Dustin Cathcart is currently a first year Public Policy graduate student at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, concentrating his studies on political and economic development. A five-year veteran of the United States Army, Dustin began his army career at Fort Benning, Georgia where he completed the Infantry Officer’s Basic Course and Ranger School. Subsequently, Dustin reported to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii where he led two infantry platoons and served as the executive officer of an infantry company.  In 2007, Dustin deployed to Iraq as a Military Transition Team member, advising a new Iraqi infantry battalion in North Baghdad, before serving as a logistics officer for an infantry task force.  After a 15-month deployment Dustin returned to Hawaii as a Bronze Star Medal recipient.  Dustin’s involvement in the administration of a micro-grant program targeting small business development in Iraq instilled in him a deep interest in the relationship between underdevelopment and conflict risk, a topic he is focusing on at the Kennedy School. He is also an avid traveler, most recently returning home from Cambodia where he taught English. Dustin is an Indianapolis, Indiana native and graduated from Norwich University with a B.A. in International Studies in 2004.