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CURRENT POSITIONS
Assistant Professor, George Mason University, Arlington, VA
August 2008 – May 2009; 2012-present.
Conduct research, advise, and teach graduate students.
Graduate Courses Taught: National Security Management and Policy; Governance and Policy Processes; Civil-Military Relations; Counterinsurgency.
Senior Fellow, Center for New American Security, Washington D.C. 2013 – present.
Conduct research and outreach for defense strategy formulation and the changing nature of conflict.
GOVERNMENT AND ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
Commissioner, National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force,
April 2013 – present
Appointed by President Obama as one of eight members of a one year commission to study the structure of the Air Force.
Consultant, Under-Secretary of Defense for Policy, Department of Defense, May 2012-present
Senior Advisor, National Security and Defense, Obama for President,
March – November 2012
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Plans, Pentagon, Washington, D.C., April 2009 –March 2012.
Developed guidance and oversaw development and review of Department of Defense contingency and campaign planning. Supervised writing and publishing of 70-page classified DoD-wide planning guidance and 60-page interagency planning guide. Led DoD strategic review of U.S. global defense posture for Quadrennial Defense Review 2010 and supervised the Secretary of Defense's weekly approval process for global force deployments.
Awarded the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service, 2012.
Member, Presidential Transition Team, Defense Department, Washington D.C., November 2008-January 2009.
Conducted interviews and made recommendations to incoming presidential administration.
Non-Resident Fellow, Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C. August 2008 – April 2009.
Conducted research on U.S. interagency coordination, counterinsurgency best practices, and stability operations.
Adjunct Professor, Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University, Washington D.C. campus, 2008.
Taught undergraduate courses and lectured graduate students in national security policy.
Founding Director, Consortium for Complex Operations, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict, Pentagon, Washington, DC, Jan 08 – June 08.
Directed the start up and launch of an innovative, web-enabled interagency community of practice/social network of civilian and military educators, academics, trainers and practitioners, for stability operations, counterinsurgency, development, and irregular warfare.
Director, Stability Operations Capabilities, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Stability Operations, Pentagon, Washington, DC, May 06 – June 08.
Supervised team of ten civilian and military action officers; provided policy advice to DoD leadership. Oversaw institutionalization of stability operations and irregular warfare capabilities across DoD. Developed and implemented strategy for driving organizational
change across DoD.
Adjunct Professor, George Mason University, Arlington, VA, 2005-2006.
Taught Public Policy processes, (PUBP 502).
Director, Counterinsurgency Studies, Hicks and Associates, Arlington, VA, 2005-2006.
Associate and Consultant, DFI-International, Washington, D.C. 2003-2005.
Supervised small teams of researchers and directed analytical studies for U.S. Air Force and Reserve Affairs offices.
Pre-Doctoral Research Fellow, Brookings Institution, Washington, DC,
September 2003 – September 2004.
Performed self-directed research on national security, stability & reconstruction operations, nation-building, military reserve affairs, and U.S. foreign policy.
Visiting Instructor, Davidson College, Davidson, NC, Fall 2002.
Taught undergraduate courses on American Politics and Comparative Politics.
Assistant Director, State Department Summer Program on U.S. Foreign Policy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, Summer 2002.
Lectured on foreign policy, co-developed curriculum, coordinated symposia and scheduled events for 6-week intensive State Department Fulbright-Sponsored U.S. foreign policy resident program for foreign academics, including site visits in Washington D.C. and Los Angeles.
Officer and Senior Pilot, United States Air Force, Multiple Global Locations, 1988-1998
Cargo Pilot/Mission Commander: Lived abroad, planned, scheduled, and flew global airlift missions in support of numerous humanitarian and combat operations in Southeast Asia, Middle East, Far East, Europe, and United States. Piloted C-130 (Japan, 1990-1993) and C-17 (Charleston, 1993-1998).
