Short version: Former web developer and current political scientist building tools, researching, and writing around the global politics of science and technology.

Longer version: Presently, I lead FrontlineSMS’s Governance Project, an initiative to lower the barriers to transparency and accountability through mobile technology. Prior to FrontlineSMS, I earned a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, Davis researching the impact of civil wars on health care systems.

I write at ChrisRAlbon.com, UN Dispatch, and Daily Dot. I also occasionally contribute to TheAtlantic.com, ForeignPolicy.com, and other publications. In 2008, I founded Conflict Health, a blog on the defense of health and health workers in armed conflict and political violence. I also wrote for the United States Naval Institute Blog and elsewhere.

In another life I did freelance web design and development, mostly of content sites (back when content was king) — including SEO, graphic design, UI/UX, PHP, and web design.

I earned a B.A. from the University of Miami, where I triple majored in political science, international studies, and religious studies. I live in Baltimore and work in DC.

Want to talk? Contact Me

• Email: moc.noblARsirhC@em (reversed)
• GChat: Chris Albon
• Skype: ChrisAlbon
• Twitter: @chrisalbon

Curriculum Vitae

Education

• Ph.D., Political Science, University of California, Davis. 2012
  • Dissertation: “Civil Wars And Health Systems”, analyzes the determinants of rebel and government behavior towards health system destruction and reconstruction
  • Fields: International Relations, Political Methodology, and Public Health
• M.A., Political Science, University of California, Davis. 2010
  • Thesis: “U.N. Peace Operations And Public Health After Civil War”
• Summer Programme on International Affairs and Multilateral Governance, H.E.I., 2007
  • Focus: Human Security And Conflict Resolution
• B.A., University of Miami, Miami, FL. 2006
  • Triple majored in political science, international studies, and religious studies

Experience

• Project Director, FrontlineSMS, 2012 – Present
  • Leads FrontlineSMS’s Governance Project, an effort to use mobile technology to improve the transparency and accountability of governments.
• Blogger, ChrisRAlbon.com, 2013 – Present
  • Opinions and research on the global politics of science and technology
• Contributor, Daily Dot, 2012 – Present
  • Writes opinion pieces on the politics of the internet
• Contributor, United Nations Dispatch, 2011 – Present
  • Write news, opinion, and analysis on global affairs, particularly relating to health during
    conflict, global health politics, and the role of social media
• Blogger, Conflict Health, 2008 – 2012
  • Designed and launched blog on defending health and health workers against persecution, violence, and armed conflict
  • Wrote 485 posts over four years
  • Cited by major publications including The Atlantic, Harpers, Wired, The Economist, Time, The Guardian, and The American Prospect
• Contributor, United States Naval Institute Blog, 2009 – 2011
  • Wrote posts on the U.S. Navy’s role in disaster relief, humanitarian assistance, and health diplomacy for one of America’s most prestigious professional military associations
• Research Assistant, U.C. Davis Department Of Political Science, 2008 – 2009
  • Researched the effect of U.S. defense policy on military suicides
• Freelance Web Developer, 2002 – 2006
  • Designed and developed (mostly) content sites

Selected Publications And Media

• Save Skype, save the world. Daily Dot. Apr 2013.
• Why we need a Web that forgives and forgets. Daily Dot. Mar 2013.
• Building the Great Firewall of China. Daily Dot. Feb 2013.
• A trojan horse for the Internet age: The 100 words privacy policy law. Daily Dot. Feb 2013.
• I committed Aaron Schwartz’s crime—and so, probably, have you. Daily Dot. Feb 2013.
• Silence is golden—it makes a better Internet. Daily Dot. Feb 2013.
• We see right through you, Twitter—and that’s a good thing. Daily Dot. Jan 2013.
• How I stopped hating and learned to love We the People. Daily Dot. Jan 2013.
• The government is figuring out social media—and that’s a bad thing. Daily Dot. Dec 2012.
• Governments want to take over your Internet: At stake at WCIT-12. Daily Dot. Dec 2012.
• Anonymous you: what we’d really lose. Daily Dot. Dec 2012.
• How Generation Internet will clean up our politics. Daily Dot. Nov 2012.
• Are Innovation Hubs the Future of Open Government In Africa?. TechPresident. Sep 2012.
• The Hidden Perils Of Covert Action. ForeignPolicy.com: AfPak Channel. Jul 2011.
• Did The C.I.A.’s Fake Vaccine Drive Undermine Global Health Efforts?. Interview on The Takeaway for Public Radio International. Jul 13th, 2011.
• As Arabs Revolt, Government Forces Target Health Workers. TheAtlantic.com. May 2011.
• How Food Could Determine Libya’s Future. TheAtlantic.com. Mar 2011.
• How WikiLeaks Just Set Back Democracy In Zimbabwe. TheAtlantic.com. Dec 2010.
• Preparing For Mass Evacuation From Korea. TheAtlantic.com. Dec 2010.
• Creating An International Health Service Corps. Current Intelligence. Oct 2010.
• Blurring Line Between Militaries And Health Workers. TheAtlantic.com. Sep 2010.
• The Limits Of Netwar. Current Intelligence. Apr 2010.
• A Second Great White Fleet. The New Ledger. Sep 2010.
• Get Off The Fainting Couch. Proceedings. Apr 2010: Vol. 136/3/1,286.
• Infectious Diseases And U.S. National Security. Current Intelligence. Jul 2010.
• Infectious Disease, Foreign Militaries, and US National Security. In Threats In The Age Of Obama. Nimble Press. pp. 47-55. 2009.
• Wireless Technology For Health. i4d. Apr 2009:13-15.

Invited Conferences, Panels, and Presentations

• Panelist. Connected Africa Forum. November 19th-22nd 2012. Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
• Panelist. World Bank Open Contracting. October 24th-26th 2012. Johannesburg, South Africa.
• Trainer. Tech Forum Central Asia. June 14th-16th 2012. Almaty, Kazakhstan.
• “Mobile For Governance” Presented at The New African Democracy:
  Information Technology and Political Participation. SAIS. May 1st-2nd 2012. Washington, DC.
• “Do Peacekeepers Protect Health?” Presented at 50th Annual International Studies Association Conference. Feb 15th-18th 2009. New York, NY.
• “The Journey or the Destination: Determinants of Refugee Movement” Presented at International Studies Association – Western Conference. Sep 25th-26th. San Francisco, CA.
• Innovation Fair: Moving Beyond Conflict. World Bank. Apr 12th-15th, 2010. Cape Town, South Africa.
• Measures of Progress in Conflict Environments Workshop. Naval Postgraduate School. Jan 14th-16th, 2007. Monterey, CA.