James S. Robbins (born 1962) is an American commentary writer for ''
USA Today
''USA Today'' (often stylized in all caps) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth in 1980 and launched on September 14, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headq ...
'' and Senior Fellow for National Security Affairs on the
American Foreign Policy Council.
He is the former Senior Editorial Writer for Foreign Affairs at the ''
Washington Times
''The Washington Times'' is an American conservative daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It covers general interest topics with an emphasis on national politics. Its broadsheet daily edition is distributed throughout Washington, D. ...
'', an author, political commentator and professor, with a focus on national security and foreign and military affairs.
He also served as special assistant in the Office of the
Secretary of Defense.
His books include ''The Real Custer: from Boy General to Tragic Hero'' (2014), ''Native Americans: Patriotism, Exceptionalism and the New American Identity'' (2013), ''This Time We Win: Revisiting the Tet Offensive'' (2010) and ''Last in Their Class: Custer, Pickett and the Goats of West Point'' (2006). He is also a
political commentator
A pundit is a person who offers opinion in an authoritative manner on a particular subject area (typically politics, the social sciences, technology or sport), usually through the mass media. The term pundit describes both women and men, altho ...
and contributing editor for ''
National Review Online
''National Review'' is an American conservative editorial magazine, focusing on news and commentary pieces on political, social, and cultural affairs. The magazine was founded by William F. Buckley Jr. in 1955. Its editor-in-chief is Rich Lo ...
''.
Early life and education
Robbins was born in 1962. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees in
political science
Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and Power (social and political), power, and the analysis of political activities, political philosophy, political thought, polit ...
from the
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati (UC or Cincinnati, informally Cincy) is a public university, public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1819 and had an enrollment of over 53,000 students in 2024, making it the ...
. He received a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy (M.A.L.D.) and
Ph.D. from
The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university in Medford and Somerville, Massachusetts, United States, with additional facilities in Boston and Grafton, as well as Talloires, France. Tufts also has several Doctor of Physical Therapy p ...
in
Medford, Massachusetts
Medford is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. At the time of the 2020 United States census, Medford's population was 59,659. It is home to Tufts University, which has its campus on both sides of the Medford and Somervill ...
.
Career
Robbins taught at
The Fletcher School,
Boston University
Boston University (BU) is a Private university, private research university in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. BU was founded in 1839 by a group of Boston Methodism, Methodists with its original campus in Newbury (town), Vermont, Newbur ...
,
Marine Corps University,
National Defense University National Defence (or Defense) University (or College) may refer to:
:''Alphabetical by country'' University
* Marshal Fahim National Defense University, Afghanistan
* National Defense University (Azerbaijan)
* People's Liberation Army National Defe ...
, and other schools.
Robbins served in the federal government for ten years, including as special assistant to the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy in the Office of the
Secretary of Defense in the George W. Bush administration.
In 2001, Robbins was a professor of International Relations at the
National Defense University National Defence (or Defense) University (or College) may refer to:
:''Alphabetical by country'' University
* Marshal Fahim National Defense University, Afghanistan
* National Defense University (Azerbaijan)
* People's Liberation Army National Defe ...
.
In 2007, Robbins was appointed Director of the Intelligence Community Center at
Trinity Washington University
Trinity Washington University is a private Catholic university in Washington, D.C., United States. It was founded as Trinity College by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1897 as the nation's first Catholic liberal arts college for women. T ...
. In 2008, he was selected as Program Chair of the Master of Arts in International Security Studies at Trinity Washington.
In 2009, Robbins was appointed Senior Editorial Writer for Foreign Affairs at the ''
Washington Times
''The Washington Times'' is an American conservative daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It covers general interest topics with an emphasis on national politics. Its broadsheet daily edition is distributed throughout Washington, D. ...
,'' where he worked until November 2012.
From April to August 2013, Robbins served as Deputy Editor of Rare, a conservative web site that is part of the
Cox Media Group
CMG Media Corporation (doing business as Cox Media Group) is an American media conglomerate principally owned by Apollo Global Management in conjunction with Cox Enterprises, which maintains a 29% minority stake in the company. The company p ...
.
In 2013 Robbins joined the USA Today board of contributors and is a US News contributor as well.
In addition to writing three books, he has written frequent articles for the ''
National Review
''National Review'' is an American conservative editorial magazine, focusing on news and commentary pieces on political, social, and cultural affairs. The magazine was founded by William F. Buckley Jr. in 1955. Its editor-in-chief is Rich L ...
'', the ''
Washington Times
''The Washington Times'' is an American conservative daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It covers general interest topics with an emphasis on national politics. Its broadsheet daily edition is distributed throughout Washington, D. ...
