Professor Connolly is internationally recognized as a leader in the effort to have the traditional military arts recognized as a legitimate field of multi-disciplinary academic study and research.  For his leadership, he has been created a Fellow of the Society of Martial Arts in the United Kingdom, a professional society as recognized by Privy Council. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Department Chair at the International Institute for Specialized Education and Research. In the United States, Professor Connolly has over twenty years experience as an adjunct faculty member at the community college, college, university, and federal academy levels.

For almost a decade, Professor Connolly has been working with an international cohort of scholars, academics, and practitioners to develop a military arts rank and promotion system based upon the accepted American University format, and conversely, an undergraduate degree curriculum encompassing the traditional Korean military arts. This study and research has now expanded to encompass the spectrum of knowledge and skill sets required within the arts in Korea, but never taught outside Korea.  These include but are not limited to, traditional medicine, use of herbals, acupressure and meditation.

Professor Connolly is also an active lecturer, researcher, and consultant in the fields of unconventional warfare and homeland security. He is also very active in research into the history of nobility and social organization in early Ireland, pre-historical Celtic origins and migrations, and the Celtic Church with particular interest in the first four centuries after its founding circa 39 A.D..

Professor Connolly is also an active lecturer, researcher, and consultant in the field of unconventional warfare.