Volker Franke (left), Associate Professor of Political Science and International Studies, has been appointed research director for peace building and conflict transition at the Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC), one of Germany’s leading peace research institutes. He will take a two-year leave of absence from the College in order to fill this prestigious post.

"Volker Franke has achieved a national reputation for his work on U.S. security issues,” says Provost Tom Falkner. “We are proud that he will now share his expertise internationally through his work at the BICC, and we look forward to the new opportunities this will bring to our academic program."

BICC is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting peace and development through the efficient and effective transformation of military-related structures, assets, functions and processes. Since its founding in 1994, the BICC has focused on the re-use of military resources (such as the re-allocation of military expenditures, restructuring of the defense industry, closure of military bases and demobilization). Now it is expanding its areas of expertise into arms, peacebuilding, and conflict.

“It will be my responsibility to help build those areas and guide the institute to decide on a specific focus within these areas,” Franke says.

Franke serves as director and managing editor of the Maxwell/SAIS National Security Studies Case Studies Program, which provides training and practice to officials in whose hands U.S. security rests.

He is the author of three books. “Terrorism and Peacekeeping” is a compilation of national security case studies used to prepare and rehearse officials, policy-makers and students in areas concerning national security; “Preparing for Peace: Military Identity, Value Orientations, and Professional military Education” explores military preparedness and other post-Cold war issues through the social, political and professional attitudes and values of the U.S. Army’s cadets at West Point; “Security in a Changing World: Case Studies in U.S. National Security Management” includes case studies and exercises examining management, leadership, and accountability issues related to U.S. national security.

Franke has taught at George Washington and Colgate universities and served as assistant director of National Security Studies at Syracuse University. He earned his Magister Artium at Johannes Gutenberg University, his M.P.A. at North Carolina State University and his Ph.D. at Syracuse University.