Chief Academic Officer and Instructor Pilot, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO, 1993-1996. Developed and led implementation of ground training program by group of 7 instructor pilots for over 700 students annually; including curricula and course
design, lecturing, and in-air one-one instruction. Taught aerodynamics, navigation, and aircraft systems. Flew over 1000 instructional sorties. Instructor Pilot of the Quarter 1995; Instructor Pilot of the Year, 1995; "Top Prop" flying competition winner 1994.
EDUCATION
Doctor of Philosophy, International Studies, University of South Carolina 2005.
Dissertation: "Learning to Lift the Fog of Peace: The U.S. Military in Stabilization and Reconstruction Operations." Defended "with Distinction" July 2005.
Dissertation Prize, 2006 from the American Political Science Association's (APSA)
Committee for the Analysis of Military Operations and Strategy (CAMOS).
Masters of Arts, International Studies, University of South Carolina 2002.
Thesis: "Doing More with Less? The Politics of Readiness and the Use of U.S. Military Force."
Bachelor of Science, Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, 1988.
Distinguished Graduate, Air Force Squadron Officers School, 2005.
PUBLICATIONS
Book
Lifting the Fog of Peace: How Americans Learned to Fight Modern War, 2010, University of Michigan Press, 256 pages.
Articles and Book Chapters:
"Civil-Military Friction and Presidential Decision-Making: Explaining the Broken Dialogue," Presidential Studies Quarterly, 43, no. 1 (March 2013), pp 129-145.
"Defense Priorities for President Obama's Second Term," Chapter for The Next Chapter: President Obama's Second-Term Foreign Policy, edited by Xenia Dormandy, Chatham House, (January 2013) pp. 31-36. Co-authored with Shawn Brimley.
"Obama's New Global Posture: The Logic of U.S. Foreign Deployments," Foreign Affairs, Volume 91, No. 4 (July/August 2012), PP. 54-63. Co-authored with Michèle Flournoy.
"Fighting in the New World: What Urbanization Means for Military Planners." NIC Global Trends 2030 (July 19, 2012), 2300 words online.
http://gt2030.com/2012/07/19/fighting-in-the-new-world-what-urbanization-means-formilitary-planners/
"Making Government Work: Pragmatic Priorities for Interagency Coordination," Orbis, Vol. 53, No. 3 (Summer 2009), pp. 419-438.
"Next Generation Doctrine" Introduction Chapter, U.S. Army Field Manual Stability Operations (FM 3-07), University of Michigan Press, (Spring 2009), xiii-xxii.
"Principles of Modern American Counterinsurgency: Evolution and Debate," Brookings Institution Counterinsurgency and Pakistan Paper Series, Number 1 of 8, June 8, 2009.
http://www.brookings.edu/research/papers/2009/06/08-counterinsurgency-davidson
"Operationalizing the Comprehensive Approach: The Military as Enabler," Small Wars Journal, 18 Feb 2009, 3000 words on line.
http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/2009/02/operationalizing-the-comprehen-1/.
"External Actors as Friends or Foes in Counterinsurgency: Al Qaeda as Intervener or Insurgent," Book Chapter in: Ending Insurgencies and Promoting Democracy, Council for Emerging National Security Affairs, 2006.
"Giving Peacekeeping a Chance: The Modern Military's Struggle over Peace Operations." Small Wars and Insurgencies, Vol. 15, No. 2 (Autumn 2004) pp. 165-181.
On-Line Publications and Opinion-Editorials
"The State of State Power: Defense Challenges for the United States," International Relations
and Security Network (ISN), 21 December 2012.
http://www.isn.ethz.ch/isn/Digital-Library/Articles/Special-
Feature/Detail/?lng=en&id=156446&tabid=1453435363&contextid774=156446&contextid775=156445
"Misinterpreting DoD's Strategic Guidance Repeats Mistakes, Ignores Emerging Trends and Leads to Failure," ForeignPolicy.com, 27 July 2012, 2200 words on line.
http://ricks.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/07/27/dudes_misinterpreting_dods_strategic_guidance_repeats_mistakes_ignores_emerging_tre
"Military vs. Development AID" Election Note Response, Chatham House, July 2012, http://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/default/files/public/Research/Americas/0712usen_davidson.pdf
"A Plea for Smart Forward U.S. Military Engagement." The Diplomat, July 10, 2012
http://thediplomat.com/flashpoints-blog/2012/07/10/a-plea-for-smart-forward-u-smilitary-engagement/?print=yes Co-authored with Michèle Flournoy.
