Michelle Black

Michelle Black is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO), within the College of Arts and Sciences. She serves as Co-Director of the Nebraska Deterrence Lab, Security Innovations Academic Programming Director for NCITE, a Research Partner at the National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI), and Co-Editor of the Space and Defense Journal. With over seventeen years of professional experience in the U.S. Department of Defense, including roles at USSTRATCOM and as a U.S. Army Special Operations NCO, Dr. Black brings deep operational and policy-relevant expertise to her academic work.

Her educational background includes a PhD in Political Science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2016), an MS in Negotiation and Dispute Resolution from Creighton University (2009), a Graduate Certificate in Intelligence Studies from Mercyhurst College (2007), an MS in International Relations from Troy University (2005), and a BA in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Iowa (2001).

Dr. Black's research centers on deterrence theory, political violence, insurgency, terrorism, and national security, with a strong focus on decision-making analysis and Middle East security. Her work explores Multi-Actor Deterrence, online radicalization, and the intersection of intelligence and policy. She teaches courses at UNO, the Department of Defense, and in community outreach programs, covering topics such as U.S. Foreign Policy, Intelligence and National Security, and Deterrence Theory.

Her recent publications (2015–2024) reflect a consistent trajectory in high-impact security and political science journals, with increasing emphasis on deterrence education, workforce development, and multi-domain strategy. Themes across her articles include NATO deterrence frameworks, intelligence education reform, and the political integration of insurgent groups, indicating a shift toward institutional and pedagogical contributions alongside operational security analysis.

Dr. Black has received significant research funding as Principal or Co-Principal Investigator from NATO, DHS, the Department of the Air Force, and NSRI, supporting projects on multi-actor deterrence, counterterrorism education, and coherent deterrence development. These grants highlight her leadership in bridging academic research with defense and homeland security applications.

She advises students and collaborates extensively, particularly with scholars like Lana Obradovic and Rula Jabbour. She leads research teams through the Nebraska Deterrence Lab and contributes to national security discourse via media engagements and public lectures. Her lab and team efforts focus on strategic foresight, deterrence innovation, and workforce development in intelligence and counterterrorism.