Dr. Mark J. Conversino, CAO
Chief Academic Officer and Provost

Dr. Mark J. Conversino is the Chief Academic Officer and Provost for Air University. He serves  as  the  Air University’s Commander and President's  principal  advisor on academic issues  relating  to  the  University  including  all programs, faculty, curriculum, students, scholarship, accreditation, and academic support services. Dr. Conversino provides academic vision, leadership, and accountability necessary to achieving academic excellence across all AU centers, colleges, schools, institutes, and staff  organizations.  Dr. Conversino chairs the AU Academic Council and promotes creative and scholarly activities by providing overall academic leadership that is focused throughout all phases of the academic enterprise.

Dr. Yolanda E. WIlliams, OAA
Chief, Academic and Faculty Affairs
AU Liaison to SACSCOC

Dr. Yolanda Williams is the Chief of Academic and Faculty Affairs. In this capacity, she serves as a senior educational expert ensuring the quality and effectiveness of the university’s academic programs, while providing counsel on educational and academic matters to the Chief Academic Officer and University Commander and President. Dr. Williams provides vision, leadership, and oversight for all areas related to Academic Affairs. Dr. Williams ensures compliance with Air University, higher headquarters, and other recognized external education standards and objectives, while providing continuity and academic oversight of Air University programs. Dr. Williams is also Air University’s primary institutional contact concerning academic accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Dr. Shawn P. O’Mailia, OAAB
Chief, Advisory Boards and Strategic Operations

Dr. Shawn P. O’Mailia is the Chief of Advisory Boards and Strategic Operations for Air University. Dr. O’Mailia provides academic advice on managing all Air Force education programs executed by Air University. In his role as Designated Federal Official, he ensures the University’s Board of Visitors remains in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. He oversees the Board’s activities and directly supports Air University’s academic programs by ensuring that critical strategic issues related to the quality and effectiveness of the academic programs are available to the Secretary of the Air Force, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Senior leaders, and other stakeholders.  Dr. O’Mailia also oversees as the primary conduit for request for information from higher headquarters.

TSgt Edward L Leslie III, OAAD
Superintendent, Academic Affairs 

TSgt Edward L. Leslie III is the Superintendent of the Air University Office of Academic Affairs assisting the Chief of Academic Affairs in overseeing all instructional programs, curriculum integration, teaching, faculty, research, scholarship, institutional effectiveness, and analytics through the Institutional Policy, Institutional and Program Review and Evaluation, Process, and Institutional Assessment and Planning Process.  He assists Chief of Institutional Analysis by providing technical support to research and analyses on the characteristics of educational processes, student body, faculty and staff and assists with accreditation efforts.  He participates in OAA team meetings to discuss/resolve education operational/administration problems through refined policy and administrative processes.  He assists, Chief of Advisory Boards and Strategic Operations with orchestrating the semi-annual Board of Visitor meetings which oversee Air University’s institutional quality improvement processes and report directly to the Chief of Staff, United States Air Force.   TSgt Leslie also helps the Chief, Faculty Affairs, plan, organize and execute Air University awards process ensuring AU faculty students are recognized for outstanding education achievements. 

Dr. Christine Ross, OAAE
Chief, Institutional Effectiveness

Dr. Christine Ross is the Chief of Institutional Effectiveness. She provides oversight and assistance on program assessment  policy,  procedures, and documentation strategies employed by centers, colleges and support services throughout the university. She ensures systematic, explicit, and ongoing processes exist to measure effectiveness. Dr. Ross collects and evaluates evidentiary materials from educational programs, educational and administrative support services, research  programs, and community/public service programs. Her duties also include managing  the Human Research and Protection Program through the Institutional Review Board and assists with survey control processes in accordance with legal, Department of Defense, and US Air Force governing statutes and policies.

