Dr. Richard J. Harknett is Professor and Head of the Department of Political Science at the University of Cincinnati (UC). He is the author of over fifty publications in the area of international relations theory and international security studies. In 2016, he served as the first scholar-in-residence at US Cyber Command and National Security Agency helping facilitate the development of the strategy of persistent engagement. He continues to provide direct advisory support. In 2017, he served as the inaugural US-UK Fulbright Scholar in Cybersecurity, University of Oxford, United Kingdom. He provided initial guidance and support in 2016-2017 for the establishment of the Cyber Solarium Commission (2019 NDAA) and currently serves as a senior expert within the Commission’s structure. Harknett provides analysis to government agencies, including the US Defense and State Departments, US Senate testimony, and to US Congressional members and staffs as well as to US allies. He served as the Ohio Governor’s appointee on the State of Ohio’s Cybersecurity, Education, and Economic Development Council while contributing to the writing of Ohio’s Cybersecurity Strategy and currently co-leads the Ohio Cyber Range project in coordination with State of Ohio agencies that include the Ohio National Guard. He regularly provides invited lectures throughout the US and has done so in eleven countries.
He was selected in 2001 as Fulbright Professor of International Relations at the Diplomatic Academy, Vienna, Austria where he continues to hold a professorial lectureship. Prof. Harknett has been named the Boyd-Lubker Visiting Scholar at Western Kentucky University, the Edith C. Alexander Distinguished Teaching Professor and the Distinguished Service Professor in McMicken College, UC, the Faculty Awardee for Exemplary Contributions in Service to the University, UC, and was the recipient of the State of Ohio Faculty Innovator award. He has served as Chair of the University Faculty and Chair of the Charles Phelps Taft Research Center at UC. He earned his PhD from The Johns Hopkins University and BA from Villanova University. He is an avid fan of Liverpool F.C.
