Willard M. Oliver is a professor of criminal justice at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. He holds a doctorate and a master of arts degree in political science from West Virginia University and master of science and bachelor of science degrees from Radford University. He has taught criminal justice for over 20 years, primarily in the area of policing, crime policy, and criminal justice history. He is the author of numerous textbooks, including Community-Oriented Policing, Homeland Security, Homeland Security for Policing, and A History of Crime and Criminal Justice in America. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed journal articles and numerous articles for professional publications. He is a retired military police officer with the U.S. Army Reserves and a former police officer. Oliver is an avid runner and has completed 14 marathons. He is married, has three children, and resides in Huntsville, TX.