About
AT A GLANCE:
Author, Novelist, and Professor of International Relations
National Defense University, Georgetown University, and Syracuse University
RESEARCH AREAS:
鈥� Mercenaries and Private Military Companies (PMCs)
鈥� Modern Warfare
鈥� Political Risk and Strategy
鈥� International Relations and Security
BIOGRAPHY:
Sean McFate, PhD, is an acclaimed author, professor, and one of the world鈥檚 leading
experts on mercenaries and the future of war. With a background that spans both military
service and academia, he has held prominent roles in the U.S. Army, private military
contracting, and political risk consulting. His career began as a paratrooper in the
U.S. Army鈥檚 82nd Airborne Division, where he served under military leaders such as
General Stan McChrystal and General David Petraeus. Dr. McFate graduated from elite
training programs, including Jungle Warfare School in Panama, and was also a Jump
Master.
Following his military service, he became a global private military contractor. He gained experience working with African warlords, conducting non-permissive reconnaissance, and engaging in arms deals. He was involved in efforts to prevent genocide in central Africa and worked for TD International, RAND, and the Atlantic Council. He has been a Visiting Research Fellow at Pembroke College, Oxford University, and has advised the Pentagon and Hollywood.
McFate is a professor at the National Defense University鈥檚 College of International Security Affairs, Georgetown University鈥檚 School of Foreign Service, and Syracuse University鈥檚 Maxwell School. He has authored several influential books, including The New Rules of War, named a 鈥淏ook of the Year鈥� by The Economist, and The Modern Mercenary, which was hailed as 鈥渆ssential reading鈥� by Foreign Affairs. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Foreign Policy, Time, and many others, and he has been featured on CNN, Fox, MSNBC, BBC, and other major news networks.
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