Peter Coughlan

Dr. Peter Coughlan is a management scholar and consultant specializing in strategy and economic analysis. He held academic roles as a Professor in the Strategy Unit at Harvard Business School and later as a Professor in the Graduate School of Business and Public Policy (GSBPP) at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS). He earned his BA from the University of Virginia and MS/PhD in economics from Caltech, specializing in game theory, mechanism design, and behavioral economics.

At Harvard, he taught core economics and strategic management courses across MBA, PhD, and Executive Education programs, designing advanced strategy courses applying game theory. At NPS, he developed courses in economics, strategic planning, cost-benefit analysis, and business modeling, earning the Louis D. Liskin Award for Teaching Excellence.

His research focuses on mechanism/system design, strategic analysis, and innovation. He has consulted for Booz Allen Hamilton and advised public/private sector entities globally. He frequently speaks at national security leadership programs, including NIBEC, NCBC, and EMRSP workshops.