Nathaniel Allen

Nathaniel Allen is an Associate Professor of Security Studies at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (part of National Defense University) in Washington, DC. His work focuses on cybersecurity, emerging technology, civil-military relations, and regional security partnerships in North and West Africa. He is also a Research Fellow at Stellenbosch University in South Africa and a Council on Foreign Relations Term Member.

Allen holds a PhD in African Studies from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies and an MPA in Development Studies from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs. His research has been published in leading journals like Armed Forces and Society, The Washington Quarterly, and Foreign Affairs, with recent articles analyzing cyber warfare in Africa, critical information infrastructure protection in Egypt and Nigeria, military drone proliferation, and digital sovereignty challenges.

Allen’s scholarly output reveals a strong focus on cyber geopolitics, military technology, and technology policy in Africa. His work bridges strategic studies and digital transformation, emphasizing the need for context-specific cybersecurity frameworks and the impact of global tech dynamics on African sovereignty. He has received fellowships from institutions such as the U.S. Institute of Peace and American University, and his insights are frequently cited in policy debates.