Who got that job?

Michael Goodman
Lecturer in War Studies, King's College London

Job advertised in The Times Higher November 28, 2003

The war studies department at King's College London commands a worldwide reputation as one of the leading centres in the subject. Last November, the department advertised for two new lecturers.

Michael Goodman will be taking up one of the new jobs at King's once he has added the finishing touches to his PhD thesis.

Mr Goodman did his degree in history and archaeology at Leicester University, and discovered his keen interest in war studies and intelligence when he did an MA in politics and contemporary history.

While at Nottingham doing his PhD thesis on British intelligence estimates of Soviet nuclear weapons in the mid-20th century, Mr Goodman was able to publish in prestigious journals such as The Journal of Cold War Studies and TheJournal of International and National Security.

The department at King's runs a BA degree in war studies as well as various specialist masters courses.

As the new intelligence expert, Mr Goodman will be teaching on many of the programmes, as well as revising them and developing new ones.

He admits that, although well qualified for the position, he was lucky to secure it.

"I have to pinch myself still. Most PhD graduates go into temporary contracts, and this is full time and permanent," he says.

"And this department at King's has always been something I was interested in. My goals are to turn my thesis into a book and to strengthen the intelligence courses at King's. Intelligence has been in the news so much, people are really starting to realise how important it is."