"The New Army Stability Operations Manual: Fact, Fiction, and Perspective on FM 3-07," Small Wars Journal, 20 October 2008.
http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/authors/janine-davidson/
"Is it The Economy (Again) Stupid?" Washingtonpost.com, September 29, 2008
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/inteldump/2008/09/is_it_the_economy_again_stupid.html
"What's Wrong with Weak States," Washingtonpost.com, September 24, 2008.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/inteldump/2008/09/strategy_in_afghanistan.html
"Supporting Those Who Serve – All of Them," Washingtonpost.com, September 8, 2008.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/inteldump/2008/09/supporting_those_who_serve_-_a.html
"What the Troops Really Need," Washington Post, December 17, 2005. (Co-Author Dr. Tammy S. Schultz).
"A Citizen Check on War," Washington Post, November 14, 2003.
MAJOR REPORTS AND POLICY PUBLICATIONS
"Diplomacy, Development, and Defense (3D) Planning Guide," interagency publication of the Departments of State, USAID, and Defense, September 15, 2011. (Conceived of and cochaired
development and publication.)
"Global Force Posture," 100-page Classified DoD Report to Congress, February 2012. (Supervised staff of nine.)
"Global Force Posture," 100-page Classified DoD Report to Congress, March 2011. (Supervised staff of nine.)
"Global Force Posture," 100-page Classified DoD Report to Congress, March 2010. (Supervised staff of nine.)
"Progress Report on DoD Directive 3000.05, Military Support to Stability, Security, Transition, & Reconstruction Operations," delivered to Secretary of Defense, June, 2006. (Primary author).
"U.S. Global Policy and the Future of International Institutions," Culminating Report of the Next Generation Project series, Washington D.C. June, 2008. One of seven writers and discussion leaders of the year-long project sponsored by the American Assembly.
(http://americanassembly.org/publication/next-generation-project-us-global-policy-futureinternational-institutions-national-asse)
"U.S. Global Policy and the Future of International Institutions," Report of the Next Generation Project Midwest Assembly, Chicago, IL, October 18, 2007. One of seven writers and discussion leaders of the year-long project sponsored by the American Assembly.
(http://americanassembly.org/event/next-generation-project-midwest-assembly).
LECTURES AND SPEECHES
"U.S. Military's Global Role, Presence, and Posture," Presentation to Rotary Club of Rosslyn and Fort Myer, VA, January 21, 2013.
"U.S. Role in the Arab-Israeli Conflict," Presentation for the Women's Donor Network, December 2012.
"Planning and the Civil-Military Dialogue," Lecture to the U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies, Fort Leavenworth, KS, December 13, 2012.
"Training the Way We Fight: NATO and the Changing Nature of Warfare," lecture to NATO Defense College General Officer's Course, Rome, Italy, May 8, 2012.
"The Military's Role in Mass Atrocity Prevention and Response: Understanding the Political Landscape," Keynote Speech: AFRICOM-EUCOM Mass Atrocities Prevention and
Response Planning Conference, Stuttgart Germany, February 2012.
"Crafting Academic Research for Policy Makers," Keynote Speech, Prevention Regimes and Strategies Conference, Naval Post-Graduate School, Monterrey, CA, August 2011.
"Defense, Diplomacy, and Development: Translating Policy into Operational Capability," Keynote Speech, 22nd Annual Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict Symposium, Washington, D.C. 2011.
"Planning and the Future of Warfare," Faculty lecture for the Naval War College, Newport RI, January 2012.
