Dr. Hirenkumar Patel is currently working as an Assistant Professor (Research) in the School of Internal Security and SMART Policing since August 2023. He was awarded his Ph.D. in Security Studies from Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar. The thesis was on China’s Naval Modernisation and Naval Strategy. He has completed his M.Phil. in Security Studies at Centre for Security Studies, School of International Studies, Central University of Gujarat. His dissertation titled “Emerging Asian Security Order and China: A Study of Belt and Road Initiative. He completed Master of Arts in Politics and International Relations from School of International Studies, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar. He has passed UGC NET in Defence and Strategic Studies. His area of interest is India-China Relations, National Security of India, Theory of Security Studies, and the Chinese Navy. He worked also as a Junior Research Fellow at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Policy Research and International Studies (AIPRIS), The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara (Gujarat), India. After a brief tenure at AIPRIS, MSU, he joined as a Teaching and Research Assistant (TRA) in the School of Police Science and Security Studies (SPSSS) at National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU-An Institute of National Importance under the Ministry of Home Affairs, GoI), Gandhinagar Campus, Gujarat. He has also presented a paper at various National and International Conferences. He has taught papers related to International Relations and Internal Security of India, Border and Maritime Security, Counter-intelligence Studies.