Department of Homeland Security Centers of Excellence Summit 2021 2021-05-17T04:00:00-04:00 2021-05-21T13:00:00-04:00
May 17 – 21, 2021
Virtual Event
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Dr. Michelle Black Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science University of Nebraska, Omaha

Dr. Black is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science for the University of Nebraska Omaha. The Director for Workforce Development and Education for the National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology and Education (NCITE) which is a Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence.  A Research Fellow for the National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI) at the University of Nebraska, and Editor for the Space and Defense Journal. In addition to her academic career, Dr. Black has over seventeen years of professional experience with the Department of Defense.

Prior to joining UNO, Dr. Black was a government civilian for the Department of Defense from 2009-2016. She specialized in Deterrence Analysis and Adversary Decision-making for United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) Plans and Policy Directorate at Offutt Air Force Base. During her time at USSTRATCOM, she provided analysis and recommendations to senior leaders on decision-making strategy, deterring state and non-state actors, and regional expertise. Additionally, she initiated and directed the Deterrence and Assurance Academic Alliance, recruiting over 35 academic institutions to the program. This program provides a platform for defense and academic organizations to communicate and collaborate on research issues regarding Deterrence and Assurance.

Prior to her government civilian work, Dr. Black worked in Psychological Operations from 2001-2009 as U.S. Army Special Operations NCO (Airborne) for the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) and later as a Defense contractor. She deployed to Iraq, Kuwait, and Qatar during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Dr. Black earned her Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 2016. She also earned an M.S. in Negotiation and Dispute Resolution from Creighton University (2009), a Graduate Certificate in Intelligence Studies from Mercyhurst College (2007), an M.S. in International Relations from Troy University (2005), and B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Iowa (2001).

 

Teaching Interests

Dr. Black teaches in the areas of security studies, specifically: U.S. Foreign Policy; Political Violence, Insurgency and Terrorism; Intelligence and National Security; Deterrence Theory; Political Analysis; Middle East Politics; and International Leadership and Strategy. Additionally, Dr. Black provides lectures and coursework to the Department of Defense (DoD) for senior-level officials through NSRI, and is a frequent contributor to community courses and symposiums.

 

UNO Courses:

  • PSCI 2000 – Political Analysis
  • PSCI 3260/8265 – U.S. Foreign Policy
  • PSCI 4250/8256 – Intelligence and National Security
  • PSCI 4556/8556 – Political Violence, Insurgency and Terrorism
  • PSCI 4920 – Special Topics: Middle East Politics
  • PSCI 8220 – International Leadership and Strategy

 

DoD Courses:

  • Nuclear Deterrence 300/400 – Deterrence in the 21st Century
  • Nuclear Deterrence 400 – Adversary Decision-making and Deterrence Case Analysis

Community Courses:

  • International and Cyber Security – Chuck Hagel Symposium in Public Service
  • U.S. Military Influence in World Politics – Nebraska Civic Leadership Program (NCLP)
  • Interwoven Security: Complicaitons in the Middle East – UNO’s Dual Enrollment Seminar Series
  • Impact of Islamic State Ideology – Center of Afghanistan Studies (CAS)
  • Middle East Security Issues – CAS
  • Insurgency Progression in the Middle East Region – CAS
  • Terror Networks and Regional Security in South and Central Asia – CAS

Research Interests:

Dr. Black’s research interests include: Insurgency Progression Theory, Violent Extremist Organization/Terrorism’s use of online social media, Multi-Actor Deterrence, Deterring non-state actors, Deterrence and Assurance Theory and Application, and Adversary Decision-making.

Publications:

  • Michelle Black (2019) Explaining Insurgency Progression: Iraq 2003-2011. Dynamics of Asymmetric Conflict Journal: Pathways towards Terrorism and Genocide, 12:3, 257-281.
  • Lana Obradovic & Michelle Black (2019) Teaching Deterrence: A 21st-Century Update, Journal of Political Science Education, DOI: 10.1080/15512169.2019.1575228
  • Michelle Black (2016) Cyber ethnography: A critical tool for the Department of Defense? Comparative Strategy, 35:2, 103-113, DOI: 10.1080/01495933.2016.1176456
  • Michelle Black & Osamah Alhenaki (2015) Business as Usual: The Egyptian-U.S. Intelligence Relationship, Global Security and Intelligence Studies: Vol. 1: No. 1, Article 4.
    Available at: https://digitalcommons.apus.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&context=gsis

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