Understanding Terrorism: Challenges, Perspectives, and Issues

About Gus Martin

Clarence Augustus Gus Martin is a Professor and founding Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice Administration at California State University Dominguez Hills where he teaches courses on terrorism and extremism  criminal law and the criminal justice system. He has served as founding Director of the School of Public Service and Justice. He also served as Associate Vice President for Human Resources Management Acting Associate Dean of the College of Business Administration and Public Policy Associate Vice President for Faculty Affairs and Chair of the Department of Public Administration. He began his academic career as a member of the faculty of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs University of Pittsburgh where he was an Administration of Justice professor. His current research and professional interests are terrorism and extremism homeland security and the administration of justice. Dr. Martin is author of several books on the subjects of terrorism and homeland security including Understanding Terrorism: Challenges Perspectives and Issues (Sage 2025); Terrorism and WMDs: Awareness and Response Third Edition (with John Pichtel CRC Press 2025); Understanding Homeland Security (Sage 2024); The Handbook of Homeland Security (with Scott Romaniuk and Martin Scott Catino; Routledge 2023); Essentials of Terrorism: Concepts and Controversies (Sage 2022); Terrorism: An International Perspective (with Fynnwin Prager; Sage 2019); The SAGE Encyclopedia of Terrorism Second Edition (Sage 2011); Terrorism and Homeland Security (Sage 2011); and The New Era of Terrorism: Selected Readings (Sage 2004). He is also author of Juvenile Justice: Process and Systems (Sage 2005). Prior to joining academia Dr. Martin served as Managing Attorney for the Fair Housing Partnership of Greater Pittsburgh where he was also director of a program created under a federal consent decree to desegregate public and assisted housing. He was also Special Counsel to the Attorney General of the U.S. Virgin Islands on the island of St. Thomas. As Special Counsel he occupied a personal and confidential position in the central office of the Department of Justice; sat as hearing officer for disciplinary hearings and departmental grievances; served as chair of the Drug Policy Committee; served as liaison to the intergovernmental Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee as well as to the Narcotics Strike Force; and provided daily legal and policy advice to the Attorney General. Prior to serving as Special Counsel he was a floor Legislative Assistant to Congressman Charles B. Rangel of New York. As Legislative Assistant he researched evaluated and drafted legislation in areas of foreign policy foreign aid human rights housing education social services and poverty; he also drafted House floor statements Congressional Record inserts press releases and news articles; and he composed speeches briefing materials and legislative correspondence. Dr. Martin received his A.B. degree from Harvard College J.D. from Duquesne University Thomas R. Kline School of Law and Ph.D. from the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh.