1993 Major: History
"My focus of undergraduate studies in history was US Constitutional history. It helped validate my decision to pursue a career in law. More specifically, it gave me the inspiration to always want to know the historical context for why a particular US law (and its specific provisions and terminology) was enacted or why a particular international treaty (and its specific provisions and terminology) was drafted and negotiated."
"While I viewed so many of my class papers at Duke to be purely homework assignments at the time, my decision to research and write an honors thesis as part of my history major was entirely different experience. It sparked my lifelong passion for research and writing. For my History thesis, I had the full discretion to choose my topic, and choose what types of sources to consider. Rather than focusing in the writings of others, I chose to look directly at primary legal sources and forming my own opinions and analysis. As a Navy attorney and law professor, I have published many journal articles over the past 25 years. Currently, I am writing my first two books, one of which is focused on the legal history of a major event in US national security history. I can trace that passion for research and writing about historical questions to my Duke history thesis and my faculty advisor. He always challenged me to think and consider other political perspectives on history."
