Frank Emerson

Frank Emerson serves as the Gov. John C. West Chair of International Politics and American Government at The Citadel's Department of Political Science within the School of Humanities & Social Sciences. He holds a Juris Doctor in International Law from Penn State Dickinson Law, a Master of Public Policy in International Policy from American University, and a B.A. in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland.

His professional experience includes nearly three decades in U.S. national security, intelligence, and foreign policy. Notably, he served with the CIA and U.S. Department of State, leading counterterrorism operations in South America, legal engagements in Europe, and strategic advisory roles at the National Security Council and Atrocities Prevention Board. He was part of the leadership team establishing the National Counterterrorism Center post-9/11.

Emerson emphasizes experiential teaching methods to prepare future leaders, focusing on bridging theoretical knowledge with real-world policy challenges. He maintains professional competency in Spanish and has contributed to international criminal prosecutions and White House decision-making processes through intelligence analysis.