He received his B.A. from Louisiana State University (2001), his M.A. from the University of Kentucky (2006), and his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2009). He conducts research in the areas of territorial conflict, rivalry processes, and the causes and consequences of conventional arms races. His research has appeared in the Journal of Politics, the Journal of Peace Research, and International Interactions. He teaches courses in international relations and American foreign policy.