Edward Polachek

Edward Polachek serves as a Part-Time Lecturer at Mercyhurst University, teaching online courses in Contemporary Leadership in Intelligence and Social Media Analysis since joining the faculty in 2015. His academic role builds upon a 30-year career as a United States Air Force intelligence officer, where he operated at tactical through strategic levels across Europe and the Middle East.

His research interests span intelligence analysis methodologies, leadership frameworks in security contexts, and emerging threats in social media exploitation. These stem directly from operational experience including counter-terrorism training across 30+ countries with the U.S. Department of State's Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program and leadership of High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) initiatives where he served as Deputy Director, Intelligence Center Manager, and Director for thirteen combined years.

Polachek's professional narrative integrates military intelligence, law enforcement operations against transnational drug networks, and international security capacity building. His perspective is uniquely shaped by firsthand observation of the 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, which he identifies as his most challenging professional experience.