Colonel Bosko is the Cyber Chair for Air University and an instructor at the Air Force Cyber College. He was commissioned into the Air Force from the ROTC program at the University of Maryland in 1989, graduating with a Bachelor's in Computer Science. In addition, he has earned a Master of Science from the University of Maryland in Information Technology. He is a Master Cyber Operator and a Basic Space Operator. He has commanded four different units, garrison and deployed, and has served on USAFE, AMC, and US CyberCom staffs. He teaches Functional Mission Analysis-Cyber, Cyber for Aviation, Cyber Fundamentals, and Introduction to Cyber Law courses at Air Force Cyber College.
Col Anthony Franks, USAFR, is an instructor with the Air Force Cyber College. He is a command pilot with over 4,000 hours in the B-52H, C-130H2, and trainer aircraft serving as squadron commander, evaluator, instructor, and staff officer with over 19 years of flying experience and 6 years of Joint Special Operations experience. He has over 680 hours of combat time during Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, INHERENT RESOLVE, and operations with Counter Terrorism JSOTFs. He serves as an Air University Cyber College instructor. He entered the Air Force with a commission from the United States Air Force Academy in 1999, graduating with a B.S. in Business Management. In addition, he earned a Master of Science from Southwestern Assemblies of God University as well as a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Air War College.
Mrs. Cheryl King serves as the AF Cyber College Outreach and Advancement Branch Manager. She directs the administrative, financial, and human resource programs and processes in accordance with Commandant’s guidance. She plans, organizes, manages and leads the day-to-day AF Cyber College support operations that must meet Air War College, Air University, AETC, MAJCOMs, HQ AF and DoD requirements and standards. Prior to working at the Cyber College, she was the Branch Chief for the Air University Press. Mrs. King holds a Master’s of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resource Management from Central Michigan University, Carbondale, Michigan and a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Health Care Administration from Southern Illinois University. Additionally, she holds a certificate in Security Leadership Essentials for Managers through SANS.
Dr. Chad L. Dacus is the Associate Dean for Research at the Air Force Cyber College, and an adjunct professor at Air University’s Air Command and Staff College. His research interests include defense acquisition, economics and its impact on national security strategy, and cyber risk modeling. He has particular interest in improving the metrics available to policymakers. His published works in defense acquisition include “Improving Acquisition Outcomes through Simple System Technology Readiness Metrics” and “Giving the Schedule Its Due: A Conceptual Framework for Defense Acquisition” (both appeared in the Defense Acquisition Research Journal). He has added a cyber focus to his defense acquisition research and authored “Designing Cybersecurity into Defense Systems: An Information Economics Approach” which will appear in IEEE’s Security & Privacy. He wrote “Chinese Soft Economic Warfare” in The Asia-Pacific Century: Challenges and Opportunities and co-authored “China-US Relations: Moving Toward Greater Cooperation or Conflict” (Strategic Studies Quarterly). Before joining AFRI, Dr. Dacus served as a Research Analyst and Fleet Forces Command Field Representative for the Center for Naval Analyses. During his time at CNA, he authored numerous technical reports examining such topics as the aggregation of readiness metrics, projecting support costs for the Joint Strike Fighter, and resolving recurring issues in Navy expeditionary logistics. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Rice University and an M.S. in Statistics from Texas A&M University.
Lt Col Paul R. Brenner PhD PE, is the Senior Reserve Advisor to the Air Force Cyber College Commandant. In this capacity he advises the AFCC leadership on military reserve matters and leads the provision of technical and operational capabilities to AFCC through the service of numerous reserve and guard members directly supporting AFCC. Additionally, Lt Col Brenner provides technical expertise as an AFCC instructor, researcher and course content developer. He has six years squadron command experience and served as a deputy group commander prior to joining AFCC. In his civilian career Dr. Brenner is a computer science faculty member at the University of Notre Dame and Associate Director of Notre Dame's Center for Research Computing, directing a team of technical experts in the operation of millions of dollars of high performance computing hardware and software infrastructure for an active user base of over 2,000 researchers.
Dr. Michael L. Thomas is currently assigned to the Air Force Cyber College as a Professor of Cyberwarfare Studies. Previously he was with Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Charleston as a C4ISR Systems Engineer in the Communications and Networks Division stationed in the Stuttgart Germany office. In this capacity he is responsible for the design, implementation and fielding of major Systems Engineering projects initiated by the Navy, sister services and other US government customers and in the Heidelberg Office supporting HQ USAREUR in Geospatial Engineering. He was on detached special duty after being activated in March 2007, and served a short tour at the Pentagon, as the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) LNO to the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and in numerous staff positions in the J2 and J3 staffs at USAFRICOM and USEUCOM. In addition to his academic credentials, Dr. Thomas holds multiple certifications in Software Quality Engineering (CSQE), Geospatial Systems Professional (GISP) and is also a DAU Certified Level II Systems Engineer.
