David L. Carter

David L. Carter is a Professor in the School of Criminal Justice and Director of the Intelligence Program at Michigan State University. His career spans decades of academic leadership, law enforcement experience, and international consulting in policing, violent crime control, and counterterrorism. He has held roles as an instructor at the FBI Academy, served as a trainer for the United Nations Asia and Far East Institute, and led Department of Justice assessments of homicide units in New Orleans and Puerto Rico.

• PhD in Criminal Justice, Sam Houston State University (1980)
• MS in Criminal Justice, Central Missouri State University (1974)
• BS in Criminal Justice, Central Missouri State University (1972)

His research focuses on law enforcement intelligence, counterterrorism, and policy implementation in policing. He has authored or co-authored five books and numerous articles, emphasizing evidence-based practices in intelligence sharing, privacy safeguards, and homicide investigation efficacy.

Dr. Carter’s recent publications highlight trends in intelligence fusion centers, campus gun policy, and economic challenges in policing. These works bridge academic research with operational strategies for law enforcement agencies globally.

• Academic Fellow, Foundation for Defending Democracies

He has led multi-million-dollar Department of Homeland Security-funded intelligence training programs, co-directed a National Institute of Justice study on law enforcement intelligence initiatives, and contributed to FBI National Academy training. His advisory roles include consultancies with the Royal Thai Police, British Police Staff College, and the FBI’s Behavioral Sciences Unit.