Mark Christensen is a United States Army War College fellow in residence at the Institute as a 2015–16 Kellogg guest scholar. A lieutenant colonel in the United States Army, Christensen will examine how the US military, through Special Operations Forces (SOF), can include conflict prevention as part of its mission.
Christensen will continue ongoing collaborative research with Faculty Fellows Viva Bartkus and Emily Block on Business on the Frontlines (BOTFL). He also aims to explore the role of business—individually and in partnership with special operations as an ally in preventing conflict and establishing security in conflict regions. Using BOTFL case studies from Bosnia and Senegal, as well as BOTFL and SOF joint work in Honduras, Christensen will address how conflict prevention is both just and practical for the SOF community.
A native of Racine, Wisconsin, Christensen is a former battalion commander for the 91st Civil Affairs Battalion with training in senior leadership and more than 20 years experience as a commissioned officer. He has received numerous decorations and awards for service in Macedonia, Kuwait, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He holds an MS in international relations from Troy University.