Justin Conrad

Justin Conrad serves as Department Head and Professor of International Affairs at the University of Georgia's School of Public and International Affairs. He also holds the position of Gary K. Bertsch Director of the Benson-Bertsch Center for International Trade and Security (formerly CITS) and maintains a joint appointment with the Savannah River National Laboratory since 2022. Conrad is an affiliate of UGA's Institute for Cybersecurity and Privacy and serves on the Editorial Board of Conflict Management and Peace Science.

Conrad received his Ph.D. from Florida State University and a master's degree from UCLA. His academic journey includes previous service as a professor of political science and public policy at UNC Charlotte. Conrad brings practical experience to his academic work as a former U.S. Navy officer and through his work in the international private sector.

Dr. Conrad is an internationally recognized expert in security studies with research focusing on nuclear security, energy security, interstate conflict, and terrorism. His work has been funded by prestigious organizations including the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Defense, and the Stanton Foundation. Conrad has developed and implemented specialized training programs for government officials and corporate audiences on counterproliferation, border security, and strategic trade management.

His scholarly output includes three influential books that examine risk in international conflict, militant competition dynamics, and statistical applications. Conrad's research has been published in top-tier journals including International Organization, the Journal of Politics, and the British Journal of Political Science, establishing him as a leading voice in international security studies.

Conrad's expertise is frequently sought by international media outlets, with his work appearing in or being cited by the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, National Interest, Diplomat, Slate France, Navy Times, and Voice of America. He is also a key researcher at the Resources and Conflict Project, a multi-university partnership examining environmental and natural resource determinants of violent conflict.

As an educator and administrator, Conrad leads the Department of International Affairs while continuing his research agenda. His practical experience in both military and private sectors informs his approach to training the next generation of security professionals. Conrad's work bridges academic theory and real-world security challenges, making significant contributions to both scholarly understanding and practical policy applications in international security.