John F. Bradford is a Senior Fellow in the Maritime Security Programme at the Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. He is also the Executive Director and founding President of the Yokosuka Council on Asia-Pacific Studies (www.YCAPS.org New Tab), a non-profit organization that capitalizes on Yokosuka City’s unique pool of global expertise and rich maritime heritage to deliver professional development opportunities, build networks between individuals, promote understanding of the role Japan’s base-hosting communities in regional affairs.
Mr. Bradford maintains an active research agenda focused on Asian security with special attention given to maritime issues and cooperative affairs. A frequent commentator at public events and specialized conferences, he has been invited to give lectures and presentations in North America, Asia, Europe and Australia. His written work can be found in publications such as Contemporary Southeast Asia, Asia Policy, Asian Security, Asian Survey, Naval War College Review, and Naval Institute Proceedings. He has also written book chapters, online articles, and monographs published by leading international think tanks.
Mr. Bradford received his BA in Asian Studies and Government from Cornell University. During his undergraduate experience, he also earned a Diploma of Indonesian studies from Malang State University in Indonesia and served as an exchange midshipmen sailing aboard the Royal Malaysian Navy ship, KD Rahmat. As an Olmsted Scholar, he studied in the Department of Political Science at Gadjah Mada University in Indonesia and completed an MSc (Strategic Studies) from RSIS. At RSIS, he was awarded the UOB Gold Medal as the top student in Strategic Studies. He is also a graduate of Japan’s National Institute of Defense Studies, the U.S. National Defense University, and the U.S. Naval War College.
Prior to joining the research sector full time, Mr. Bradford spent move than twenty years in the U.S. Navy. His Navy assignments included service as Commanding Officer, Executive Officer, Combat Systems Officer, Chief Engineer, Navigator, First Lieutenant and Electronic Warfare Officer in ships forward-deployed to Japan that operated throughout the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. He also served as Deputy Director of the U.S. 7th Fleet Maritime Headquarters, as Regional Cooperation Coordinator for the U.S. 7th Fleet; as Country Director for Japan in the Office of the Secretary of Defense; and as Asia-Pacific Politico-military Branch Chief on the Navy Staff.