Political Science Professor Promoted to Serve as Deputy Chief and Chief of Staff of Army Reserve
Dr. Lew Irwin, professor of political science, has been selected to serve as deputy chief of Army Reserve (DCAR) and chief of staff, Office of the Chief, Army Reserve (OCAR), at his current rank of major general in the U.S. Army Reserve.
In his new deputy chief role, Irwin supports and represents Chief of Army Reserve (CAR) Lieutenant General Charles Luckey for strategy, planning, programming, policy and resourcing in the Pentagon. As chief of staff in OCAR, he oversees 450 army soldiers and civilians charged with managing equipment and training, as well as coordinating the OCAR staff.
“It has been challenging, but it has been special to be a part of General Luckey’s leadership team and to use my active duty and operational experience to support the information, policy and resourcing of our Army Reserve operations,” said Irwin.
Irwin is a West Point civil engineering management graduate and holds advanced degrees from Yale University and the U.S. Army War College. He has taken a military leave of absence from teaching at Duquesne for a year to assume this active duty position. He has been a professor in the political science department since 2000.
“I’m so grateful—the support of my political science colleagues, the Duquesne administration and the campus community has made this all possible,” said Irwin.
His work in the Army Reserve and as a professor coincide, Irwin said, making him better in his military appointments and better as an educator. His active military roles allow him to bring fresh information to the classroom, leading to enhanced instruction and discussion. “It is healthy to have interactions with students because they ask why and challenge the conventional ways in which the government operates,” Irwin explained.
During his 31 years of service, Irwin’s operational tours have taken him to Germany, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan, in addition to a variety of stateside locations. His active duty service has included tours in the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault); a combat tour with the 3rd Armored Division during operation “Desert Storm”; a Sapper company command in the 1st Armored Division; and service with the Afghan National Police.
Irwin’s efforts have been recognized with various military awards, including the Distinguished Service Medal; the Legion of Merit; two Bronze Star Medals; five Meritorious Service Medals; five Army Commendation Medals; and two Army Achievement medals, among others.
In addition to his work at Duquesne, Irwin is the author of three books on American politics and policy and various journal articles on government and national security. He is also an adjunct professor of research at the U.S. Army War College’s Strategic Studies Institute.