Gary Shiffman

Gary M. Shiffman, Ph.D., is an economist, tech-company co-founder, and expert in integrating artificial intelligence with applied microeconomics to advance both fields. He serves as a Lecturer at Clemson University's Powers College of Business, a non-resident Fellow at Georgetown University's Center for Security Studies, and Executive-in-Residence at NextGEN. His career began as a U.S. Navy Surface Warfare Officer during the Gulf War, advancing to significant roles such as National Security Advisor in the U.S. Senate and Presidential appointee as Chief of Staff for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Professor Shiffman earned his Ph.D. in Economics from George Mason University in 2002 and immediately joined the adjunct faculty at Georgetown University, where he taught for two decades and maintains an ongoing affiliation. His research, focusing on the non-random production of violence and illicit behaviors like crime, insurgency, and terrorism, is detailed in his recent book, The Economics of Violence (Cambridge University Press). His extensive experience with DARPA-funded research on machine learning and AI, coupled with co-founding two AI companies, enables his unique blending of frontier artificial intelligence research with behavioral science in crucial areas. His work aims to empower others through writing, lectures, and building innovative technologies.