John Robinson is the NSPC’s Director of Academic Programs. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses focused on national security, including Innovating for Defense, an experiential course that pairs student teams with sponsors from the Department of Defense (DoD) to solve real-world national security problems. His research interests include international security and naval affairs.

John holds a Ph.D. in Politics from the University of Virginia, and a M.A. from the U.S. Naval War College.   

In a new article for the online national security magazine War on the Rocks, Batten's Philip Potter, George W. Foresman and University of Pennsylvania's Michael Horowitz write that, given the rapid change of pace and recent developments in space, technical and operational standards and norms of behavior will be necessary to maintain a secure and sustainable domain.

George Foresman has over three decades of leadership experience in government and business. While serving as Virginia’s homeland security secretary, Foresman was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as undersecretary at the Department of Homeland Security.

The country’s repressive response to political violence reflects a surge in Chinese nationalism, Batten professor Philip Potter told an online audience during the latest edition of Batten Expert Chats.

In an article for Political Violence @ a Glance, Batten's Phil Potter, director of the National Security Policy Center, and co-authors Chen Wang and Claire Oto discuss China's transparency problem, as well as the risks and rewards of transparency.

ISIS is quietly “rising from the ashes” in areas of Iraq and Syria, due in part to the group’s vast international network of affiliates. Batten’s Phil Potter and co-authors outline why ISIS will be difficult to finish off without defeating the terrorist organization’s entire network of allies.

Since the 9-11 attacks, it has become increasingly clear that the congressional role in US foreign policy, particularly in matters of war and peace, has faded to virtually nothing. Batten's Phil Potter, Associate Professor of Politics and Public Policy and Director of the National Security Policy Center, elaborates.

Batten’s Phil Potter and co-authors discuss how America’s war in Afghanistan — the longest conflict in U.S. history — has morphed from a counterterrorism mission into something more ambitious but less well defined and, ultimately, less successful.

The global trade appeals system has stalled. Batten's Philip Potter and the University of Pennsylvania's Julia Gray examine if it ever really worked.

Since its inception in 2018, the National Security Policy Center at the University of Virginia’s Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy has made something of a name for itself.