Lawrence Rubin

Lawrence Rubin is an Associate Professor at the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, Georgia Institute of Technology. He specializes in Middle East politics, international security, nuclear proliferation, and the intersection of religion and political ideology. His work spans both academic and policy-oriented research, with a focus on ideational threats, counter-terrorism, and emerging technologies. He is a co-director of the Georgia Tech DC Program and an associate fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

• PhD in Political Science from UCLA (2009)
• Degrees from University of Oxford, London School of Economics, and UC Berkeley

His research explores how political ideologies influence security dynamics, particularly in the Middle East. He examines nuclear proliferation, state responses to Islamic movements, and the implications of space and quantum technologies for global security. Recent articles highlight trends in Middle East space races, digital authoritarianism via 5G, and historical case studies on chemical weapons and ideational balancing.

• Peer-reviewed journals: Space Policy, Orbis, Non-Proliferation Review
• Book chapters in edited volumes on strategic stability and technology

Scientific awards include a Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellowship (2017-2018) sponsored by the Stanton Foundation and life membership in the Council on Foreign Relations. He has advised on counter-terrorism and nuclear security, with research funded by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Horowitz Foundation, and others. His work bridges academic analysis and practical policy input via roles at RAND Corporation, National Defense University, and the U.S. Department of Defense.