Qamar-ul Huda

Dr. Qamar-ul Huda serves as the Michael E. Paul Distinguished Visiting Professor of International Affairs in the Department of Political Science at the United States Naval Academy. His career uniquely bridges academic scholarship and high-level policy engagement, with previous appointments at Georgetown University, UCLA, Boston College, Brandeis University, and the College of Holy Cross. He brings extensive field experience from decade-long service at the U.S. Institute of Peace and critical roles within the U.S. Department of State.

Dr. Huda's research centers on Conflict Studies, Conflict Resolution, and Countering Violent Extremism, with specialized expertise in South Asian geopolitics, Afghanistan, and the intersection of religion with diplomacy. His work emphasizes practical applications, having supervised conflict resolution program development in public schools across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. He is particularly recognized for pioneering research on religious peacebuilding within Islamic traditions.

His publication trajectory from 2018-2024 reveals consistent focus on U.S. strategic challenges in South Asia, Taliban dynamics, and CVE program efficacy. Recent articles critically analyze U.S. policy toward Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan while examining religious dimensions of counterterrorism efforts against ISIS.

Notable recognitions include:

• Consecutive inclusion in The Muslim 500: World's Most Influential Muslims (2016-2023)
• Social Science Research Council (SSRC) Grant on Conflict Studies
• American Academy of Religion (AAR) Senior Research Grant
• Dual Fulbright Scholarships (Pakistan and India)
• Multiple research awards from UCLA and Boston College

Dr. Huda has secured substantial research funding from SSRC, AAR, and university programs while developing field training curricula for USIP's Academy. His policy impact extends through State Department appointments, UN advisory roles, and design of international CVE frameworks connecting the Global Counterterrorism Forum with education ministries across multiple continents.

Though not leading a named laboratory, Dr. Huda's professional network functions as a global research consortium, engaging the United Nations, European Union, and religious peacebuilding organizations. His work with Hedayah established critical linkages between U.S. diplomacy and international CVE efforts, demonstrating his capacity to operationalize academic research in high-stakes policy environments.