'', and a variety of other publications, including ''
The Wall Street Journal
''The Wall Street Journal'' (''WSJ''), also referred to simply as the ''Journal,'' is an American newspaper based in New York City. The newspaper provides extensive coverage of news, especially business and finance. It operates on a subscriptio ...
'', ''
USA Today
''USA Today'' (often stylized in all caps) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth in 1980 and launched on September 14, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headq ...
'', ''
The Baltimore Sun
''The Baltimore Sun'' is the largest general-circulation daily newspaper based in the U.S. state of Maryland and provides coverage of local, regional, national, and international news.
Founded in 1837, the newspaper was owned by Tribune Publi ...
'', and ''
The Boston Herald
The ''Boston Herald'' is an American conservative daily newspaper whose primary market is Boston, Massachusetts, and its surrounding area. It was founded in 1846 and is one of the oldest daily newspapers in the United States. It has been awarde ...
''. He is a frequent commentator on national and international
television
Television (TV) is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. Additionally, the term can refer to a physical television set rather than the medium of transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, ...
and radio.
Robbins is Senior Fellow in National Security Affairs at the
American Foreign Policy Council. He serves on the Advisory Board of the
National Civil War Museum
The National Civil War Museum, located at One Lincoln Circle at Reservoir Park (Harrisburg), Reservoir Park in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is a private 501c(3) nonprofit promoting the preservation of material culture and sources of information th ...
.
Books
*
*
*
*
*
Articles
* “Afghanistan: Back To Basics,” in ''The Journal of International Security Affairs'' no. 15, Fall 2008, pp. 79–88.
* “Custer: The Goat at West Point and at War,” in ''Custer and His Times: Book Five,'' John P. Hart (ed), LaGrange Park, IL: Little Big Horn Associates (2008).
* “Dangerous Deterrence,” in ''Taking on Tehran: Strategies for Confronting the Islamic Republic,'' Ilan Berman (ed), Washington: Rowman & Littlefield (2007).
* “Insurgent Seizure of an Urban Area: Grozny, 1996,” in ''Countering Terrorism and Insurgency in the 21st Century: International Perspectives,'' Volume III, James J.F. Forest (ed), McGraw Hill (2006).
* “Battlefronts in the War of Ideas,” in ''Countering Terrorism and Insurgency in the 21st Century: International Perspectives,'' Volume I, James J.F. Forest (ed), McGraw Hill (2006).
* “Iraq,” in ''Flashpoints in the War on Terrorism,'' Derek Reveron (ed), New York: Routledge Publishers (2006).
* “Contemporary Operational-Level War Fighting” – a review of Nicholas E. Reynolds, ''Basrah, Baghdad, and Beyond: The U.S. Marine Corps in the Second Iraq War,'' Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press, 2005, in the ''Naval War College Review,'' Spring 2006, Vol. 59, No. 2, pp. 157–161.
* “Soft Targets: Hard Choices,” in ''Homeland Security: Protecting America’s Targets,'' James J.F. Forest (ed), Westport, CT: Praeger Security International (2006).
* "Al-Qaeda Versus Democracy," ''Journal of International Security Affairs'' No. 9 (Fall 2005).
* “Terrorism, the Media, and Homeland Security,” in ''Homeland Security: Controlling the New Security Environment,'' Howard, Moore and Forest (eds), Guilford, CT: McGraw Hill Publishers (2005).
* “Defeating Networked Terrorism,” in ''Defeating Terrorism: Shaping the New Security Environment,'' Howard and Sawyer (eds.), Guilford, CT: McGraw Hill Publishers (2004).
* “Central Command: Tip of the Spear” in ''America’s Viceroys: The Military and U.S. Foreign Policy,'' Derek Reveron (ed.), New York: Palgrave Macmillan Publishers (2004).
* “Bin Laden’s War,” in ''Terrorism and Counterterrorism: Understanding the New Security Environment,'' Howard and Sawyer (eds.), Guilford, CT: McGraw Hill Publishers (2003).
Legacy and honors
* Robbins is the recipient of the 2010 Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association first place award for editorial writing.
* In 2011, he was awarded the Washington Times Excellence in Achievement award.
* In 2007, he was awarded the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joint
Meritorious Civilian Service Award.
* In 2001, he was awarded the U.S. Department of State, Secretary’s Open Forum Distinguished Public Service Award.
References
External links
Washington Times Author archive.
National Review Author archive.
USA Today Author archive.
Robbins discusses ''Last in Their Class: Custer, Pickett and the Goats of West Point''at the
Pritzker Military Museum & Library
The Pritzker Military Museum & Library (formerly Pritzker Military Library) is a non-profit museum and research library for the study of military history located in a state-of-the art facility in Kenosha, WI. The institution was founded in 2003, ...
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Robbins, James S
American political writers
American male non-fiction writers
Living people
1962 births
The Washington Times people
National Review people
Writers from Cincinnati
Journalists from Cincinnati