John P. Patch
John P. Patch
Lecturer
Part-time Faculty
Contact:
Email:
John P. Patch
The Elliott School of International Affairs
Foggy Bottom Campus
John Patch is GWU adjunct graduate faculty at the Elliot School of International Affairs in the Security Policy Studies Program. He also teaches undergraduate courses at the American Military University and is an instructor for Pherson Associates, teaching analysis classes for intelligence community agencies. He is a retired Naval Intelligence senior officer, a former US Army War College Associate Professor and a career all-source intelligence analyst with specialties in international relations, national & homeland security, joint targeting and intelligence analytic tradecraft. He served in senior intelligence positions in peace and war, from an aircraft carrier strike group to a NATO intelligence center, the U.S. Central Command and four intelligence agencies. He has an MA in political science/international relations from Villanova, graduate certificates in Strategy & Policy and International Security from ODU and Harvard University and completed studies at the Naval War College. John has published an array of peer-reviewed articles and award-winning essays and is a lifelong learner.
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever"—Mahatma Gandhi.
• American Public University System Faculty Excellence Award, 2025.
• US Army War College Commander’s Award for Civilian Service, 2012.
• U.S. Naval Institute Arleigh Burke Essay Contest winner, 2005, 2007.
• U.S. Navy Edwin Layton Intelligence Leadership Award, 2001.
• Joint Forces Staff College MacArthur Foundation Critical Analysis Award, 2000.
• Graduate Certificate in International Security (4.0), Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.
• MA/BA International Relations/Pol. Science, Villanova University, Villanova, PA.
• Graduate Certificate in Strategy/Policy, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA.
• Naval War College/Joint Forces Staff College, Joint Professional Military Education I/II (w/distinction).
• Defense Strategy Course, US Army War College, Carlisle, PA.
IAFF 6186 (Fall 2026, in development)
Naval War College, China’s Near Seas Combat Capabilities, China Maritime Studies Institute Red Book, “Chinese Fast Attack Craft” (Chapter 1), January 2014, https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1010&context=cmsi-red-books
Armed Forces Journal, July 2012, “Change course on LCS: It’s not too late to get useful low-end ships,” at http://www.armedforcesjournal.com/2012/07/10395886
US Army War College Parameters, Spring 2011, “The Piracy Threat in Perspective,” at http://www.carlisle.army.mil/USAWC/Parameters/
U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, January 2011, “The Wrong Ship at the Wrong Time,” at http://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2011-01/wrong-ship-wrong-time#comment-1030
US Naval Institute Proceedings, June 2010, “Regain ASCM Standoff: Improve the Harpoon,” at http://www.usni.org
US Naval Institute Proceedings, July 2010, “How Does this End?” at http://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/story.asp?STORY_ID=2434
U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, April 2010, “A Thoroughbred Ship-Killer,” at http://www.usni.org
Armed Forces Journal, April 2010, “Send the warships home: Piracy is a crime best addressed by law enforcement efforts,” http://www.afji.com/2010/04/4537286
US Naval Institute Proceedings, January 2010, “Fortress at Sea? The Carrier Invulnerability Myth,” at http://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/story.asp?STORY_ID=2164
U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, May 2009, “Cold Horizons: Arctic Maritime Security Challenges,” at http://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/story.asp?STORY_ID=1859
Naval War College Review, Autumn 2008: “Fortuitous Endeavor: Intelligence and Deception in Operation Torch,” at http://www.nwc.navy.mil/press/review/documents/NWCRAu08.pdf
U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, December 2008, “Piracy: The Overstated Threat,” at https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/story.asp?STORY_ID=1694
Armed Forces Journal, November 2008: " Ground Truth and Human Terrain,” at http://www.armedforcesjournal.com/2008/11/3736206
U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, October 2008, “Guarding Our Shores: Is Anyone in Charge?” at http://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/story.asp?STORY_ID=1623
U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, September 2008, “Taking out Saddam’s Floating Pleasure Palace,” at http://www.usni.org/userfiles/file/%20Sept/Patch%20Sept%2008.pdf
Marine Corps Gazette, JUN 2008: " Overcome by Events: the naval surface fire support dilemma," at http://www.mca-marines.org/gazette/jun08_patch.asp
Armed Forces Journal, SEP 2007: "Jack-of-all-Trades: The Littoral Combat Ship serves too many masters with too many roles," at http://www.armedforcesjournal.com/2007/09/2928967
Armed Forces Journal, JUN 2007: "The Maritime Strategy We Need," at http://www.armedforcesjournal.com/2007/06/2729159
Joint Forces Quarterly, MAY 2007: "Obstacles to Effective Joint Targeting," at http://www.ndu.edu/inss/Press/jfq_pages/editions/i45/18.pdf
Arleigh Burke Essay Contest Winner, U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, May 2007: "The Navy's Homeland Role: Vigilant Guard or Forward Defense?" at http://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/archive/subscription.asp?ID=77
Marine Corps Gazette, NOV 2006: "Operation AL FAJR: Enduring MOUT principles make the fight for Fallujah a success," at http://mca.webfirst.com/gazette/webarticle2.asp
Arleigh Burke Essay Contest Winner, US Naval Institute Proceedings, May 2005: "Sea Basing: Chasing the Dream," at http://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/archive/subscription.asp?ID=26
U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, DEC 2005: "Maritime Interception Operations: Worth the Effort," at http://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/archive/subscription.asp?ID=19
U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, NOV 2003: "Send Our Ships Back to Middle Eastern Ports," at http://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/archive/subscription.asp?ID=44
U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, OCT 2003: "Don't Ignore Sea Control," at http://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/archive/subscription.asp?ID=45