Peter Forster

Dr. Peter Forster is an Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Security & Risk Analysis at Penn State’s College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST), and an Affiliate Professor in the School of International Affairs. His roles include co-chairing the NATO/OSCE Partnership for Peace Consortium Combating Terrorism Working Group (CTWG) and co-directing NATO's Defence Against Terrorism course. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science (International Relations) from Penn State (1997), and prior degrees from the same institution (M.A. 1984, B.A. 1982).

Dr. Forster's research focuses on counterterrorism, risk/crisis management, and cybersecurity, with emphasis on simulations, tabletop exercises, and extremist recruitment via cyberspace. He leads grants exploring situational awareness in law enforcement and serves on the DHS Subcommittee on Countering Violent Extremism. His work bridges academia and practice, influencing policy for NATO and the Department of Defense.

His teaching spans cyber-crime, terrorism, and international relations, supported by extensive experience in online education design and implementation. He has advised national distance education initiatives in Central Asia and contributed to Penn State’s transition to online learning.

• Education:
  • Ph.D., Political Science (International Relations/Comparative Politics), Penn State, 1997
  • M.A., Political Science (International Relations), Penn State, 1984
  • B.A., History with honors, Penn State, 1982
• Key Research Areas:
  • Foreign Terrorist Fighter Threat Mitigation
  • Cybersecurity and Extremist Online Behavior
  • NATO Defense Strategies
  • Security Sector Reform in Post-Soviet States
• Notable Contributions:
  • Developed multinational counterterrorism training programs
  • Authored/co-authored books on NATO intervention and burden-sharing
  • Designed crisis management simulations for 40+ nations

His publications span terrorism studies, cyber threats, and security policy, with recent work emphasizing evolving terrorist use of online/mobile technologies.