Lt Gen Robert Elder is currently a member of the George Mason University where he is a research professor with the Volgenau School of Engineering. Elder began his work at George Mason University following his retirement from military service as the Commander of 8th Air Force and U.S. Strategic Command’s Global Strike Component.  He currently conducts research in the areas of command and control, deterrence, escalation control involving international competition short of armed conflict, crisis management, and international actor decision-making.  General Elder served as the