Arthur Rizer

Biography

Arthur is director of justice and national security policy for the R Street Institute, where he heads institute programs dealing with a variety of issues related to national security, crime and policing. In this capacity, he produces original research, writes for the popular press and educates policymakers on national security and criminal justice issues. Arthur is also a Visiting Lecture at University College London in the Department of Security and Crime Science.

Arthur joined R Street in August 2016, having previously served as associate professor of law at West Virginia University’s College of Law and visiting professor of law at Georgetown University Law Center.

From 2005 to 2014, he was a trial attorney with the U.S. Justice Department, primarily serving as a federal prosecutor with the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, specifically targeting command and control drug cartel leaders and narco-terrorists. He also served in the civil division, working on immigration-related litigation, and with the Federal Programs Guantanamo Bay litigation team, where he coordinated with federal agencies to conduct extensive terrorism investigations through merits trials. He joined the Justice Department after a three-year stint as a patrol officer with the police department of Cheney, Washington, having graduated the Washington State Police Academy with high honors.

Earlier in his career, Arthur served in the U.S. Army, originally enlisting as a private before later receiving a commission. He served as an armor officer, later becoming the commander of a military police company and a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps assistant professor. He deployed to Fallujah, Iraq, with the mission to train the Iraqi Infantry and served as an MP acting battalion commander and executive officer. He retired as a lieutenant colonel from the U.S. Army National Guard (WV). During his Army career, Arthur received the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service and Iraq Campaign medals.