"Strategy, Planning, and Force Development: A Policy Perspective," lecture given to the Joint Flag Officer Warfighting Course, (a 2-week, intensive in residence course for 2-star generals and admirals), Maxwell AFB, AL, December 2011.
"Planning Doctrine vs. The Real World Policy-Making Process," lecture given to entire Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery Alabama, December, 2011.
"Learning and the Counterinsurgency/Development Nexus," dinner lecture given at "COIN and Development" conference, Wilton Park, June 2010.
"Conceptualizing Military Support to Civilian Agencies in Complex Operations," lecture given to Senior Leader Military Education Conference, Combined Arms Center, Fort Leavenworth, KS, January 2009.
"Does Buffy ‘Get It'? The What, Why, and How of Stability Operations," lecture to National Defense University, Washington D.C., September 18, 2008.
"Linking Scholars and Practitioners: An Innovative Model," Keynote Address, Kick off conference of the Consortium for Complex Operations, April 28, 2008, Washington, D.C.
"Micro-Foundations of Insurgent Violence," Research Presentation, Irregular Warfare Working Group, 13 October 2005, Pentagon, Washington, DC. Co-author, Mark Smith.
"Learning to Fight The Four Block War," Research Presentation, Special Forces Association, 30 September 2005, Falls Church, VA.
CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION
Presentations and Panels
"Framing the 21st Century U.S. Foreign Policy Challenge," Moderator, American and the World Workshop, University of Wyoming, 1-2 March, 2013.
"Bridging the Academic-Policy and Disciplinary Divides," Panel Presentation, American and the World Workshop, University of Wyoming, 1-2 March, 2013.
"Conflict Prevention and the Military," Panel presentation, Stability Operations Training and Education Conference, George Mason University, Arlington VA, 30 January 2013.
"Policy Coordination for Security Force Assistance," Panel Moderator, Annual Civil Affairs Conference, George Mason University, Arlington, VA, October 2012.
"President Obama's Asia "Rebalance": Implications for the NATO Alliance," Panel Presentation, NATO Transatlantic Forum, National Defense University, Washington, D.C., 10 December 2012.
"The Future of US-UK Military Cooperation," Presentation, U.S.-U.K. Strategic Dialogue, London, 23-24 June 2012.
"How to be Effective in Government," Panel Presentation and Moderator, Truman National Security Project Annual Conference, May 5, 2012.
"How the U.S. Military Learned Counterinsurgency," presentation for U.S.-Pakistan counterinsurgency conference, Brookings Institution, Washington D.C., March 2009.
"A Pragmatic Approach to Interagency Coordination and Government Reform," paper delivered at Foreign Policy Research Institute conference on National Security Challenges for the Obama Administration, Washington D.C., February 12, 2009.
"Doctrine as an Engine of Change," Speaker/Moderator United States Institute of Peace
"Passing the Baton: Foreign Policy Challenges Facing the Next Administration" conference Title: January 8, 2009.
"Bridging the Gap: Universities and Government Meeting Global Challenges Together," Working Paper #5 Presentation, The Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law, Bridging the Gap Conference, February 2009.
"The Relevance of Current Counterinsurgency Doctrine and the Emerging Threat Environment," Presentation, COIN of the Realm Conference, Brookings Institution, 22 October 2007, Washington D.C.
"Current Debates in Irregular Warfare and Stability Operations" Presentation, SOCSOUTH Conference on Irregular Warfare, Miami Florida, 13 April 2007.
"The Politics of Dissent and the War in Iraq: The Role of Senior Military Leaders as Advisors and Critics," Presentation to 2006 Conference of the American Political Science Association, Philadelphia, PA.
"Contending Theories in Stability Operations Education," Presentation, Eisenhower National Security Series Integrated Education Conference, 8 August, 2006, Washington, DC.
"Dealing with Failed States," Presentation, Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies, Workshop on Irregular Warfare, Basin Harbor, VT, 8 June 2005.
