Christopher Penny is Assistant Professor of International Law at the Norman Patterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA).  Prior to joining the full-time faculty, he taught as a sessional lecturer at NPSIA as well as at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law where he also coordinated the International Law program.  Professor Penny is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada and also serves as a Canadian Forces reserve legal officer (Army Lieutenant-Colonel) in the Directorate of International and Operational Law in the Office of the Judge Advocate General. 

Professor Penny’s  research focuses primarily on the content and role of international legal principles governing the use of force in particular the law of armed conflict, and has published numerous journal articles and book chapters in the field, along with two related edited volumes. He has also participated as a member of the Canadian government delegation to numerous multilateral treaty negotiations, both within and outside of the United Nations framework, and has a provided legal advice in operational military environments relating to NATO operations in Afghanistan and Libya.

In 2010, Professor Penny was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (Military Division) by the Governor General of Canada in recognition of his contribution to the negotiation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions.