Dr. Christopher Marsh (Ph.D. in political science, University of Connecticut, 1998) is Department Chair and an Associate Professor of International Security Studies at JSOMA. He teaches and conducts research on Russian and Chinese approaches to special operations, irregular warfare, military strategy, and foreign policy. Prior to joining NDU, Dr. Marsh was the Director of the Department of Research & Analysis at the Joint Special Operations University, U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). He is also the president of the Special Operations Research Association and editor of its publication, Special Operations Journal. Formerly, he was a Professor of National Security and Strategic Studies at the School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS), U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth. Previously, he taught international terrorism and irregular warfare at the US Air Force Special Operations School, Hurlburt Field. Prior to that he was a full professor of political science (with tenure) at Baylor University where he taught for 12 years.
Dr. Marsh is the author of several books on Russian affairs and comparative Russian-Chinese politics, including Unparalleled Reforms (2006), and Religion and the State in Russia and China (2011). His latest book, Russian Foreign Policy, was written with Dr. Nikolas Gvosdev of the U.S. Naval War College. Additionally, Dr. Marsh has published over 80 book chapters and journal articles on topics ranging from Russian strategy to religion in China. He is currently writing a book on Russian irregular warfare, special operations, and the grey zone.