• Directly helps you with your next active duty promotion review or civilian professional development
• Competitive tuition
• Streamlined admissions process—only an application and transcript(s) required, no ACT/SAT needed
• For our active duty students, based on your experience and training, fewer credits may be required for completion of this associate degree. Fewer credits needed means you’ll earn your degree faster and save money.
• All courses are delivered online. Convenient for the working professional or if serving your country domestically or overseas.
• Flexible seven-week terms allow you to concentrate on one class at a time.
• Faculty are scholar/practitioners who work in the homeland security and preparedness fields and design our program curriculum.
• This program is a steppingstone to our MA in International Relations and Diplomacy.
• Our Veteran Affairs Office offers a range of support services, and the College is a designated Yellow Ribbon college with recognition by multiple military-friendly organizations.

Organizations with academic credit toward degree: JSOU, MARSOC, and NAVSE

Trainings with academic credit toward degree: CSC and EWS

Email military@nec.edu for information about transfer credits from AWS and EPME.

Adjunct Professor, Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, International Relations and Diplomacy
Email: cmarrara@nec.edu
Professional Website: pamanufacturers.org

Expertise, Awards, and Achievements

Expertise:

• Economic Analysis: Local Resource Manufacturing Tax Credit (pamanufacturers.org/blog/act-66-economic-impact-analysis)
• Economic Analysis: Pipeline Infrastructure Investment to Attract Polypropylene Manufacturing (pamanufacturers.org/blog/pma-releases-economic-study-urging-pipeline-infrastructure-investment-attract-polypropylene)

Awards and Achievements:

• Mosaic Taiwan Fellowship Program, 2019
• Business and Industry Political Action Committee, Prosperity Project Steering Committee, Member
• Northeast Pennsylvania Manufacturers and Employers Council, Board Member

Educational Background
MA in Public Policy, New England College
BA in Political Science, Elizabethtown College

Research Interests

• Economic impact analysis
• Policy design and research
• Workforce development
• International trade

Bio
Carl Marrara came to NEC in 2017. With more than a decade of experience in state, federal, and international government affairs and advocacy, Carl brings a breadth of knowledge and experience to his students and focuses on practically applying their research interests in Research Methods and Senior Thesis classes. His personal academic research focuses on regional and state economic impact analysis.

Outside of teaching, he is Vice President of Government Affairs for the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association (PMA), the statewide business organization representing the interests of manufacturers in Pennsylvania’s public policy process. Carl oversees the strategic external communications of the Association. He is a writer, producer, and reporter for PMA Perspective—a weekly half-hour news program on Pennsylvania business, government, and politics—and editor of the PMA Bulletin, a premier in-depth analysis of current issues facing Pennsylvania businesses. He serves as the chief lobbyist for the Association and focuses on legislative research and analysis, bill tracking, and grassroots activation. He has successfully maintained relationships with key state legislators, legislative staff, and congressional members and staff. Carl prioritizes building coalitions with allied stakeholders such as regional manufacturing associations, trade groups, and national think tanks and advocacy organizations. He also directs the expenditures and strategy of PMA PAC, the affiliated political action committee of PMA, and has worked on successful political campaigns.

Carl is active in a variety of civic and cultural organizations including the Foundation for Free Enterprise Education and serving as President-emeritus of the Harrisburg Chapter of Elizabethtown College Alumni. Outside of professional interests, he travels when possible, is a jazz-trained bassist, runs competitively, but enjoys time at home in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, with his wife and two daughters most.

Dean, School of Graduate and Professional Studies
Office: Remote
Phone: 603.428.2274
Email: jcallahan@nec.edu

Expertise and Awards

• U.S. foreign policy and national security decision making
• Meritorious Honor Award, U.S. Department of State, May 2005

Educational Background
PhD in International Studies with focus on U.S. Foreign Policy and Conflict and Cooperation, Old Dominion University

Research Interests

• National security decision making
• European politics
• Information operations and warfare
• Intelligence
• Military history
• Military operations

Bio
John Callahan has served as the Dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies since September 2019. He continues to serve as the Director for Combined Online Military Programs in International Relations, Homeland Security, and Public Policy for NEC, and he has taught here since 2010. His research focuses on foreign-policy decision-making, framing, and strategic communication. He is a co-convenor for the Political Science Association of the UK German Studies Group, focusing on the rise of populism in Europe. Dr. Callahan served as Deputy Spokesman at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, helping the Director, Ambassador John Negroponte, communicate key messages of intelligence reform to the American people. Prior to this, Dr. Callahan was honored to be selected by the Department of Defense and the Department of State to serve as a Public Affairs Officer at the American Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. From 2000–2004, Dr. Callahan served as a government relations and public affairs officer for several well-known U.S. student leadership organizations. He has served on the Board of Directors of the International Ambassador Club since 2018.