Johann Wagner Ph.D.
With more than 35 years of professional experience, Dr. Wagner has proven academic competence and professional expertise in the areas of strategic security management, rule of law, criminal prosecution, administrative law, police management and leadership, integrated border management, evaluation and monitoring, management and coordination, change management and security sector reform processes. He graduated from the University for Applied Sciences for Police Services in public administration law, police management and leadership in Bavaria in 2001. He consolidated this experience by obtaining a Master degree (with distinction) in strategic security management at the University for Applied Sciences Vienna (Wiener Neustadt), Austria in 2013 and a Ph.D. at Sheffield Hallam University, UK in 2019.
Since 1998, he was assigned as resident twinning advisor and component leader in EU twinning projects, team leader and senior adviser to ministries of non-EU countries as well as head of unit and principal adviser in international organisations for the successful implementation of various security sector reform projects, financed by the EU, OSCE, UNOCT and NATO. Further, he provided expertise in reforming non-EU state ministries and their public administrative systems, border police and border guard services, criminal justice systems and law enforcement agencies, as well as Mediterranean coast guard services within these project frameworks.
From 2018 to 2019, he was assigned as the Senior Adviser to the NATO Counter-Terrorism Branch in Brussels for border security and management related issues with regard to counter-terrorism and foreign terrorist fighters, and combat transnational organised crime in Middle East.
From 2015 to 2017, he worked as the Principal Adviser within the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism Centre in New York. In his assignment, he was the senior expert for all border security and management related issues with regard to counter-terrorism and foreign terrorist fighters, and combat transnational organised crime for Member States.
From 2005 to 2009, he served as the Senior Border Adviser within the OSCE Secretariat in Vienna. He acted as the focal point for all border security and management related issues throughout the OSCE’s area of interest, as well as for the cooperation with UN departments.
Further, he assisted state authorities, inter alia, by reviewing and analysing national strategies and action plans, as well as relevant legislation in the aforementioned thematic areas. Moreover, he developed a number of comprehensive risk analysis assessments for the EU in central and south-eastern European states, Turkey and Middle East. Further, he served as a senior expert for the UNODC in Afghanistan and South East Asia, as well as for the UNOCT in countries of the Horn of Africa and Sahel region and Maghreb states.
Dr. Wagner is a highly qualified senior expert in developing comprehensive law enforcement strategies and operational plans for action. He is well versed in best practices with regard to intra-agency, inter-agency cooperation and international cooperation in line with EU acquis communautaire and international standards and conventions. Further, he has good knowledge of the logistical and IT frameworks required to enhance standards related to effective law enforcement and criminal justice, integrated border management and surveillance activities, and has experience in drafting orders, working procedures and standard operating procedures.
He is very experienced in operating management performance frameworks and inspecting the performance of law enforcement service’s operations. In his repertoire, are sound partnership skills and an ability to engage with partners and stakeholders effectively. He possesses excellent knowledge of effective and modern risk analysis techniques and has extensive experience in the management of cross-border crime investigation.
In addition, Dr. Wagner is engaged in lecturing, training and mentoring law enforcement staff. He is well known for his outstanding communications skills and excellent team leader capabilities. He holds proven commitment to diversity and equality.