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Department of Leadership

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  • Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL

Department of Leadership

The Department of Leader and Research Development (DEL) organizes and executes the “Leadership and the Profession of Arms” and “Leadership in Command” core courses as well as the ACSC electives program.  In the Leadership courses students have the opportunity to hone their personal leadership philosophies, better understand the complexities of leading people and organizations, and prepare for future command and staff responsibilities.  The department also conducts the ACSC Faculty Research Focal Program which provides the necessary time for faculty members to complete long-term research projects nearing publication.  Finally, the department promotes student and faculty research within the journal and publishing house community to bring the research to publication and to advance fields of study.

Dr. Lisa L. Beckenbaugh is the Chair of the Leader and Research Development Department at Air University’s Air Command and Staff College (ACSC). Dr. Beckenbaugh received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from St. Cloud State University and her PhD from the University of Arkansas. Dr. Beckenbaugh has taught at a variety of undergraduate and graduate civilian institutions. Her book, The Versailles Treaty: A Documentary and Reference Guide for ABC-CLIO, was published in 2018. Dr. Beckenbaugh also serves as the faculty advisor for the Gathering of Eagles elective and has edited five of their published books, most recently, Why We Stay: Stories of Unity and Perseverance. Dr. Beckenbaugh’s current research is on the 1st MASH (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital), later redesignated 8209th MASH, during the Korean War.
Lt Col Dan “Outlaw” McGuire is in the first year as an SDE Fellow (ACSC Instructor) with duties as the Deputy Department Chair for Leader and Research Development.  In this role, he teaches the Leadership and the Profession of Arms and the Leadership in Command courses.  Lt Col McGuire also assists in the Logistics and the Use of Military Force elective.  He received his bachelors degree in pyschology from Miami University of Ohio (2004), a masters degree in transportation management from the Air Force Institute of Technology (2018), and a master's degree in strategic foresight (2011) and Doctorate of Strategic Leadership (2016) from Regent University.  Prior to this assignment, Lt Col McGuire was the squadron commander for the 56th Logistics Readiness Squadron at Luke Air Force Base where he was responsible for 380 Airmen sustaining all materiel management, vehicle management, fuel management, deployment and distribution for the largest Fighter Wing in the world.  He is a career logistician with assignments in ACC, GSC, AFMC, AETC and deployments in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, and the Pacific.
Lt Col Jerry ‘Giant’ Chua is an instructor in the Department of Leader and Research Development at the Air University’s Air Command and Staff College (ACSC). An Air Warfare Officer from the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) deployed under the Military Personnel Exchange Program, Lt Col Chua is a qualified instructor on multiple ground-based air defense systems and sensor platforms. He completed the ACSC In-Residence program in May 2022 as a Distinguished Graduate. Prior to ACSC, Lt Col Chua held operational and staff positions at various echelons from squadron to HQ RSAF, including capability development officer and chief trainer. Most recently, he served as a career manager in the Air Manpower Department. Lt Col Chua holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (Banking and Financial Services) from Nanyang Technological University and a Master of Military Operational Art and Science from Air University.
Dr. Amber B. Batura is an Assistant Professor of Military and Security Studies in the Department of Leader and Research Development. She currently serves as deputy course director for the Leadership and the Profession of Arms Course. She teaches courses in Leadership, Airpower, and International Security as well as offering the War and Gender elective. Dr. Batura advises the Commandant Speaker Series and serves on the Diversity and Inclusion Committee for ACSC and participates in various committees at ACSC and AU. Prior to joining ACSC in March 2021, she was an instructor at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. She also taught online courses for Texas Tech Costa Rica and the University of Texas Permian Basin. Dr. Batura graduated with her Ph.D. in history from Texas Tech University in 2018. Her specialization looks at the intersection between war and culture and war and society, with a special focus on gender and the military. She has published articles in The New York Times, the Journal of American-East Asian Relations, and has contributed to edited volumes on the Vietnam War. She is currently working on a manuscript on the importance of Playboy magazine to soldiers in the Vietnam War.
Lt Col Andy “SNAP” Meyrahn is an Air University Fellow and instructor in the Department of Leader and Research Development. Lt Col Meyrahn is a graduate of the Joint All Domain Strategist (JADS) concentration while attending In-Residence Air Command and Staff College (ACSC). Prior to attending ACSC, Lt Col Meyrahn served as division chief for information and cyber test operations at the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center Detachment 5 at Edwards AFB, CA. Lt Col Meyrahn is a senior combat systems officer (K12B) with over 2,000 hours in the B-52H, T-1A, T-6, and C-12. Lt Col Meyrahn received a B.A. in geographic information systems from California State University, San Bernardino, CA (2008), a M.A. in human services with executive leadership focus from Liberty University online (2014), a Master of Military Operational Art and Science from Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL (2021), and is currently working on a Doctorate of Strategic Leadership from Liberty University online.
