William A. Foley, Jr.

William A. Foley, Jr. is a Senior Lecturer Emeritus at the Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University Indianapolis. He specializes in emergency management, national security, and public safety. Foley holds a Ph.D. in American History from Indiana University (2005), a Diploma in National Security from the U.S. Army War College (1998), and earlier degrees from Indiana University and other institutions.

His career includes 36 years in the U.S. Army (retired as Colonel), leadership roles at the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, and federal service with the Department of Homeland Security’s National Level Exercise Program. He co-authored Tough Decisions: Defending the Homeland and won an Emmy Award (2011) for media contributions. Foley teaches at IU and King’s College London, advising graduate students on international security projects and local public safety research for Indiana law enforcement.

Notable contributions include: leading seven U.S. Army homeland defense doctrine publications post-9/11, directing the Army War College’s Strategic Leadership program (2003–2005), and receiving four Diplomacy Laboratory Program awards for student research. His work spans pandemic preparedness planning, counter-WMD strategies, and civil unrest management.

Awards include the 2014 Trustees Teaching Award and multiple medals from Army service. He currently serves on FEMA’s Regional Interagency Steering Committee in Chicago.