"Small Wars to Nation Building: How Military Commanders Learn Non-Military Jobs," Presentation to 2004 Joint Conference of the International Studies Association and American Political Science Association for International Security Studies, Washington, DC.
"Nation-Building Nexus: What Counter-insurgency Doctrine Can Teach Us About Inter-Agency Coordination in Peace Operations," Paper presented at the 2004 Meeting of the International Studies Association, South Region, Columbia, SC.
"Responding to Multisource Security Threats," Panel Discussant and Chair, October 2002 Joint Meeting of the International Studies Association, South Region and International Security Sections of ISA and APSA (ISA-SOUTH/ISSS/ISAC), Richmond, VA.
"Congress and the President's War Plans in Iraq: Explaining Legislative Motives for Support," Panel Participant, Appalachian State University, 1 October 2002, Boone, NC.
"The Paradox of America's Use of Force Since the Collapse of the Cold War," Paper presented at the 2002 Meeting of the International Studies Association, New Orleans, LA. Coauthor: Jerel Rosati.
"Terrorism in America: Assessing U.S. Foreign Policy and National Security Options after September 11." Panel participant for University of South Carolina International Baccalaureate Day, 10 October 2001, Columbia, SC.
"Human Security, Evolving Norm or Passing Fad?" Paper presented at the 2001 Meeting of the Southern Political Science Association, Atlanta, GA.
"Pushing Norms: Constructing the National Security and Human Security Nexus," Paper presented at the Faculty Research Seminar, April 2001, University of South Carolina, Walker Institute for International Studies, Columbia, SC.
"The Pinochet Precedent: Forging Human Rights Standards in International Law," Paper presented at the 2001 Meeting of the International Studies Association, South Region, Winston-Salem, NC. Conference Award.
"The U.S. Military and Humanitarian Intervention: New Challenges or New Opportunities?" Paper presented at the 2000 Joint Conference of the International Studies Association and American Political Science Association for International Security Studies, Denver, CO.
"It's Good to Be Chief: Presidential Authority to Use Force in the Post Cold War Era." Paper presented at 2000 Meeting of the International Studies Association, South Region, Birmingham, AL. Conference Award, Best Graduate Student Paper.
Conferences Conceived and Orchestrated
"The Comprehensive Approach to Modern Insurgency: Afghanistan and Beyond," Munich, 27-28 March 2007; co-chair of conference committee; author of keynote speech.
Interagency Counterinsurgency Conference, Washington, D.C., September, 2006; DoD co-chair of conference committee; author of keynote speech delivered by Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, Ambassador Eric Edelman.
CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY
Witness, Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs, "Rebalance to Asia," April 25, 2013.
SELECTED MEDIA
Al Jazeera English, 31 December 2012, live interview reflecting on Iraq unrest and one year anniversary of U.S. military withdrawal.
Featured in Chronicle of Higher Education, October 22, 2012, "Among Obama Advisors, Scholars' Roles Shift with Policy Landscape."
Small Wars Journal, "Rebalancing the US military for 21st Century Threats - An Interview with Janine Davidson" 29 October 2012
http://smallwarsjournal.com/jrnl/art/rebalancing-the-us-military-for-21st-century-threats
Interviewed and quoted by Washington Post, National Journal, Bloomberg News, Los Angeles Times, National Public Radio, Al Jazeera, Slate, and others on various national security and foreign policy topics.
SELECTED INVITED EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS
Participant, The Emerging Asian Power Web, Singapore, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, April 15, 2013.
Participant, 49th Munich Security Conference, Germany, February 1-3, 2013.
Participant, Expert Roundtable, "Policy Options for Conflict in Nigeria," Center for New American Security, January 28, 2012.
Senior Expert Advisor, Strategy and Policy Roundtable, "Strategic and Operational Implications of the U.S. Rebalance to Asia," Army Capabilities and Integration Center (ARCIC), October 2012.
