Todd C. Helmus

Photo of Todd Helmus
Senior Behavioral Scientist
Washington Office

Education

Ph.D. in clinical psychology, Wayne State University

Overview

Biography

Todd Helmus is a senior behavioral scientist who specializes in terrorism and insurgency. Helmus has authored numerous studies that focused on improving U.S. efforts to counter militant recruitment and decrease popular support for terrorism and insurgency. He has studied U.S. military strategies for influencing and interacting with noncombatant populations, investigated factors that promote insurgent radicalization and recruitment, examined strategies for countering radicalization in the Middle East, and identified lessons learned for joint urban operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Helmus has also served as an advisor in counterinsurgency strategy to U.S. military commands in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He received a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Wayne State University.

Research Focus

Selected Publications

Lowell Schwartz, Todd C. Helmus, Dalia Dassa Kaye, Nadia Oweidat, Barriers to the Broad Dissemination of Creative Works in the Arab World, RAND (MG-879), 2009

Terri L. Tanielian et al., Invisible Wounds of War: Psychological and Cognitive Injuries, Their Consequences, and Services to Assist Recovery, RAND (MG-720), 2008

Todd C. Helmus, Christopher Paul, Russell W. Glenn, Enlisting Madison Avenue: The Marketing Approach to Earning Popular Support in Theaters of Operation, RAND (MG-607), 2007

Paul K. Davis et al., Social Science for Counterterrorism: Putting the Pieces Together, RAND (RP-1408-01)

Commentary

Fighting Terror the Cold War Way — Oct 14, 2009

  • ForeignPolicy.com

Ad Men for U.S. Defense — Aug 20, 2007

  • United Press International

Publications

Promoting Online Voices for Countering Violent Extremism - 2013

Locals Rule: Historical Lessons for Creating Local Defense Forces for Afghanistan and Beyond - 2012

Addressing Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury Among Servicemembers and Their Families: Existing Department of Defense Programs and Options for Improvement - 2011

Programs Addressing Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury Among U.S. Military Servicemembers and Their Families - 2011

The Long Shadow of 9/11: America's Response to Terrorism - 2011

Barriers to the Broad Dissemination of Creative Works in the Arab World - 2009

Social Science for Counterterrorism: Putting the Pieces Together - 2009

Invisible Wounds of War: Psychological and Cognitive Injuries, Their Consequences, and Services to Assist Recovery - 2008

''People Make the City,'' Executive Summary: Joint Urban Operations Observations and Insights from Afghanistan and Iraq - 2007

Applying Madison Avenue Principles and Recent Operational Experience to Counterinsurgency and Stability Operations - 2007

Enlisting Madison Avenue: The Marketing Approach to Earning Popular Support in Theaters of Operation - 2007

Reinforcing Effects of Diazepam Under Anxiogenic Conditions in Individuals with Social Anxiety - 2005

Steeling the Mind: Combat Stress Reactions and Their Implications for Urban Warfare - 2005