Peter D. Feaver

About the Author

Peter D. Feaver is a distinguished political scientist and professor of political science and public policy at Duke University, where he directs the Triangle Institute for Security Studies. A leading expert on civil-military relations, national security, and American foreign policy, Feaver has shaped scholarly and policy debates through his rigorous analysis of the interplay between military and civilian spheres. His seminal work, Soldiers and Civilians: The Civil-Military Gap and American National Security (BCSIA Studies in International Security), co-edited with Richard H. Kohn, examines the evolving dynamics of the U.S. military's role in democratic governance, drawing on extensive surveys and historical insights to address gaps in trust and understanding. Feaver's research, informed by his service on the National Security Council under President Clinton and his advisory roles in subsequent administrations, bridges academia and policymaking, offering critical perspectives on how civilian control sustains effective defense strategies in an era of complex global threats.