Andrew J. McLaughlin
Andrew J. McLaughlin graduated with Dean’s Honours (history and global studies) from Wilfrid Laurier University, where he subsequently obtained an MA in history. He is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Waterloo, focussing on United States military public affairs operations.
Education
PhD Candidate, History
University of Waterloo, 2009-present
Supervisor: Dr. Andrew Hunt
Field Seminars: War & Society, Modern American History, Modern Middle East
MA, History
Wilfrid Laurier University, 2008-2009
United States Foreign Policy and Military Affairs
BA (Honours), History and Global Studies
Wilfrid Laurier University, 2002-2007
Current Research
My dissertation focuses on the evolution of US military-media initiatives, specifically strategic and doctrinal efforts at optimizing public relations campaigns. My main area of concentration is the current “embedding” programme, instituted in the wake of the September 11th attacks, and utilized in the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts. The relationships that develop between soldier and reporter on the battlefield, and the subsequent consequences of these relationships, represent the main focus of the study.