Dr. Jendia F. Grissett, OAAF
Chief, Faculty Relations

Dr. Jendia F. Grissett is the Chief of Faculty Relations.  She oversees university-wide policies and procedures for hiring, assigning, developing, employing, assessing, rewarding, promoting, and the tenure of more than 7,500 faculty members on six pay plans who design and deliver Air University’s curricula. This places her in frequent contact with the Faculty Senate, other governing bodies, advisory groups,   and   accrediting   organizations.   In   this capacity, she serves as an advocate for the faculty, a resource for academic administrators, and a champion of scholarly principles with military leaders.  Dr.  Grissett  also  chairs  the Air University Public K-12 Education Working Group.

Dr. Tony V. Klucking, OAAG
Chief, Graduate Professional Education and Program Enhancement

Dr. Tony V. Klucking is the Chief of Graduate Professional Education and Program Enhancement for Air University. He coordinates and manages the alignment of all Air University graduate, professional and specialized educational goals and curricula to ensure relevance to Air Force, Department of Defense and national security requirements and objectives. Dr. Klucking implements policy guidance and oversees its compliance at the Air University, Air Force, and Department of Defense levels, as well as for regional, specialized and Joint accreditation. Dr.  Klucking, along with Mr. Geidner, serves as a primary point of contact for the Commander’s Mission Analysis and Review (CMAR) , which is Air University’s program review process.

Dr. Ella M. Temple, OAAI
Chief, Academic Analytics and Research Data

Dr. Ella M. Temple is the Chief of Academic Analytics and Research Data.  She  oversees institutional analysis, institutional research, institutional planning, and institutional data. She initiates, directs, and executes research, analysis, and studies of institutional data, internal/external policies, higher education standards, and legislation to inform institutional leadership and support data informed decisions. She provides oversight for analytics to support compliance with governing and accrediting bodies.

Lt Col (sel) Michael S. Dean, OAAM
Director, Air University Fellows

Lt Col (sel) Michael S. Dean is the Director of the Air University Fellows program. He is primarily responsible for the development and the execution of the two-year Air University Fellows Intermediate Developmental Education Program. In the role, he provides day-to-day management and oversight of the 102 AU Fellows as well as plans experiential and deliberate developmental events to ensure the AU Fellows are returned to the force as more capable officers, innovative thinkers, and better officers than when they arrived. Lt Col (sel) Dean is also an adjunct instructor, teaching International Security at Air Command and Staff College.

Dr. R. Joel Farrell II, OAAP
Chief, Innovation and Planning

Dr. R. Joel Farrell II is the Chief of Planning and Innovation. He oversees efforts in planning, innovation and enhancement of programs, teaching, and learning. Dr. Farrell works faculty and staff across AU’s Directorates, Centers, and Schools to support innovation and enhancement of processes, tools, and resources for quality teaching and learning. He serves as the liaison for external innovation efforts connecting to Air University. Dr. Farrell also serves as the Program Manager for Air University’s Quality Enhancement Plan and for the Program Manager for Air University’s Online Survey Tool. He serves as the Academic Affairs liaison for learning technology innovation and enhancement.  

Mr. Jeffrey J. Geidner, OAAU
Chief, Undergraduate and Professional Continuing Education

Mr. Jeffrey J. Geidner is the Chief of Undergraduate and Professional Continuing Education programs. He serves as a senior education analyst and planner for developing strategies and policies  to  support the Command’s education program learning objectives. He oversees the formulation of program goals, plans and policies to develop, monitor and sustain the Command’s learning strategy for undergraduate and professional continuing education programs. Mr. Geidner ensures critical strategic issues related to the quality, effectiveness, and sustainment of the University’s academic programs are made available to senior leaders and other key stakeholders.  Mr. Geidner, along with Dr. Klucking, serves as a primary point of contact for the Commander’s Mission Analysis and Review (CMAR) , which is Air University’s program review process

Lt Col Brett J. Cove
AU Liaison to USAFA

Lt Col (sel) Bret J. Cove is the Air University – USAFA Liaison Officer located at the United States Air Force Academy. In this capacity, he is charged to foster collaboration between the two premier Air Force Academic Institutions in the arenas to include but not limited to: cyber education and rapid prototyping, educational innovation, teaching, and learning support; information sharing to foster faculty development and faculty exchange opportunities; and alignment of commissioning sources.