Heather Vovak is a Research Scientist at the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, DC. Prior to her current role, she was a Senior Research Associate at the National Policing Institute, where she worked on a number of federally and privately funded projects. She received her Ph.D. in Criminology, Law and Society from George Mason University; her M.A. in Political Science from the University of Akron; and her B.S. in Political Science and Psychology from Heidelberg University. Her research interests include evidence-based policing strategies, procedural justice, and police training.