Dr. Joshua Alton Sipper is currently assigned to the Air Force Cyber College as a Professor of Cyberwarfare Studies. He completed his Doctoral work at Trident University in September of 2012, earning a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership (emphasis, E-Learning Leadership). Dr. Sipper’s previous degrees were obtained from Troy University (M.Ed. Education) and Faulkner University (B.S. English). Dr. Sipper is a veteran who served honorably in the U.S. Air Force in the intelligence career field, and worked for Lockheed Martin in a similar capacity on the U2 program. More recently, Dr. Sipper shifted his focus into the cyber realm as a Systems Engineer for General Dynamics at the Air Force’s 26th Network Operations Squadron, followed by an eight-year stint as a civil servant in the Air Force cyber career field at the Curtis E. LeMay Center for Doctrine Development and Education. Dr. Sipper currently serves as a Professor of Cyber Warfare Studies at the Air Force Cyber College, Air War College, Air University, Maxwell AFB. Dr. Sipper’s research interests include cyber ISR, policy, strategy, and warfare.
Dr. Joseph McGarvey is currently assigned to the Air Force Cyber College as a Research Professor of Cyberwarfare and Strategy. He has more than 20 years of Advanced Cyber Security experience as a manager in the Energy Sector. Dr. McGarvey is an Advanced Cyber Security Systems Practitioner and Critical Infrastructure Protection Specialist. In addition to being well published within the energy industry, Dr. McGarvey is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional and Advanced Cyber Security Subject Matter Expert consulting with government agencies across the country. He specializes in Industrial Control System (ICS) Cyber Security including developing and Managing Advanced Security Tactics and Techniques for Transmission Power Systems and Renewable Power Systems, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Systems, Cyber Data-Analytics, Cyber Threat Intelligence and Analysis, Cyber Vulnerabilities Analysis, System Mission Cyber Impacts, and Mitigations Strategies for Cyber-Risk Assessment. Dr. McGarvey’s Research interests and current Cyber Security topics include Advanced Cyber Offensive Techniques, Red and Purple team Cyber Strategies, Threat Intelligence and Analysis, Advanced Cyber Digital Forensics, Operating Systems, Applied Cryptography and Encryption, Applied Ethical Hacking and Penetration Tools, Offensive Penetration and Hacking Tools, Advanced Security Techniques and Countermeasures, Network Administration, Web Application Security, Server Administration, Databases Security, Vulnerability and Risk Management Maturity Models, Cloud Security, Block Chaining Encryption Standard, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning within the Cyber Security Industry.
Dr. Melissa A. Thomas is currently assigned to the Air Force Cyber College as a Professor of Cyberwar and Strategy. She holds a BA in computer and information science from UC Santa Cruz, a JD from UC Berkeley, and a PhD in political economy and government from Harvard University. After working in international development, she turned to national security. She has worked with governments, international organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector. She has led and worked in research teams CONUS and OCONUS. Her articles have appeared in policy and academic journals including Strategic Studies Quarterly, Defence Studies, International Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, and The American Interest. She received teaching awards at The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University and at the US Army School of Advanced Military Studies. Her research interests include cyber, artificial intelligence, computational social science, and measurement. She teaches Cyber Strategies and Introduction to Artificial Intelligence.
Mr. Anthony Kendrick is the Curriculum Specialist at the Air Force Cyber College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. He advises the commandant and dean on Air Force Cyber College curricula. Mr. Kendrick oversees the curriculum development, learning methodology, and instructional design. He collaborates with external agencies to facilitate faculty publication opportunities. Mr. Kendrick executes special projects and performs additional duties.
Mrs. Holly Shoemaker is a Visual Information Specialist at the Air Force Cyber College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. She is responsible for the original design, production and display of a wide variety of media products to improve and enhance the effectiveness of the research, outreach and engagement activities of the AF Cyber College. Prior to working at the Cyber College, Mrs. Shoemaker was the Communications Director of Alabama Pharmacy Association in Montgomery, AL. She also previously served as a Visual Information Specialist with the National Defense University in Washington, D.C for ten years. Mrs. Shoemaker holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Graphic Communications from Franklin Pierce University, Ridge, NH and has worked in a professional capacity as a graphic designer for over 18 years.