
Austin Doctor
Co-Director
Austin Doctor, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice and the Director of Strategic Initiatives at the National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center based at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. His research specializes in terrorism and emerging threats. His work is published in Terrorism and Political Violence, Perspectives on Terrorism, The Journal of Conflict Resolution, International Studies Quarterly, Global Crime, and other peer-reviewed journals. Doctor’s work informs U.S. homeland security and homeland defense in support of partners across federal law enforcement, the U.S. military, and U.S. Intelligence Community.
Publications by Austin Doctor
13 publications found

Homegrown: U.S. federal cases against ISIS
- Seamus Hughes , Callie Vitro , Camden Carmichael , Mackenzie Harms , Austin Doctor ,
- Isis, Courts, Hgve
The current state of U.S. federal cases against ISIS
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Defining the logic and risk of terrorist UAS attacks in the United States
- Austin Doctor , Suat Cubukcu , George Grispos , Joel Elson , Tyler McCoid ,
- Ux s, Emerging technology
A report on the logic and emerging trends in terrorist use of UAS.
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Investigating terrorist use of improvised explosive devices in the United States: Evidence from US federal court cases, 2009–2024
Understanding terrorist use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the United States.
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U.S. Federal Cases Against ISIS Using Non-Terrorism-Related Charges
- Seamus Hughes , Callie Vitro , Camden Carmichael , Brooke Buxton , Mackenzie Harms , Austin Doctor ,
- Isis, Courts, Hgve
The use of non-terrorism related charges for federal ISIS-related cases.
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Sentencing terrorist leaders and their followers: Evidence from Islamic State defendants in U.S. federal courts, 2014–2024
Sentencing of ISIS-affiliated defendants in U.S. federal courts.
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Advancements in the connection between Unmanned Systems (UxS) and geospatial technologies
Research on unmanned systems (UxS) and the current state of terrorist innovation in this emerging space.
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Research challenges in combating terrorist use of explosives in the United States 2024
- Austin Doctor , Sam Hunter , Gina Ligon , Gary Wes Carter , Dan Polanski , Jimmie Oxley ,
- Ieds, Ux s, Emerging technology
A report on the current challenge areas for research combating IED use in the homeland.
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The metaverse as a future threat landscape: An interdisciplinary perspective
Examining potential mechanisms by which the metaverse may emerge as a future threat landscape.
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Equifinality and the key role it plays in understanding the future of leadership
Equifinality applied to leadership.
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Militant leadership and terrorism in armed conflict
Examining the impact of military experience on militant leaders’ willingness to engage in terrorist violence.
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The future of terrorist use of improvised explosive devices: Getting in front of an evolving threat
A taxonomy of emerging threats related to terrorist use of IEDs in the U.S.
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Reintegration of foreign terrorist fighter families: A framework of best practices for the U.S.
- Austin Doctor , Haroro Ingram , Devorah Margolin , Andrew Mines , Lorenzo Vidino ,
- Ftfs, Reintegration
A report outlining a comprehensive framework of best practices in the reintegration of FTF families.
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The repatriation & reintegration dilemma: How states manage the return of foreign terrorist fighters & their families
Examines factors which drive states’ approaches to reintegration of FTFs and their families.
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