The Department of Criminology Speaker Series will feature Randall Bowdish, retired U.S. Navy captain, on September 28, 2011, for two presentations.

Bowdish will present “The Criminal Justice System and Terrorism” at 10:10 a.m. in the Hadley Union Building, Susquehanna Room, and “Terrorism, the Media and Social Networks” at 2:30 p.m. in Gorell Recital Hall, on the second floor of Sutton Hall.

Both presentations are free and open to the community.

Bowdish has completed a number of sea tours, including during Operation Desert Storm and commanding the USS Simpson in the Gulf of Arabia. He retired from the Navy in 2006.

He is currently a political science doctoral candidate at the University of Nebraska, with a focus on public policy and international relations, specializing in foreign policy and international conflict. He teaches courses on insurgency, guerilla warfare and terrorism, the causes of war and peace, international security, and public issues in America.

His research interests include international security, terrorism, insurgency, guerilla warfare, the psychology of war termination, and, particularly, the causal mechanisms that lead to “submission” in conflict. He has published a wide range of articles and book chapters on topics including the revolution in military affairs, psychological operations, terrorism, and maritime and space strategy.

He has received the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), the Navy Commendation Medal, (five awards, one with Combat V), the Navy Achievement Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon.