Jonathan Robinson
Assistant Professor International Programs
Biography
Jonathan Robinson is an assistant professor in International Programs at the U.S. Naval War College. A specialist in multinational civilian-military interaction, conflict analysis, and human security, he has on ground experience in six continents. Jonathan has provided operational advice and in-depth analysis to numerous U.S and international organizations for over 15 years, including spending nearly a decade working in conflict and post-conflict settings in the Middle East. Since 2019, his research interests have focused on systems for civil-military interaction and the actions of assertive states in the humanitarian space.
Contact Information
Areas of Expertise
- China
- Civil War
- Civil-Military Relations
- HA/DR
- Iraq
- Middle East
- Russia
- Security Cooperation
- Syria
- United Nations
Professional Highlights
Assistant Professor
Instructor
Global Fellow
Netsimco Operations Specialist
Senior Researcher
Humanitarian Security Advisor
Education
M.Sc., University of Edinburgh, 2010, Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies
B.A., Durham University, 2008, Archaeology (with Honors)
Research Contributions and Publications
“Leveraging Learning in Operational Environments: Lessons Learned from a Multinational Experience aboard USS George Washington during the Southern Seas 2024 Mission”
Marine Corps University Press International Perspectives on Military Education Journal, Volume 1, December 2024.
“An Anatomy of Russia’s Maritime Humanitarian Corridors in the Black and Azov Seas: Trends from Open-Source Data”
DoD’s Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (CFE-DMHA) Liaison Journal, Volume 16, Issue 1, September 2024.
“Civil-Military What?! Making Sense of Competing Civil-Military Concepts”
Co-authored with Henrique Garbino and João Valdetaro
Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies, Brown University, February 2024.
“Exploring Russia's Views on Humanitarian Aid in Syria”
The Washington Institute’s Fikra Forum, January 2023.
“Mapping Unexploded Ordnance in Syria: Harnessing the Power of Open-Source”
Co-authored with Hampton Stall, Jennifer Hudson, Evan Leendertse, Hari Prasad, Chris McNaboe, and Rana Shabb
James Madison University’s Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction, Volume 26, Issue 1, Article 10, October 2022.
“Reviewing Guidance and Perspectives on Humanitarian Notification Systems for Deconfliction”
Co-authored with Carmen Bebbington, Sierra Fang, Horvath, Georgia Harrington, and Dave Polatty
Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies, Brown University, October 2022.
“Russian Foreign Humanitarian Assistance: Identifying Trends Using 15 Years of Open-Source Data”
Marine Corps University Press Expeditions Journal, April 2022.
“Measuring Explosive Munitions Use with Open-Source Data: A New Tool for Enhancing Humanitarian Mine Action”
Co-authored with Christoph Baade
James Madison University’s The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction, Volume 25, Issue 1, Article 24, September 2021 (25 Year Celebration Edition).
“Five Years of Russian Aid in Syria Proves Moscow is an Unreliable Partner”
The Atlantic Council’s MENA Source, June 2021.
“Russian Aid in Syria: An Underestimated Instrument of Soft Power”
The Atlantic Council’s MENA Source, December 2020.
“Mapping Russia’s Soft Power Efforts in Syria Through Humanitarian Aid”
Co-authored with Marika Sosnowski
The Atlantic Council’s MENA Source, June 2020.
External Memberships and Associations
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA)
Member of the Consultation Group (CG) for updating the United Nations Civil Military Coordination (UN CMCoord) Field Handbook Version 2 (2018), 2024 - 2025
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA)
Member of the Civil Military Coordination Service’s Monthly Advisory Group (CMAG), 2023 - Present
Brown University, Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies (CHRHS)
Global Fellow, 2021 - Present
Brown University, Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies (CHRHS)
Aid Worker Security Working Group Lead, 2020 - Present
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