Gary K. Bertsch Director, Center for International Trade and Security
Professor of International Affairs
Dr. Conrad is the Gary K. Bertsch Director of the Center for International Trade and Security (CITS) and Professor of International Affairs. He is an international security expert with a focus on nuclear security, energy security, interstate conflict, and terrorism. Dr. Conrad is jointly appointed to the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL).
Dr. Conrad’s work has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the Stanton Foundation, and his research has been published in leading academic journals, including International Organization, the Journal of Politics and the British Journal of Political Science.
He is the author or co-author of three books: Gambling and War: Risk, Reward, and Chance in International Conflict (2017), Militant Competition: How Terrorists and Insurgents Advertise with Violence and How They Can Be Stopped (2021), and Probability and Statistics: The Vegas Way (2024).
Dr. Conrad has appeared in, and his research has been cited in, a variety of international media outlets, including the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, National Interest, Diplomat, Slate France, Navy Times, and Voice of America. Dr. Conrad is also a key researcher at the Resources and Conflict Project, a partnership of researchers across various universities who evaluate environmental and natural resource determinants of violent conflict.
In addition to his research activities, Dr. Conrad develops and implements training programs for government officials and corporate audiences on topics such as counterproliferation, border security, and strategic trade management. He is a former U.S. Navy officer and has worked in the international private sector.
