Abstract
The Embry-Riddle Worldwide | College of Arts & Sciences Grad Duck is seen observing the Embry-Riddle Worldwide Commencement this past August 2025 on the deck of the U.S.S. Midway in San Diego, CA.
Bio
Dr. Alexander Siedschlag is the Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences (Worldwide Campus) and a tenured Professor of Homeland Security & Security Studies in the Department of Emergency, Disaster & Global Security Studies. Before joining Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University in 2022, he served as the Chair of Penn State World Campus Homeland Security Programs, a collaboration across nine colleges. He as well was a tenured full Professor of Homeland Security, Public Health Sciences, and International Affairs, with his tenure home being the School of Public Affairs at Penn State Harrisburg – the Capitol College, a joint appointment with the Department of Public Health Sciences at the School of Medicine (Penn State Hershey) and an affiliated appointment with the School of International Affairs. Additionally, he was the program head for Political Science and Public Policy over several years. Alexander Siedschlag concurrently served as Interim Director of the School of Public Affairs from July 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019.
In his research, Alexander Siedschlag is focusing on security cultures; societal aspects and ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) of homeland and civil security; scenario foresight; as well as methods of security science and civil security research. He has so far authored six monographs, over 100 articles, and edited more than a dozen anthologies.
Born in West Berlin during the time of the American Sector, Alexander Siedschlag holds an M.A. and a Ph.D. in political science, sociology, and psychology from the University of Munich, Germany, as well as a venia legendi (“habilitation”) for political science from Humboldt University Berlin, Germany. Prior to joining Penn State in 2013, he was Professor for Security Research, founding Head of the Institute for Security Research, as well as Director of the Center for European Security Studies (CEUSS) at Sigmund Freud University, Vienna, Austria. The institute was established under the Austrian national security research program KIRAS as a national center of excellence. In projects, exercises, and/or academic affairs and outreach, Alexander Siedschlag has worked with NATO, NATO School, DHS Science & Technology, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), as well as several European Union (EU) and member state institutions and agencies, and others.
A former NATO research fellow, Alexander Siedschlag started his career as a strategic analyst and then worked in the field of theories and methods of international politics as well as of the European Security and Defence Policy. Appointments included the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP), Ebenhausen, Germany, the Hochschule für Politik München, Germany, and the University of Innsbruck, Austria, where he held the Republic of Austria’s Endowed Chair for European Security Policy.
Alexander Siedschlag served as the principal investigator and coordinator of the European Union (EU) co-funded security research project FOCUS (2011-2013) on foresight security scenarios to plan for research in support of “European Union 2035” security roles, and their technological, social, and other requirements – including a strong transatlantic perspective and partnership with FEMA’s Strategic Foresight Initiative (SFI). This project brought together thirteen partners from eight countries, including big industry, SME, academia, and think tanks. He was a member of the Science Commission for the Austrian Minister of Defense, and a member in the working group “education and research” within the Austrian federal Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT) security strategy. He further served a term as the Chairman of the Bavarian branch of the German United Nations Association.
Recommended Citation
Siedschlag, Alexander
(2025)
"The Grad Duck Observes the Worldwide Commencement on the U.S.S. Midway in San Diego, CA,"
Night Flight: Online Literary Journal: Vol. 6
, Article 44.
Available at:
https://commons.erau.edu/night-flight/vol6/iss1/44