Dr. Christopher von Dyck is a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs. Chris received his PhD in Political Science from the University of Alberta, Edmonton in 2013 and completed an M.A from Dalhousie University. His doctoral research focused on the consolidation of African state power in the aftermath of civil conflicts. This research concentrated on Sierra Leone and Liberia’s peacebuilding and military reform processes. Chris conducted extended field research, UN archival work in West Africa and interviews with international and African security officials. He is currently publishing his research as a book-length manuscript and journal articles. Additionally, he is working on a project that compares peacebuilding and security sector reform processes in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire and Mali. Chris currently resides in Ottawa with his wife, Shanela. He can be contacted at Christopher.dyck@carleton.ca