PROFESSOR

Duties

• You will design, develop, and teach executive education addressing Chinese military strategy, PLA modernization, deterrence and crisis management, joint campaigning, military innovation, and the changing character of warfare.
• You will analyze PLA strategy, doctrine, force development, operational concepts, capabilities, and modernization and their implications for deterrence, crisis stability, escalation, and Indo-Pacific security.
• You will examine how emerging technologies-including artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, advanced weapons, space, cyber, and other capabilities-may affect Chinese military operations, deterrence, escalation, and future warfare.
• You will develop educational programs and activities that help practitioners analyze evolving PLA capabilities, assess implications for deterrence and crisis management, and examine alternative approaches to consequential security challenges.
• You will lead and support Center activities, including executive education courses, workshops, policy dialogues, senior-leader engagements, strategic visits, and international partnerships.
• You will serve as an action officer responsible for planning and executing courses, workshops, strategic dialogues, and regional engagements from concept development through execution and assessment.
• You will develop curriculum, instructional materials, case studies, simulations, and experiential-learning activities appropriate to diverse civilian and military audiences.
• You will teach and facilitate seminars and collaborative learning among security practitioners from throughout the Indo-Pacific.
• You will conduct research and publish scholarly and policy-relevant work on Chinese military affairs, strategic deterrence, military modernization, crisis management, escalation, and future warfare.
• You will engage regional defense and security practitioners, academic institutions, and partner organizations to deepen understanding of Chinese military developments and their regional implications.
• You will develop and maintain substantive expertise necessary to support executive education, regional engagement, academic partnerships, public outreach, and strategic initiatives.
• You will collaborate across departments and disciplines to integrate China and PLA expertise into College programming, addressing alliances and partnerships, regional security architecture, resilience, security cooperation, and other challenges.
• You will mentor Fellows and contribute to their professional and intellectual development.
• You will contribute to the effective administration and institutional development of the College.
• You will maintain productive, professional, respectful, and collegial relationships with leadership, faculty, staff, Fellows, and regional partners.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• Must be a US Citizen.
• Must be determined suitable for federal employment.
• Must participate in the direct deposit pay program.
• New employees to the Department of the Navy will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov
• Within the Department of Defense (DoD), the appointment of retired military members within 180 days immediately following retirement date to a civilian position is subject to the provisions of 5 United States Code 3326.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• You will be required to obtain and maintain an interim and/or final security clearance prior to entrance on duty. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.
• This position may require travel from normal duty station to CONUS and OCONUS and may include remote or isolated sites. You must be able to travel on military and commercial aircraft for extended periods of time.

Qualifications

DKI APCSS seeks qualified candidates at the Associate Professor or Professor level specializing in China Military Strategy and Future Warfare to join the Department of Strategic Deterrence.

The successful candidate will educate civilian and military security practitioners on China's military strategy, People's Liberation Army (PLA) modernization, and the changing character of warfare and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific. The position focuses on how PLA strategy, force development, operational concepts, joint campaigning, and emerging technologies affect deterrence, crisis management, escalation, defense planning, and regional security.

The position requires particular depth of understanding of the PLA as a military institution and fighting force, while situating Chinese military developments within the broader political, strategic, and technological context of the Indo-Pacific. The successful candidate will help practitioners assess how evolving PLA capabilities and concepts shape the challenges of deterring aggression, managing crises, controlling escalation, and preparing for future warfare.

Candidates are not expected to enter the position with expertise across every element of this portfolio. DKI APCSS seeks individuals with demonstrated expertise in relevant areas and the intellectual ability and professional commitment to develop broader expertise in Chinese military affairs, strategic deterrence, crisis management, and future warfare.

