Joshua Adams

Joshua L. Adams is a Professor of Practice in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Arizona State University, where he also serves as the Director of Online Graduate Programs, which include the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice (MACJ), Master of Science in Crime Analysis (MSCA), and the Master of Public Safety Leadership and Administration (MPSLA). He earned an associate’s and bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Columbia Southern University, a master’s degree in criminal justice from American Military University, a master’s degree in forensic science from George Mason University, and a Ph.D. in criminal justice from Walden University.

Dr. Adams has 20 years of federal law enforcement experience, 11 of which, have been in the conduct and/or supervision of felony-level criminal investigations for the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (Army CID) as a special agent/criminal investigator. Prior to his appointment at ASU and recent retirement from Army CID, he served as the Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge for the U.S. Army CID Protection Field Office (PFO) located at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The PFO is responsible for providing full-time, worldwide, executive-level personal protection for the Top 10 Department of Defense leaders and their families which include the Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Prior to his assignment at the PFO, he served as the Resident Agent-in-Charge for the largest Army CID field office in Asia (South Korea) and held numerous leadership and investigative positions throughout his tenure with Army CID that included commander, narcotics team chief, special victim’s unit team chief, general crimes team chief, and forensic science officer. Joshua has personally investigated or supervised thousands of felony-level criminal investigations throughout his career involving terrorism, war crimes, extremism, espionage, sexual assault, arson, counterfeiting, bribery, fraud, homicide, child exploitation, and child abuse.

His research interests center on criminal investigation and forensic science, particularly in the areas of rural policing, crime scene investigation, military policing, police legitimacy, police leadership, and organizational justice. He has published in The Qualitative Report, Journal of Forensic Sciences, American Journal of Qualitative Research, The Journal of Qualitative Criminal Justice and Criminology, and Journal of Forensic Identification. 

Dr. Adams is a member of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. His awards and achievements include the Order of the Marechaussee (Bronze) from the Military Police Regimental Association, this award is given to nominees who have performed exceptional dedicated service for at least 20 years as a special agent or military police professional and is the third highest service award in U.S. Army policing; 2018 Army CID Forensic Science Officer of the Year; 2018 George Mason University Faculty Award; and Honor Graduate-Military Police training.