Dr. Peter Brookes helps develop and communicate The Heritage Foundation's stance on foreign and defense policy through his research and writing, media and public appearances, and congressional testimony. Currently a foreign affairs columnist for the Boston Herald, he has established a major presence in a range of print and digital media, publishing hundreds of articles and commentaries for numerous newspapers, journals, magazines, and websites. Brookes is also the author of the book “A Devil's Triangle: Terrorism, Weapons of Mass Destruction and Rogue States” (Rowman & Littlefield, 2005). In 2016, Brookes completed his fifth, two-year term as a congressionally appointed member of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, named to the Commission by two different Speakers of the House of Representatives. Before joining Heritage in 2002, Brookes served in the administration of President George W. Bush as deputy assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific affairs. In this post, he was responsible for U.S. defense policy for 38 countries and five bilateral defense alliances in Asia. Prior to beginning his civilian career, Brookes served in the U.S. Navy. He carried out assignments in Asia, the Middle East and Latin America in aviation and intelligence billets. He has more than 100 missions and 1,300 flight hours aboard the Navy's EP-3 reconnaissance aircraft. Now a retired naval intelligence officer with the rank of commander, while a reservist, Brookes served with the National Security Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, Office of Naval Intelligence, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Office of the Vice President. He holds a doctorate from Georgetown University and a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University. He received his bachelor’s degree from the U.S. Naval Academy, appointed to Annapolis by the late Congressman Jack Kemp (R-NY).