Jomana Amara, professor, earned a B.S. in chemical engineering, an M.S. in industrial engineering, and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Houston. Dr. Amara has directed and managed educational and consultative programs in multiple locations in the Middle East, North Africa, Latin America, and Europe. The programs emphasize integrity and transparency, resources management, human capital development, women in defense and security, contracting best practices, and fiscal management. The programs introduce policies and procedures to achieve financial efficiency and operational effectiveness, democratic civil-military control, public accountability, and institutional transparency. She has created programs and intellectual content to meet needs and has maintained effective relationships with senior decision making officials.

She currently researches and publishes on defense industrial policy and offsets, economics of the public sector, health economics and international economics. She has addressed various national and international academic organizations, institutions and conferences. Dr. Amara is the co-editor of the book, Military Medicine: From Pre-Deployment to Post-Separation. She has published extensively in numerous peer-reviewed journals and is on the editorial board of Defence and Peace Economics. Dr. Amara is a member of the American Economic Association (AEA), the Society of Government Economists, and the Inter-University Seminar on Armed Forces and Society (IUS). She was awarded the Secretary of Defense Medal for Honor and Achievement of Civilians with the Department of Defense in 2012. Dr. Amara brings over 20 years of experience in research, consulting, and teaching. She joined the DRMI faculty in August of 2004.