Joel Hicks

Photo of Joel Hicks
Titles and Organizations

Adjunct Faculty
Schar School of Policy and Government

Contact Information

Biography

In addition to his work as an adjunct faculty member at the Schar School of Policy and Government, Joel Hicks serves as a research fellow at the Center for Energy Science and Policy (CESP).

A former U.S. Naval officer, Hicks served in the nuclear submarine community as well as completing multiple assignments in U.S. Department of Defense space acquisition and operational communities. He obtained his nuclear engineer credentials through Naval Reactors, and his last active-duty assignment was as deputy director of the Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC), Vandenberg Air Force Base, in California.

Hicks currently teaches two undergraduate classes at the Schar School, Public Policy Analysis and Governance and Energy Policy. He has taught two graduate courses, International Issues in Energy Policy, and Science, Technology, and Energy Policy, at The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs (ESIA).

His dissertation, “Behavioral Interventions in Energy Consumption,” examines aspects of prospect theory applied to energy consumption behavior. He frequently writes about demand side management (DSM) of energy systems with a focus on energy efficiency, behavioral economics, and public sector energy governance and institutions.

Hicks earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from The George Washington University. He holds master’s degrees in electrical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School; national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College; and international science and technology policy from George Washington. He received his doctoral degree in public policy from the Schar School.