The LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin is proud to celebrate several new faculty recipients of prestigious chair and professorship titles. Recent distinguished appointments honor exceptional contributions to public policy research, teaching, and leadership by Vice Adm. Joseph Maguire, Paul von Hippel, Paul Pope and Michael Webber. With expertise spanning national security, energy and public health, these dedicated faculty members exemplify the LBJ School's mission to equip students with the know-how to change the world.
Michael Webber, Sid Richardson Chair in Public Affairs
Policy expertise: Energy and environment
In addition to serving as the Sid Richardson Chair of the LBJ School, Michael Webber is the John J. McKetta Centennial Energy Chair of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. In 2024, Webber was selected for the Energy Thought Leader: Higher Education award by the American Energy Society, as well as a three-year term as a Fulbright Technical Specialist by the U.S. State Department. Previously, Webber served as the Chief Science and Technology Officer at ENGIE, one of the world’s largest energy companies, while based in Paris, France, from 2018 to 2021.
Vice Adm. Joseph Maguire, Sid Richardson Distinguished Visiting Public Official
Policy expertise: National security
Joseph Maguire is Executive Director of the Clements Center for National Security and a professor of practice for the LBJ School. He served in the U.S. Navy for 36 years until his retirement in 2010 as a Vice Admiral. In his post-military career, Maguire served as a Vice President with Booz Allen Hamilton; President and CEO of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation; Director of the National Counterterrorism Center; and Acting Director of National Intelligence. He previously served as a Director on the Board of W.S. Darley & Co. and on the SAP National Security Services, Inc. Board of Advisors. Maguire owns his own consulting firm and is also a consultant principal with WestExec Advisors, a prominent national security consulting firm.
James “Paul” Pope, Loyd B. Hackler Endowed Chair in Ethical Leadership
Policy expertise: National security
James "Paul" Pope is a professor of practice in the LBJ School and a senior fellow in the Intelligence Studies Project at UT Austin, which is sponsored by the Strauss and Clements Centers. Pope retired from the CIA after multiple foreign tours, service as Chief of Station, and assignments as a Chief, Deputy Chief, and Chief of Ops in the Directorate of Operations’ three largest components. As Chief of Training and Tradecraft Division, he was responsible for DO training, capture of “lessons learned” and adapting to emerging technical challenges and mission imperatives.
Paul von Hippel, Dr. T. Spike Terwilliger Professor of Public Policy
Policy expertise: Public health
Paul von Hippel is a professor of public policy, sociology, statistics and data science for the LBJ School. Known for his work on summer learning, summer weight gain, research design, replicability of research and missing data, he works on evidence-based policy, education and inequality, as well as the obesity epidemic. Dr. von Hippel won the 2019 Leo Goodman Award for contributions to statistical methods within 15 years of receiving a Ph.D. Prior to his academic career, he worked as a data scientist, using predictive analytics to help banks prevent fraud.