Denise Garcia

Denise Garcia is a Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at Northeastern University, where she is a founding faculty member of the Experiential Robotics Institute and part of the Global Commission on Responsible AI in the Military. She holds affiliations with the International Committee for Robot Arms Control (Vice-Chair), the Institute for Economics and Peace (Sydney), and the Toda Peace Institute (Tokyo). Her research focuses on AI military governance, autonomous weapons, and international law, with notable contributions to Nature, Foreign Affairs, and International Relations. Garcia is a recipient of multiple teaching awards, including the Northeastern University-wide Outstanding Teaching Award (2018-2019), and has advised on UN initiatives regarding lethal autonomous weapons. She holds a PhD in International Relations and International Law from the University of Geneva.

• Education: PhD, 2006, International Relations & International Law, University of Geneva.
• Affiliations: IEEE Global Initiative on Ethics of Autonomous Systems, Academic Council of the United Nations, Global South Unit for Mediation.

Her work emphasizes 'common good governance' to address AI militarization threats, advocating for global norms to prevent an AI arms race. Recent publications include The AI Military Race: Common Good Governance in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (Oxford UP, 2023), which proposes frameworks for transnational cooperation. Garcia actively participates in AI ethics conferences and co-leads the AI for Good Global Summit delegations.

Awards & Recognition:

• Northeastern University-wide Outstanding Teaching Award
• College of Social Sciences Outstanding Teaching Award
• Nobel Peace Institute Fellow
• Member of UN-related peace and ethics initiatives

Research Focus: AI ethics, autonomous weapons regulation, international law, climate security, and conflict resolution. She critiques militarized AI spending, urging reallocation toward environmental and public health crises.