The CMRC Leadership Team
Carrie A. Lee, Director
Carrie A. Lee is an associate professor at the US Army War College, where she serves as the Chair of the Department of National Security and Strategy and co-director of the USAWC Center on Civil-Military Relations. She studies how democratic political institutions (like elections) affect inter-state conflict, military operations, and foreign policy decision-making. Dr. Lee’s writing has appeared in publications such as Foreign Affairs, War on the Rocks, Armed Forces and Society, International Politics, Orbis, and The Washington Post. In addition to her work at the Army War College, Carrie is a contributing editor for War on the Rocks, adjunct professor with Columbia University’s School of International Public Affairs, a fellow with the Truman National Security Project, and member of Foreign Policy for America’s NextGen Initiative. She received her Ph.D. in political science from Stanford University in 2015, and a B.S. from MIT in 2010.
Johnathon Kupka, Deputy Director
Colonel Johnathon Moon Kupka is a Professor of Security Studies at the United States Army War College. He received his commission in the U.S. Army after graduating from Pacific Lutheran University. Prior to his arrival at Carlisle Barracks, Colonel Kupka taught graduate students at Maxwell AFB, AL for the Air War College. Previous non-command assignments include service as a military assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense and Deputy J5 for the NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan/Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan. His command assignments include: Commander, Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha 1332 and Headquarters Support Company Commander, 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne). He commanded the 39th Special Forces Detachment (Airborne) forward deployed in the Republic of Korea. He also commanded the United States Army Headquarters Battalion and the 2nd Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne). Dr. Kupka holds masters degrees from Georgetown University, School of Advanced Military Studies, and the Eisenhower School, National Defense University. He also holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science from the University of Kansas. Colonel Kupka earned many badges, tabs, medals, and ribbons throughout his career including the highly coveted and sought after Army Service Ribbon.