Dr. Daniel A. Connelly serves in the Department of Leadership at Air University’s Air Command and Staff College. He is a retired U.S. Air Force intelligence officer whose background includes operational tours at headquarters and flying unit echelons and deployments to Southwest and Far East Asia. He has taught courses in International Security, Leadership Studies, Air Power Theory, the Just War Tradition, Russian Studies and Educational Methodology. He holds a Ph.D. in educational psychology from Auburn University, and master’s degrees in strategic intelligence and Russian culture with a concentration in international security. He has published on topics ranging from leadership theory to higher education to former Soviet Union affairs and has participated in multiple empirical investigations related to these topics. He has served as an adjunct professor on ethics at the Air Force Chaplain Corps College for several years. He is currently working on a book on international relations theory. Previously, Dan served as Dean of Academic Affairs at Squadron Officer College.
Lt Col Cortesio is married to Sarah and together they have two sons: Bryant and Elijah. Drew is an instructor in the Department of Leader and Research Development at the Air University’s Air Command and Staff College. He holds an Associate of Arts degree, a bachelor’s degree in management and organizations, a master’s degree in operations management, and a Master of Military Operational Art and Science.  He is a 64P mission-focused business leader in the USAF who has served in various leadership roles in stateside and contingency operations.
Lt Col Ericka Hernandez is the deputy course director for Leadership in Command in the Department of Leader and Research Development at Air University's Air Command and Staff College.  Lt Col Hernandez leads courses on Leadership and the Profession of Arms. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology (2003), her master’s degree in business administration (2007), and a Master of Military Operational Art and Science from Air University (2014). Prior to this assignment, Lt Col Hernandez was the chief of officer development at HAF/A1D where she oversaw the officer IDE and SDE portfolio.  Her command experience includes the 316th Force Support Squadron, Joint Base Andrews where she was responsible for over 700 Airmen in full spectrum support to over 55 thousand personnel in the National Capital Region and the 386th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron, Ali Al Salem, Kuwait where she was responsible for 435 personnel in support of INHERENT RESOLVE.  She is a career force support officer with assignments in ACC, AFMC, AETC, USAFE, PACAF, AFDW, HQ/AF and has deployed to Cuba, Qatar, and Kuwait.
Dr. Paul Johstono is Associate Professor of Leadership Studies at the Air Command and Staff College (ACSC). He is currently the course director for Leadership and the Profession of Arms. He teaches courses on Leadership and Ethics, Military Theory, and Airpower. He teaches or has taught elective courses on the Great Captains of military history, Roman Great Power Competition, and the Vietnam War. He regularly leads walking tours and staff rides on leadership, strategy, and social innovation in the Montgomery Civil Rights Movement. He is the ACSC representative to the SACS QEP, a member of the AU Ethics Working Group, and works on several ACSC and AU committees. Prior to joining ACSC in January 2019, he was Associate Professor for History of Warfare at The Citadel, the military college of South Carolina. Dr. Johstono received his bachelor’s degree in history from Furman University in Greenville, SC (2005) and his master’s degree (2008) and Ph.D. (2012) in history from Duke University. He specializes in warfare and military institutions in the Hellenistic era, approximately from Alexander the Great to Julius Caesar. He has published numerous articles and chapters on subjects ranging from ancient insurgency to battlefield investigation to demography and ethnography. His first book, on the Army of Ptolemaic Egypt, was published at the end of 2020. He is on the editorial board for the Brill series on War in World History. He is currently completing projects on ethics and diversity, ancient leadership and strategy, ancient cases of military adaptation and resiliency, and a systems theory analysis of ancient great powers.
Lt Col Colonel Joseph “Winters” Ladymon is an instructor in the Department of Leader and Research Development at Air University's Air Command and Staff College. He holds a bachelor’s degree in government and history (dual majors) from the College of William and Mary, a master's degree in national security studies from American Military University, and a master's degree in administrative leadership from the University of Oklahoma. Lt Col Ladymon also attended the US Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. Prior to his current assignment, Lt Col Ladymon commanded the 314 Training Squadron at the Defense Language Institute-Foreign Language Center, Presidio of Monterey, where he led 750 personnel at two geographically separated units undergoing language training for USAF missions worldwide. Lt Col Ladymon is a career intelligence professional and targeting analyst, weapons school graduate and instructor, and has deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and Odyssey Dawn.