Participant, Expert Roundtable-Dinner Series on Managing Global Order, "U.S. Strategy in the Middle East and Asia," Brookings Institution, October 22, 2012.
Participant, Expert Roundtable, "Veterans in Society," Center for a New American Security, October 2012.
Participant, Teachers' Workshop, Basin Harbor Vermont, June 4-8, 2012. A 5-day intensive on teaching national security studies, sponsored by Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Merrill Center for Strategic Studies.
Participant Summer Workshop on Analysis of Military Operations and Strategy, Cornell University, July 2004. Competitive selection for a 3 week in-resident intensive for senior PhD candidates and junior faculty.
Participant Summer Symposium, Women in International Security (WIIS), Washington, DC, 2000: A six-day intensive program on security issues for competitively selected graduate students.
AWARDS, HONORS, FELLOWSHIPS
2012 Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service.
2010 Distinguished Alumnus Award, College of Arts and Sciences, University of South Carolina.
2006 Dissertation Award, Committee for the Analysis of Military Operations and Strategy,
American Political Science Association (APSA).
2003 Pre-Doctoral in-Residence Foreign Policy Fellowship, Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C.
2001 Governor John C. West Fellowship – GINT Department's most competitive award.
1998, 1999, 2000 Graduate Student Fellowship, USC Graduate School.
1995 Distinguished Graduate, Air Force Squadron Officers School.
1994 Instructor of the Year, 12th Flying Training Wing.
1990-1998 Air Force Medals: Air Force Commendation, Air Force Achievement, National Defense, SW Asia
1986 Air Force Vice Commandant Award for Leadership
1984-1988 Undergraduate Academic Scholarship, 4-year Air Force ROTC
AFFILIATIONS
Council on Foreign Relations, Life Member since 2008
Women in International Security, Board Member, 2008-2011
American Political Science Association, since 1999
International Studies Association, since 1999
Truman Senior Fellow, 2006-2009
Next Generation Project 2007, 2008.
ACADEMIC SERVICE
Editorial Board Member, Orbis Journal of World Affairs, July 2012 – present
Blind Reviewer, University of Michigan Press, Cambridge University Press, and Rowman and Littlefield Books.
PhD Committee Member: George Mason University: Currently participating on four PhD student committees, committee chair for one.
Faculty Search Committee, George Mason University. Fall 2012.
Executive Education Committee, George Mason University, Fall 2012.
Commencement Address, Valley Forge Military College, June 2012.
Advisor, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Policy Analysis Exercise. Served as the senior policy advisor for two graduate-level research projects, 2006 and 2012
Advisor, Texas A&M Bush School of Government and Public Service, 2007. Served as the senior policy advisor for major graduate-level Capstone Research Project: "The Interagency Process in Support & Stability Operations: Integrating and Aligning the Roles and Missionsof Military and Civilian Agencies in Conflict and Post-Conflict Environments," http://bush.tamu.edu/research/capstones/mpia/Cerami_2007.pdf
Advisor, Senior Honor's Thesis on Turkey's foreign policy, University of South Carolina, 2000.
OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Co-chair and Founder, 3D Planning Executive Steering Committee, (2009-2012) an interagency project designed to enhance the ability of planners in the Departments of State, USAID, and Defense to integrate operational and programmatic planning.
Co-chair U.S. Global Defense Posture Steering Committee, (2009-2012), a 2-star General/Flag officer body representing all nine combatant commands, military services, joint staff and the office of the Secretary of Defense that overseas implementation of major U.S. global force posture changes.
Co-chair U.S.-Australia Defense Posture Working Group, 2010-2012. Represented U.S. government in negotiations to enhance bi-lateral military engagement.
Co-chair DoD Adaptive Planning Steering Committee, (2009-2012), a 2-star General/Flag officer body representing all nine combatant commands, military services, joint staff and the office of the Secretary of Defense that overseas DoD-wide planning education, concepts,
and technology development.
Task Force Member: Future of Iraq Project, United States Institute of Peace, Fall 2005.