Faculty members at DKI APCSS are expected to be more than subject-matter experts. They serve as educators, facilitators, curriculum designers, action officers, researchers, mentors, and institutional leaders. Faculty plan and execute executive education courses, workshops, strategic dialogues, and regional engagements; develop and facilitate curriculum; conduct policy-relevant research; and build relationships with security professionals throughout the Indo-Pacific. Essential Criteria

• An advanced degree in international relations, security studies, political science, strategic studies, military studies, China studies, Asian studies, public policy, or a related discipline. A doctorate or other terminal degree is preferred.
• Demonstrated substantive knowledge, research, or professional experience related to Chinese military affairs, PLA modernization, Chinese military strategy, strategic deterrence, crisis management, future warfare, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct rigorous research, analyze contemporary security issues, and produce scholarly or policy-relevant work.
• Demonstrated ability to teach, facilitate, and mentor adult learners from diverse professional, national, and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to communicate complex military, strategic, political, and technological issues clearly to practitioner audiences.
• Strong organizational skills and demonstrated ability to plan, coordinate, and execute complex projects or programs.
• Ability to work effectively as a collegial, collaborative, and team-oriented faculty member.
• Ability to use contemporary technologies and digital tools in research, teaching, collaboration, and program execution.
• Demonstrated commitment to the DKI APCSS mission and to advancing security cooperation and understanding throughout the Indo-Pacific.

Desired Criteria

• Demonstrated expertise, research, or professional experience in one or more of the following areas:
• People's Liberation Army strategy, doctrine, and modernization
• Chinese military strategy and operational concepts
• PLA joint campaigning and joint operations
• Chinese force development and defense modernization
• Deterrence and strategic stability
• Crisis management and escalation
• Military innovation and adaptation
• Future warfare
• Artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and human-machine integration
• Space and cyber operations
• Advanced weapons and emerging military technologies
• Multi-domain operations
• Taiwan Strait and First Island Chain security dynamics
• Chinese military activities and security relationships throughout the Indo-Pacific

Additional desired experience includes:

• Ability to conduct research using Chinese-language primary or secondary sources.
• Chinese-language proficiency appropriate to the candidate's research or professional specialization.
• Research, professional, military, government, or field experience involving China or Indo-Pacific defense and security affairs.
• Experience working with or studying defense ministries, military organizations, combatant commands, intelligence organizations, policy institutions, universities, or allied and partner governments.
• Experience in teaching, facilitation, executive education, strategic engagement, policy dialogue, exercises, or multinational workshops
• Experience building professional networks and fostering collaboration among individuals from diverse national, institutional, and professional backgrounds.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

Education

Basic Requirements:

Degree: that included or was supplemented by major study in education or in a subject-matter field appropriate to the position

OR

Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major in education, in a subject-matter field appropriate to the position, plus appropriate experience or additional course work that provided knowledge comparable to that normally acquired through the successful completion of the 4-year course of study described in A above.

An advanced degree in security studies, international relations, political science, public policy, military studies, education, instructional design, systems analysis, operations research, or another relevant field. A doctorate or other terminal degree is preferred.

Additional information

This position is covered by the Department of Defense Priority Placement Program.

Several vacancies may be filled.

A tentative offer of employment will be rescinded if the selectee fails to meet the pre-employment requirements, including failure to report to any of the scheduled appointments.

Federal annuitant information: The selection of an annuitant is subject to the Department of Defense and Department of the Navy policy on the employment of annuitants. Policy information may be found at: .

Veteran's preference does not apply when selecting individuals under this specific hiring authority. However, if you claim veteran's preference, you will be required to submit supporting documentation with your application as described in the Required Documents section below.

Term appointments may be extended up to 8 years at the discretion of management and in accordance with applicable regulations. Additionally, you may be noncompetitively converted to a permanent career-conditional or career appointment under specific conditions.

This position is subject to work an uncommon tour, including nights, weekends, and holidays to meet mission requirements. Overtime or night differential pay and/or unusual duty hours may be required.

This position is in the excepted service and does not confer competitive status.

Applications may be retained for one year and considered against future faculty requirements.

Recruitment or relocation incentive may be authorized.

The Department of War is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to any non-merit factor protected by applicable law. Reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants with disabilities are available upon request through the Human Resources Office.