Joint Airpower & Warfare Studies

Colonel (Ret.) Chris “Preacher” Marcell retired from active duty as the Dean of Students at the Air War College, where he served as the Combat Air Forces Chair to Air University, a Professor of Leadership and Warfighting, and the lead Instructor for the Senior Service Schools’ Joint Land, Air, and Sea Simulation wargame.  The Chair of the Air Force Global College’s Department of Joint, Airpower, and Warfighting Department, and its Course Director for the AFGC’s Joint Planning suite of courses, he is a former F-15E Strike Eagle pilot with 3000 flight hours, has commanded at the Squadron and Group levels, and was Mission Commander on numerous occasions for as many as 70 aircraft from six nations during multiple combat tours in both Europe and the Middle East.  As the Chief of Combat Operations for US Central Command’s Combined Air Operation Center, Colonel Marcell executed the Air Tasking Orders and Area Air Defense Operations for Afghanistan, Iraq, the Horn of Africa, and anti-piracy operations in the Gulfs of Aden and Oman and the Arabian Sea during the height of kinetic Airpower activity in Afghanistan.   

Mr. Reagan Schaupp is a faculty member at the Air Force Global College, where he teaches, conducts research, and contributes to academic service. He currently directs three courses in the Air War College Distance Learning program, focusing on airpower, spacepower, cyber power, and national strategy in the context of strategic competition with near-peer competitors such as China and Russia. He oversees a team of 30 adjunct faculty and manages the development, delivery, and sustainment of a 45-hour suite of senior professional military education (PME) courses that meet the rigorous standards of Air University, the Joint Staff, and SACSCOC. Mr. Schaupp retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2018 after 26 years as a space and missile operations officer. His assignments included operational, staff, and PME faculty roles, culminating in service as Director of Academic Operations for the Global College before transitioning to his current position in 2023. He has deployed in support of multiple overseas operations and exercises. He holds a Master of Strategic Studies from the Air War College (Distinguished Graduate, 2013), a Master of Military Operational Art and Science from the Air Command and Staff College (Top Performer, 2006), a Master of Management Information Systems from the University of Montana (1995), and a B.A. in Industrial Management from Clemson University (1991). He is also a graduate of the Space Weapons Instructor Course, Squadron Officer School (Distinguished Graduate), and Undergraduate Missile Training. Mr. Schaupp is the sole author of Tex Hill: Flying Tiger (2003) and has published multiple articles and reviews, including in Joint Force Quarterly and Aerospace Power Journal. His recent scholarship includes work on air strategy, PME renewal, and competition in the space domain. His awards include AETC Category IV Supervisory Civilian of the Year (2019, 2023), the General Muir S. Fairchild Award for Educational Achievement (2019), and the Wright Brothers’ Officership Award for Faculty (2016). 

Mr. Gaylon L. McAlpine is a Professor of Warfare Studies at the Air Force Global College, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. He serves as Course Director for multiple offerings in the Joint, Airpower, and Warfare Studies (JAWS) Department, including the Joint Planning course within the Online Master’s Program (OLMP). A retired U.S. Army Field Artillery officer, Mr. McAlpine joined the Air University faculty in 2005. While on active duty, he was assigned to the resident Air Command and Staff College (ACSC) from 2005–2009, where he also directed the resident Joint Campaign Planning course. Following his retirement in 2009, he transitioned to his current faculty role. Throughout his military career, Mr. McAlpine achieved designation as a fully Joint Qualified Officer (JQO) and held a range of command, leadership, and staff positions. He is a veteran of Operations DESERT SHIELD, DESERT STORM, IRAQI FREEDOM, and multiple humanitarian assistance missions. Since joining Air University, Mr. McAlpine has authored numerous lesson plans, designed several joint courses, and developed award-winning innovations in online learning. He has also served as Faculty Senate President and contributed to the field through co-authored, peer-reviewed publications.

"The Urgency of Warfighting Renewal: Five Principles for Today’s Professional Military Education," Joint Force Quarterly 116 (1st Quarter 2025).

“Residence to Online: Collaboration During the Pandemic,” Journal of Teaching and Learning with Technology, 10 (1) (2021). 

Dr. Joseph L. Varuolo, is a Professor of Warfare Studies at Air University’s Air Force Global College. Dr Varuolo is a retired USAF combat aviator (B-1) and Weapon School Graduate with significant combat time including Airbourne Mission Commander in combat multiple times. Additionally, he has an explicit strategy background in two distinct theaters including Section Chief in the CFACC’s Strategy Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom and architect of the Russian sections of the Theater Security Cooperation Plan for EUCOM from 2004 – 2007. Dr. Varuolo served as a senior diplomat at the US Embassy in Moscow, Russia and his expertise has been sought by US Presidential delegations, US Congressional delegations, Council on Foreign Relations, World Affairs Council, American Council on Germany, and academic institutions. Dr. Varuolo’s policy expertise extends across international, national, state, and local government and transverses the spectrum from advice to final written form. His policy experience encompasses multiple US government agencies and has ranged contentious issues such as US military overflight of Russian territory and Russian/NATO interoperability. He has a PhD in Political Science, Comparative Politics, from the University at Albany’s Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy.

Research Interest/Expertise: Centered on Eastern Europe, Dr. Varuolo’s research is concentrated in the fields of comparative politics and international relations. His qualitative and quantitative analysis emphasizes the cultural, structural and rational choice perspectives of secession, Russian nationalism, ethnic minorities of the Russian sphere, non-state entities and political violence.