Dr. Jay M. Parker PhD: SEI Board Member
Jay M. Parker is Distinguished Professor and Major General Fox Conner Chair of International Security Studies at the College of International Security Affairs, National Defense University in Washington, D.C. From September 2011 to July 2016, Dr. Parker served as chair of the college’s Department of International Security Studies. His professional academic experience includes service on the faculties of Georgetown, George Washington, and Columbia universities. He was also as a visiting research fellow at Princeton University and at Japan’s National Institute for Defense Studies Dr. Parker served as an active duty officer in the U.S. Army for more than 26 years, retiring in 2005 in the rank of Colonel. While in uniform, he served in command and staff positions in infantry and special operations units. From 1994 to 2005, he was Professor and Director of International Relations and National Security Studies at the U.S. Military Academy. Prior to his military service, Dr. Parker was a congressional staff assistant in the office of Congressman Morris K. Udall (D-AZ) and a political media consultant. After retiring from the military, Dr. Parker served as Executive Vice President of the Center for the Study of the Presidency and was the Center’s liaison to the Iraq Study Group. A graduate of the University of Arizona, Dr. Parker earned master's degrees from Arizona State University, University of Southern California, and the U.S. Naval War College, and a PhD in political science from Columbia University. His teaching and writing areas include international relations, strategy, national security education, civil-military relations, American politics, East Asia, mass media, and film and politics. Dr. Parker is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a member of the Advisory Board of Center for Civilians in Conflict, and a U.S.-Japan Leader Fellow. He is former chair of the International Security Studies Section-International Studies Association (ISA), and former chair of ISA’s Committee on Professional Development. In 2008, Dr. Parker was a member of the defense policy team and the veterans' advisory group for the Obama for America presidential campaign, and served on the Presidential transition.