Challenges in Humanitarian Intervention: Cultural Lessons from Somalia 1992-1994

January 23, 2009, Olin Arts Center Room 104 at 5:00pm

Colonel Michael Paulovich, USMC (retired) served for 28 years in a variety of assignments in the areas of Special Operations, Security, and Training and Education. He was the Commanding Officer of the Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team (FAST) Company, a highly trained unit that provided protection for diplomatic missions and military activities during crisis events.

From 1992-1995, this unit was involved in Haiti, Somalia, and the Caribbean. Over the course of 17 months, he made 7 trips to Somalia. From 2003 to 2005 he later commanded Marine Corps Security Battalion, a unit of 2300 personnel located in 11 global locations. This unit was provided security for diplomatic missions during crisis events in Liberia, Haiti, and the Pacific and Gulf Regions.

His final military assignment was as the Director of the Division of Humanities  and Social Sciences at the US Naval Academy, overseeing over 130 faculty and staff in the Economics, History, English, Political Science, and Language Studies departments. He taught courses in “Economic Geography” and “Moral Reasoning for the Naval Officer.”

His education includes an AB from Harvard University in Economics, MBA and MA from Webster University and MA from the Naval War College. He currently is a Senior Research Scientist for Battelle Memorial Institute.