Marcus A. Boyd

Boyd_Marcus
Geospatial Research Unit (GRU) Director, START
Director of Graduate Studies, START
University of Maryland
Former Investigator
Phone
301-405-7184
Email
boydma@umd.edu
Visit Website
Biography:

Marcus is the graduate studies director and head of geospatial analysis at START where he oversees research relating to terrorism, illicit finance, and GIScience. He has advanced methodological training in spatial statistics, demography, sociology, and geographic information systems. His primary research interests are economic geography and regional science, spatial inequality, and illicit spaces. His research has been funded by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the National Science Foundation, the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, and others. Prior to coming to START, he served in a variety of roles supporting various agencies of the U.S. Government. Marcus completed his PhD in Earth Systems and Geoinformation Sciences at George Mason University. His dissertation research focused on the interplay between terrorist attacks, illicit finance, and illicit spaces.
 

 

FACULTY MEMBER

Graduate Certificate in Terrorism Analysis – This online graduate program provides participants with advanced education on the causes, dynamics and impacts of international and domestic terrorism.

Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Security and Terrorism Studies – This online graduate program prepares students to examine the complex social, political, economic, and psychological underpinnings of terrorist and other asymmetric security threats.

Background

Education:
  • George Mason University, Ph.D., Earth Systems and Geoinformation Science, 2017
  • The George Washington University, M.A., Philosophy and Social Policy, 2010
  • Virginia Commonwealth University, B.A., History, 2006
Honors:
  • Alpha Kappa Delta, The International Sociology Honor Society
  • Member, American Sociological Association
  • Member, American Association of Geographers
  • Member, Eastern Sociological Society
  • Member, District of Columbia Sociological Society
Professional Experience:
  • Graduate Studies Director, 2018-Present
  • Senior Researcher, START, 2014-Present
  • Instructor, Criminology and Criminal Justice, UMDCP - Shady Grove, 2017-Present
  • Adjunct Professor of Sociology, Montgomery College, 2016-Present
  • Geospatial Analyst, Schafer Corp., 2012-2012
  • Regional Analyst, SAIC, 2010-2012
  • All-Source Analyst, BAE Systems, 2008-2010
  • Map Librarian, BAE Systems, 2007-2008

Lead Investigator on START Research Projects

A Climate of Terror: Approaches to the Study of Climate Change and Terrorism
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Climate Security, Great Power Competition, and Adversarial Geopolitics in Southeast Asia
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Comprehensive Testing of Imminent Threat Public Messages for Mobile Devices (MDP)
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Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency SIGMA+
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Developing Integrated Radiological and Nuclear Detection Architecture for the Interior and International Mission Space
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Dissuading Adversaries and their Radiological/Nuclear Pathways: Integrating Deterrence Theory and Analytics in the Global Nuclear Detection Architecture (GNDA)
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Expand the Transnational Illicit Trafficking (TransIT) Database
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Geospatial Analysis of Terror Finance
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Investigating Emerging and Near-Future Urban Security Challenges
Open-Source Geospatial Analysis of Criminal Activity
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Organized and/or Transnational Crime/Drug Cartel Nexus with Illicit Radiological/Nuclear Trade, Smuggling and/or Terrorism in Europe and North, Sahelian and West Africa
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PRND Capability Development Framework Mapping
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The Arctic All-Hazards GIS Platform
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The Road Less Traveled: Bolstering the Absorptive Capacity of Southern Central American States to Facilitate the Southern Flow of Northern Triangle Immigrants
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Tracking Cartels: Exploiting Open Sources to Identify Trends
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Researcher on START Projects

Advancing U.S. CWMD/CWMT Capabilities in Support of the SIGMA+ Program through Development of Anticipatory Human Social Systems Models and Adversary Weapon Selection Decision Processes
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Community-oriented Policing and Community Engagement in Benin
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Countering the Inhumane: Modeling Probable Pathways for Human Trafficking Along the U.S.- Mexico Border
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Developing Academic Partnerships and Collaborative Research on Countering Violent Extremism in Malaysia and Southeast Asia
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International and Regional Architecture Reports
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Shadows of Violence: Empirical Assessments of Threats, Coercion and Gray Zones
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Terrorism and Targeted Violence in the United States
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Selected Publications

A Climate of Terror? Approaches to the Study of Climate Change and Terrorism  (Research Brief)
A Climate of Terror? Climate Change as a Potential Ideological Driver of Terrorism  (Research Brief)
Alternative Scales of Extremism: The Relationship Between Scale and Predictive Measures of Extremism in the United States  (START Reports)
Intersections of Illicit Trafficking and Counterfeit Parts Workshop  (Report)
TOC as a Growing Threat to Regional, Global Security  (Journal Article)
COVID-19's Impact on Business Absorptive Capacity  (Research Brief)
Why Leave Home  (Research Brief)
Southeast Asia after the Caliphate: Identifying Spatial Trends in Terrorism and Radicalization in Malaysia  (Journal Article)
Tracking Cartels: Exploiting Open Sources to Identify Trends  (Research Brief)
Geospatial Analysis of Terror Finance  (Research Brief)
START Annual Meeting 2016: Quick-Fire Presentation - Counterterrorism, Countering Violent Extremism, Deradicalization  (Presentation)
Servicing Our Economy: Producer Service Location and Government Procurement 2004–2010 in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area  (Journal Article)
Probabilistic Pathway Projection to Counter Foreign Fighters  (Research Brief)
Catch Them Coming and Going: Probabilistic Pathway Projection to Counter Foreign Fighters  (START Reports)
Radiological/Nuclear Detection Capability Development Framework Mapping Tool  (Project Fact Sheet)
Transnational Illicit Trafficking (TransIT) Geospatial Tool  (Project Fact Sheet)
Searching for the Nuclear Silk Road: Geospatial Analysis of Potential Illicit Radiological and Nuclear Material Trafficking Pathways  (Book Chapter)
Social Equity in Local Emergency Management Planning  (Journal Article)

News References

Straight Arrow News: Cartels expand their business beyond drugs to oil and gas — and avocados
START co-hosts workshop on the security of critical system supply chains  (News)
CALCE and START co-host Intersections of Illicit Trafficking and Counterfeit Parts Workshop  (News)
Climate change: Fueling terror and extremism  (Featured Research)
START launches new master’s degree program in security and terrorism studies  (Featured Research)
GRU team gives virtual talk on cartels for National Security Forum  (Featured Research)
START formalizes commitment to Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism  (News)
New project seeks to provide DARPA with ways to deter CBRN attacks by non-state actors  (News)
New START webinar series features research on terrorism, gray zone conflicts and more  (News)
GIS research project seeks to combat drug cartels and gangs in Mexico and Central America  (Featured Research)
CBC: Why designating Mexican drug cartels terrorists might not be the way to fight organized crime
START, CINA and CAOE develop search tool for combatting cartels in Mexico and the Northern Triangle  (Featured Research)
Earn Your Graduate Certificate in Terrorism Analysis  (News)
Launch of new book series from START and Oxford University Press  (News)
New START model forecasts the flow of foreign fighters  (Featured Research)
Study shows longer emergency text alerts improve safety  (Featured Research)
Hybrid organizations have greater motivational and operations ability for RN trafficking  (Featured Research)