Dr. Lawrence A. Kuznar: Chief Cultural Sciences Officer

Dr. Lawrence A. Kuznar is NSI Chief Cultural Sciences Officer. Dr. Kuznar is currently supporting various Strategic Multi-layer Analysis (SMA) projects for OSD DDR&E, including the development of a socio-cultural system typology to enhance military and intelligence analysis and planning efforts. Dr. Kuznar supports NSI efforts through development of computational models, and also supports Human Terrain System (HTS) capabilities through development of social typologies and review of ethics issues regarding the conduct of social science in a military context. Prior to joining NSI, Dr. Kuznar was a tenured professor of anthropology at Indiana University – Purdue University, Fort Wayne in Fort Wayne IN. His research focused on decision theory, theories of conflict and terrorism, and computational modeling. This work found applications in IR&D projects for defense contractors, Air Force Intelligence Agency (AIA) and the IARPA PAINT program. He conducted extensive research among the Aymara of southern Peru and with the Navajo in the American southwest. He has published and edited several books and numerous peer-reviewed articles in journals such as American Anthropologist, Current Anthropology, Social Science Computer Review, Political Studies, Field Methods, and Journal of Anthropological Research. Dr. Kuznar earned his Ph.D. and M.A. in Anthropology, and a M.S. in Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences from Northwestern University. His B.A. in Anthropology is from Penn State.