James Pugel, PhD, is a visiting lecturer at Texas A&M’s Bush School of Government and Public Service in Washington, DC. Dr. Pugel received his PhD in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University where his dissertation research focused on understanding social identities and political activation in Türkiye. Dr. Pugel brings more than 30 years of experience in national security to the classroom while teaching research methods in the National Security and Intelligence Program. He has led and participated in field research and analysis projects for the UNDP, UNMIL, USAID, and non-profit organizations to understand the challenges facing vulnerable populations in Liberia, Nigeria, and Nepal. His published work has focused on the phenomenon of child soldiering, post-conflict societal reintegration, and program evaluation.