About the Faculty

The APU National Security faculty brings relevant theory and real-world experience to the APU National Security curriculum. Many have worked or work for notable national security organizations, including the Department of Homeland Security, the State Department, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Department of Defense and more.

Dr. Michael Collier is a retired U.S. Coast Guard Commander where he was a deepwater cutter operations and a sub-specialist in military and law enforcement intelligence. His senior officer assignments included tours as Coast Guard and Police Attaché, U.S. Embassy, Bogotá, Colombia; Commanding Officer USCGC Thetis (WMEC 910); and Deputy Director of Intelligence, Joint Interagency Task Force East, Key West, Florida (an International Counter Drug Operations and Intelligence Center). Collier holds a Ph.D. in international relations from Florida International University, a master of science in strategic intelligence (with concentrations in Latin American studies and Soviet Studies) from the Joint Military Intelligence College, and a bachelor of science. from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. He is an adjunct faculty member within the Department of National Security, Intelligence and Space Studies at American Public University where he currently teaches a variety of undergraduate and graduate national security courses.