Christopher Penny

Christopher Penny is a Professor at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University, where he joined the faculty in 2004. He holds degrees from Trent University (BA), University of Ottawa (LLB), Carleton University (MA), and Cornell University (LLM). His academic work focuses on international legal principles governing the use of force, and he teaches graduate courses on international law, including specialized seminars on contemporary challenges, diplomacy, and military force regulation.

• BA (Trent University)
• LLB (University of Ottawa)
• MA (Carleton University)
• LLM (Cornell University)

Professor Penny has extensive practical experience in international law, having served as a reserve legal officer (Army Lieutenant-Colonel) with the Canadian Armed Forces. He participated in multilateral treaty negotiations, including the Convention on Cluster Munitions, and served as a legal advisor in Afghanistan and Libya. His research extends into the intersection of law, military operations, and international diplomacy.

In 2010, he was honored with the Meritorious Service Medal (Military Division) by the Governor-General of Canada for his contributions to the negotiation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions. His work emphasizes the application of legal frameworks to real-world conflicts and policy development.