Clark Petri

USNA Professor, Mathematics Department

Maryland

petri@usna.edu

Technical Skills

I model and analyze complex agent systems operating under strategic, informational, and institutional constraints. My work integrates computational social science, optimization, and network-based methods to understand how incentives, narratives, and infrastructure shape emergent behavior. Core areas of expertise include:

• Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation

• Strategic and Incentive Modeling

• Network and Influence Analysis

• Non-linear and Constrained Optimization

• Sociotechnical System Modeling

• Data-Driven Behavioral Analysis

• Large-Scale Text and Sentiment Analysis

Leadership

• Led and coordinated senior officers in high-pressure operational environments

• Built and sustained high-performing technical teams

• Instructor and mentor in applied mathematics, operations research, and computational modeling

• Known for steady decision-making, accountability, and clarity under constraint

Awards

• Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards)

• Navy Commendation Medal (4 awards)

• Navy Achievement Medal (1 award)

Research

Petri, C., & Kavak, H. (Forthcoming).

Plugged in, split apart: Partisan media sentiment and federal funding for electric mobility in the United States.

Energy Research & Social Science.

Examines the co-evolution of media sentiment, federal investment, and charging infrastructure during the U.S. electric mobility transition (2013–2023), using large-scale sentiment modeling and longitudinal funding data.

Work Experience

Permanent Military Professor / United States Naval Academy

Nov 2024 - Current

Instructor to 50+ students per semester in operations research and mathematics topics, student mentor, academic advisor for operations research, honor remediator, and officer representative for Navy Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Club.

Senior Data Analyst / OCNR, Pentagon

Jul 2019 - Jan 2022

Managed personnel forecasting models to include portions of annual presidential budget submissions for Navy Reserve. Survey generation and analysis. Developed a variety of analytical products for senior leadership.

Commanding Officer / Navy Reserve Center Syracuse

Nov 2017 - Jul 2019

Led Navy Reserve Center Syracuse in providing Full-Time Support to over 200 Navy Reserve sailors and led 13 staff members in execution of the command mission. Coordinated training, readiness, and mission planning for eight Reserve units.

Officer Recruiter, Division Officer, Nuke Coordinator / NTAG San Francisco

Mar 2013 - Jul 2015

Recruiter Naval Officer applicants from California's south and east bay area, focusing on graduates from Stanford, San Jose State, and UC Berkeley. Led enlisted recruiting efforts for south bay area. Awarded FY-14 Nuclear Recruiter of the Year, FY14 and FY15 AC Officer Recruiter of the Year.

Assistant Officer in Charge / COMNAVAIRPAC PSNS

Sep 2010 - Sep 2012

Taught reactor theory, water chemistry, and plant operations to junior nuclear officers studying for prospective nuclear engineering officer qualification. Responsible for monitoring nuclear operations on three Washington state based Nuclear Aircraft Carriers.

Machinery Division Officer / USS Enterprise (CVN 65)

Sep 2008 - Sep 2010

The best propulsion plant watch officer on the world’s most complicated and challenging nuclear platform. Chosen to lead an inexperienced team through an accelerated training cycle to great success, as evidenced by ORSE exam results. Fleeted-up as a department head on several occasions leading a department the size of a CRUDES department. Hand selected to perform first reactor startup, steam plant cross connect, and plant split out during ship’s EDSRA.

Warfare Analyst / COMNAVSURPAC

Feb 2007 - Jun 2007

Participated in reviews of Littoral Combat Ship capability development documents.

1st Lieutenant / USS Halsey (DDG 97)

Jul 2005 - Jan 2007

Superior performance across a wide spectrum of deck seamanship evolutions including twenty UNREPs, five precision anchorages, countless small boat operations, and 335 hours of flight operations.

Enlisted Nuclear Electrician / NNPTC and NPTU Ballston Spa

Aug 1999 - Sep 2001

‘A’ School class leader and nuclear power school class leader. Selected for Staff Pickup instructor duty at the MARF reactor plant. Taught basic math and electrical theory to enlisted and officer students.

Education

George Mason University

Jan 2022 - Oct 2024

Doctoral Degree, Computational Social Science

Dissertation: Simulating Electric Vehicle Adoption Using Agent-Based Modeling

Naval Postgraduate School

Jul 2015 - Sep 2017

Master's Degree, Operations Research

Thesis: Assessing the Operational Resilience of Electrical Distribution Systems

Naval Nuclear Power Training Command

Jul 2007 - Aug 2008

Technical training on all elements of reactor plant theory, design, control, and practical operation

Oregon State University

Sep 2001 - Jun 2005

Bachelor's Degree, Philosophy