Military Training,” Conference Proceedings for the International Studies Association (ISA) 2021 Annual Conference, Las Vegas, NV. April 2021.

Burke, Ryan, “Defense Policy in Teaching and Scholarship: Necessary Yet Neglected,” Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management (APPAM) Fall Research Conference, Denver, CO. November 2019.

Burke, Ryan and Jahara Matisek, “The American Polar Pivot: Gaining a Comparative Advantage in Great Power Competition,” International Studies Association (ISA) International Security Studies Section (ISSS) Conference, University of Denver, Denver, CO. October 2019.

Burke, Ryan “Command and Control: Challenging Fallacies of the ‘Military Model’ in Humanitarian Intervention,” International Security Studies Section (ISSS) Annual Conference, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. November 2018.

McNeil, Sue, Farzana Atique, Ryan Burke, Susanne Trimbath, “Using the Transportation Performance Index to Understand the Impact of Regional Plans,” Transportation and Development Institute Congress, pp. 641-648. June 2014.

Burke, Ryan, “Measuring NORTHCOM: Performance Measurement in Civil Support and Homeland Defense,” American Society for Public Administration National Conference. Washington, DC. March 2014.

TECHNICAL REPORTS:

Burke, Ryan, “Geography Matters: Key Interests in Future Global Competition and Conflict, ”Department of Defense, Joint Staff Strategic Multilayer Assessment (SMA) Future of Great Power Competition & Conflict Project, April 2019.

McNeil, Sue, Atique, Farzana, Burke, Ryan, Yin, Hong, and Adu-Gyamfi, Yaw, “Better State-of-Good-Repair Indicators for the Transportation Performance Index,” Final Report, Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation, Report No. CAIT-UTC-008, July 2014, pp. 1-47.

McNeil, Sue, Atique, Farzana, Burke, Ryan, Yin, Hong, Adu-Gyamfi, Yaw, and Trimbath, Susanne, “Updating the Transportation Performance Index: Technical Report,” US Chamber of Commerce, 2014, Washington DC.

McNeil, Sue, Susanne Trimbath, and Farzana Atique, Ryan Burke, “TPI Update 2013: Data for 2010, 2011,” Final Report to US Chamber of Commerce. 2014

POLICY COMMENTARY:

Burke, Ryan and Buchanan, Elizabeth, “Adapting to the Cold, Hard Facts of Polar Security: Advice for the Biden Administration,” Modern War Institute, January 26, 2021.

Jacoby, Charles and Burke, Ryan, “Russia, China, and the Facts of Polar Security,” Modern War Institute, January 7, 2021.

Buchanan, Elizabeth and Burke, Ryan, “Strategy and Competition at the Ends of the Earth,” Modern War Institute, January 6, 2021.

Buchanan, Elizabeth and Burke, Ryan, “Introducing “Project 6633″—A Program On Arctic and Antarctic Security,” Modern War Institute, January 5, 2021.

Burke, Ryan, “The Hidden Dangers in Biden’s Foreign Policy,” Defense One, December 7, 2020.

Burke, Ryan and Jahara Matisek, “Can the Illogical Inertia of American Involvement in the Middle East be Broken?” Real Clear Defense, July 17, 2020.

Burke, Ryan, “Trump Could Use the Military to Restore Calm – and Advance his Political Agenda,” The Hill, June 4, 2020.

Burke, Ryan, “Trump's 'super duper' missile is super duper necessary,” The Hill, May 19, 2020.

Burke, Ryan, “Great-Power Competition in the 'Snow of Far-Off Northern Lands': Why We Need a New Approach to Arctic Security,” Modern Ware Institute, April 8, 2020.

Burke, Ryan, “The 'War' on COVID-19 Doesn't Mean Military Lockdown,” The Hill, March 20, 2020.

Burke, Ryan, “Trump's Interest in Greenland is a Wakeup Call about Arctic Influence,” The Hill, August 27, 2019.

Burke, Ryan, “The ‘Trump Card’: Using the Insurrection Act at the Border,” The Hill, June 5, 2019.

Burke, Ryan, “Defend or Depart: Ambiguity Jeopardizes U.S. Border Mission,” The Hill, May 3, 2019.

Burke, Ryan, “Trump’s National Emergency: The Writing Was on the Wall,” The Hill, February 21, 2019.

Burke, Ryan and Jahara Matisek, “Executive Orders and Troops on the Border: Political Norms and the Securitization of American Problems,” Modern War Institute, February 15, 2019.

Burke, Ryan, “No Border Wall Money May Mean More Border Troops,” The Hill, December 20, 2018.

Burke, Ryan, “Trump Chooses Words Carefully Regarding Border – for a Reason,” The Hill, December 2, 2018.

Burke, Ryan, “What the Armed Forces Can, Can’t, and Might Do at the Border,” Modern War Institute, November 20, 2018.

UNDER REVIEW:

“The Polar Trap: America’s Bi-Polar Power Problem.” (with Jahara Matisek), submitted to Defense and Security Analysis, December 2020.

“Trumping Tradition: How Old Laws Enable New Presidential Norms” (with Jahara Matisek), submitted to Journal of National Security Law and Policy, December 2020.

“The Strategic Brain Drain: Securing Intellectual Advantage in Strategic Competition” submitted to Parameters, March 2021.

PODCASTS:

Modern War Institute Podcast, “Survival at the Top of the World,” Host, April 2021

Modern War Institute Podcast, “Special Operations in the High North,” Host, April 2021

Modern War Institute Podcast, “Security in the High Latitudes,” Guest, January 2021

Modern War Institute Podcast, “What Can the US Military do to Support the Covid-19 Response?” Guest, March 2020

MEDIA APPEARANCES:

University of Delaware Daily (UDaily), ”Public Policy Excellence”

Weekendavisen, “The High Voltage North”

NBC News, “Cuomo Calls for Construction of Field Hospitals to Combat Coronavirus Crisis.”

Fox News Channel, Special Report with Brett Baier

Fox News Channel, America’s Newsroom