Russia, Syria and ISIS – An Update from the Experts

Dr. Mark J. Conversino, who holds a B.A. from Eastern Kentucky University and an M.A. and Ph.D. from Indiana University, is Strategic Advisor to the Commander, Air University and Professor of Military History and Airpower Theory at the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies (SAASS), Air University, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. Dr. Conversino joined the faculty at AWC following his retirement from active duty with the Air Force. While at AWC, he served as Associate Dean from June 2006 to October 2008, then as Professor and Dean from November 2008 until March 2015. Following his service as Dean, he received the Air Force Award for Meritorious Civilian Service. Dr. Conversino has authored the book Fighting With The Soviets: The Failure of Operation FRANTIC, 1944-1945, along with several chapters in edited works, and numerous articles and reviews in scholarly and defense-related journals. He has lectured extensively here and abroad, and been the recipient of numerous faculty and academic awards for excellence. Dr. Conversino serves on the Board of Advisors for the Baltic Defense College in Tartu, Estonia and the board of the Alabama World Affairs Council. He also serves on the editorial or submission review boards of several professional and scholarly journals.

Dr. David S. Sorenson is Professor of International Security Studies at the Air War College, Air University. Professor Sorenson received his Ph.D. from the Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver, and previously served on the faculties of the University of Colorado at Denver, Denison University, and the Mershon Center at Ohio State University. His books include An Introduction to the Modern Middle East(Westview Press, 2^nd Edition, 2014), Global Security Watch: Lebanon(Praeger Publishers, 2010), Interpreting the Middle East: Essential Themes(edited, Westview Press, 2010), The Politics and Process of Defense Acquisition, (Praeger Publishers, 2009), and, and 6 other authored or co-edited books, and articles, book chapters and conference papers on Middle East politics, defense budget politics, and national security affairs. Professor Sorenson is currently writing two books, one on Middle East civil-military relations, and one on the Syrian civil war. He has done media interviews with the Chicago Tribune, USA Today, The Boston Globe, National Public Radio, Congressional Quarterly, and the Washington Post, among others, and consults for several U.S. government agencies. He travels frequently to the Middle East.