Maj Adam Love is an Air University Fellow and instructor in the Department of Leadership and Research Development. Major Love is a graduate of ACSC with a leadership specialization. Major Love holds a bachelor's degree in Meteorology from Ohio University, a Master of Business Administration from National American University, and a Master of Military Operational Art and Science from Air University. Prior to attending ACSC, Major Love was the combat weather detachment commander at Fort Carson, Colorado where he led 37 personnel in support of the 4th Infantry Division. Major Love is a career weather officer with operational assignments in EUCOM, ACC, and CENTCOM, and deployments to Jordan and the UAE.
Dr. Sebastian Lukasik is Associate Professor in the Department of Leadership and Research Development at Air Command and Staff College, where he serves as director of the ACSC In-Residence Electives Program. He holds a Ph.D. in military history from Duke University. His research and teaching interests include combat motivation, the history and theory of airpower, and military culture. He is currently completing a book manuscript on the emergence of combined-arms warfare in the First World War and its implications for soldiers’ experience of and responses to the stresses of modern combat.
Lt Col Eric Peterson is the course director for Leadership in Command in the Department of Leader and Research Development at Air University's Air Command and Staff College. He instructs both Leadership in Command and Leadership and the Profession of Arms courses. He has a bachelor's degree in computer science from the United States Air Force Academy and three master’s degrees: theology from Liberty University, operational art and science from the School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS), and strategic studies from Air University. He has a diverse military background, including two tours in Air Mobility Command as a C-17A pilot and two tours in Air Education and Training Command. He served as an Air Power strategist at Headquarters Air Force, developing the Air Force’s long-term strategy. Prior to attending Air War College and transitioning to Air Command and Staff College, Lt Col Peterson was squadron commander of the 99th Flying Training Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph.
Lt Col Scott Smith is an Air University Fellow and instructor in the Department of Leader and Research Development at Air University’s Air Command and Staff College. He teaches Leadership and the Profession of Arms and Leadership in Command courses. He holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Baylor University, a master’s degree in strategic public relations from George Washington University, and a Master of Military Operational Art and Science from Air University. Prior to his current assignment, Lt Col Smith commanded the AETC Computer Systems Squadron where he led 70 members in ensuring communications to the command’s 12 bases, developing, maintaining and operating AETC mission systems, guiding policy and implementation of the command’s spectrum management, and providing executive communication support to AETC HQ staff. Lt Col Smith is a 17D warfighter communications officer with operational assignments in AMC, AFSPC, ACC, and AETC, and staff assignments at the NAF and MAJCOM levels.
Chaplain, Lt Col Richard “Rick” Steen is an instructor in the Department of Leader and Research Development at Air University’s Air Command and Staff College. He holds a bachelor's degree in history from Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC (1998), a Master of Divinity from The Master’s University and Seminary in Sun Valley, CA (2003), a Master of Military Operational Art and Science from Air University (2019), and he is currently working on his Doctor of Ministry in Leadership from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Prior to attending ACSC, Lt Col Steen served 14 years as a staff chaplain and wing chaplain at the 134th Air Refueling Wing (TN ANG) in Knoxville, Tennessee. He currently serves as the wing chaplain for the 187th Fighter Wing (AL ANG) in Montgomery.
Lt Col Matt “Indy” Ziemann is an instructor in the Department of Leadership and Research Development at Air University’s Air Command and Staff College.  He teaches Leadership and the Profession of Arms, Leadership in Command, Airpower Strategy and Operations, and is the military advisor for the Gathering of Eagles.  He is a career intelligence officer and political-military affairs strategist with a background primarily in special operations.  He is an instructor/evaluator senior airborne ISR Operator with over 1200 flight hours in a variety of special operations aircraft including over 850 combat hours flown in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and Operation NEW DAWN.  He is also a civilian pilot owning an RV-4 for the past 17 years and flying WWII warbirds for the Commemorative Air Force.  Lt Col Ziemann commanded the 392d Intelligence Squadron and served as military deputy director of Air University’s Commanders’ Professional Development School running O-6 pre-command training prior to his arrival on ACSC faculty.  He received his Bachelor of Science in management from the US Air Force Academy and holds a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in strategic leadership from Trident University and a Master of Military Operational Art and Science from Air University.