John Sawyer

Special Projects Program Manager
301-405-6721
jsawyer@start.umd.edu

Professional Experience:
John P. Sawyer is a senior researcher and program manager at START. Dr. Sawyer earned a doctorate in government and a master’s degree in security studies from Georgetown University, two bachelor degrees in history and government and politics from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a certificate in British law, politics and society from Oxford University.

Dr. Sawyer’s areas of expertise include mixed-method research methodology, war termination, Islamist radicalization, CBRN terrorism, the effects of competition on violent political organizations and the history of Northern Irish Republicanism.

Dr. Sawyer’s prior experience includes a START Pre-doctoral Fellowship; working at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS); independent business development consulting; co-lead investigator on a joint START-ICSR research project on homegrown Islamist radicalization in North America and Western Europe; and co-principal investigator on START’s Influencing Violent Extremist Organizations Project (I-VEO).

Education:
University of Maryland, College Park, B.A. in history
University of Maryland, College Park, B.A. in government and politics
Georgetown University, M.A. in security studies
Georgetown University, Ph.D. in government

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