Leadership and Ethics Studies

Dr. Christopher Shannon, a retired Lieutenant Colonel, has over 35 years of experience in leadership, supervision, management, training, evaluation, and various administrative roles. He served 28 years in the United States Air Force, during which he traveled to several countries, enhancing his understanding of different cultural settings. After retiring from the Air Force, Dr. Shannon became the Associate Director for the Institute for Leadership Development and a Lecturer at Troy University in Troy, Alabama. He currently holds the position of Department Chair for Leadership, Ethics, and the Profession of Arms at the Air Force Global College. Originally from Clarksdale, Mississippi, Dr. Shannon and his wife, Jerdie, have three sons and eight grandchildren. His love for God, family, and country inspires him to positively influence the lives of those around him.

Dr. Amy R. Baxter is an Assistant Professor of Ethics and Leadership at the Air Force Global College and previously served as Director of Research from June 2021 to April 2024. She earned her Ph.D. in Sociological Social Psychology from the University of Maryland, where she researched power, status, and influence within groups, using experimental methods. Dr. Baxter has designed and taught a range of courses, including Senior and Strategic Leadership, Weapons of Mass Persuasion, Power, Status, and Influence, and Leadership: An Evidence-Based Approach. Her scholarship has been published in Advances in Group Processes, Current Research in Social Psychology, and Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, among other journals. She has held several key leadership roles at Air University, including Director of the Resilience Research Task Force (RTF) and President of the Faculty Senate. Her contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including the Military Officers Association of America's Outstanding Civilian Faculty Award (2020, Air Command and Staff College) and Air Education and Training Command’s Civilian Educator of the Year Award (2022). Before joining Air University, Dr. Baxter taught Psychology of Leadership at the United States Military Academy at West Point. She also served in the Ohio Army National Guard and deployed in support of OPREATION IRAQI FREEDOM as a gunner in a gun truck company from February 2004 to March 2005. She researches power, status, influence, evidence-based leadership, organizational dynamics, and Mission Command. 

Mr. Dex McCain is an Assistant Professor of Leadership and Ethics in the Leadership, Ethics, and Profession of Arms Department at the Air Force Global College. Since joining the AFGC faculty in 2020, Mr. McCain has taught and led courses in Leadership and Command, Applied Senior Leadership, and Squadron Command. A retired United States Air Force officer with nearly 27 years of active-duty service, Mr. McCain commanded multiple squadrons, served as a USCENTCOM Afghanistan desk officer, a Foreign Military Sales Team Lead in Iraq, and as the AFROTC Southeast Region Director of Operations. He also held key staff positions at the Secretary of the Air Force and Air University levels. His expertise spans leadership, command, acquisition, and PME instruction across the tactical, operational, and strategic domains. Mr. McCain holds a Master of Operational Art and Science from Air Command and Staff College and a Master of Human Resource Management from Troy State University. He earned his commission through Air Force ROTC upon graduating from the University of Mississippi. His research interests are centered on how personal and organizational leadership practices develop leaders of character who excel in complex and demanding environments. 

Dr. Mara Vicente Robinson is an Assistant Professor of Leadership at the Air Force Global College. An international scholar-practitioner with expertise in organizational leadership, decision-making, and applied behavioral science, she brings over two decades of experience in leadership, education, curriculum development, and faculty training across military and civilian settings. She holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from the University of San Diego, an M.Ed. from Chapman University, a Certificate of Instruction from the University of Redlands, and a B.A. in International Relations from the College of William and Mary.

At Air University, Dr. Robinson has served as Course Director for key PME programs in IDE, PDE, OLMP, and Agile Learning, supporting over 10,000 students and 300 instructors. She led the redesign and implementation of Outcomes-Based Military Education (OBME) and directed the development of the flagship IDE Agile Leadership course. Her research focuses on toxic leadership, emotional intelligence, group behavior, and neurocognitive aspects of decision-making. She has presented at national and international venues, including the Military 9Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (MSOTL), Inter-University Seminar on Armed Forces and Society (IUS), and the International Leadership Association (ILA), where she is a founding member and program coordinator for the Military/Uniformed Services Committee.

In addition to teaching and scholarship, Dr. Robinson contributes to institutional initiatives through leadership in curriculum development, faculty development, and governance. She has served on more than fifteen hiring and vetting committees, coordinated webinar series on toxic leadership and recovery, delivered sessions for the ACSC Commander’s Lecture Series, and supported faculty development at ACSC, SOS, and EMEIC. A multi-award recipient from ACSC and GCPME, she also actively engages in community service—organizing toy drives for foster children, volunteering with Wounded Warrior dog training programs, and offering over 150 hours of pro bono leadership coaching.

Before her time at Air University, Dr. Robinson served as an adjunct professor and instructional leader in both U.S. and overseas institutions. Her international teaching and service work includes leadership and service in Florence, Italy, and multi-year educational development, service, and program coordination in Nairobi, Kenya. These experiences continue to inform her global perspective on leadership development. She is fluent in Spanish and Italian, with remedial proficiency in French, German, and Kiswahili. Her work exemplifies a commitment to evidence informed, learner-centered leadership education that advances both individual and institutional growth and resilience across the Department of Defense. 

Mr. Barr D. Younker, Jr. is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Leadership, Ethics, and the Profession of Arms at the Air Force Global College at Maxwell AFB. In this capacity, he directs three online master’s degree program courses. Before joining the Global College, Professor Younker taught at Auburn University Montgomery (AUM), retiring as an Associate Professor in 2022 after 14 years of teaching graduate and undergraduate courses. Throughout his teaching career, Professor Younker has published approximately 30 professional papers and journal articles in various forums. His current research interests include U.S. military leadership in post-WWII Europe and academic freedom/non-attribution issues at U.S. military universities and academies. Prior to teaching at AUM, Professor Younker served over 29 years in the Air Force, retiring in 2008 with the rank of Colonel. He spent most of his Air Force career as a judge advocate, serving in diverse locations such as North Dakota and the Middle East, including Afghanistan. His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit Medal and six awards of the Meritorious Service Medal. Professor Younker’s educational accomplishments include a Bachelor of Science degree in International Affairs from the United States Air Force Academy, a Master of Science degree in International Relations from Troy University, a Master of Strategic Studies degree from Air University, and a Juris Doctor degree from Oklahoma City University. 

Maj Frederick W. Freeman's primary AFSC is Financial Management (65F). Major Freeman recently completed ACSC in-residence (AY 2024-2025) and is currently serving as a fellow (AY 2025-2026) at GCPME. Prior to this assignment, Major Freeman served as the Commander for the 673d Comptroller Squadron at JB Elmendorf, Alaska. Major Freeman has worked in several financial management assignments, including Director of Financial Management for 7th Air Force (7th AF) at Osan AB, Korea, and Comptroller for the 461st Air Control Wing (461st ACW) at Robins AFB. Additionally, Major Freeman has served as an Assistant Professor for Aerospace Studies for Air Force ROTC, Detachment 415 at the University of Minnesota (UMN). Major Freeman holds a BS in Health Systems Management, an MA in Management and Leadership, and an MS in Operational and Military Science.

Maj Frederick Carter is a Developmental Engineer (62E) with a secondary AFSC as an Intelligence Officer (14N). He recently completed ACSC in-residence (AY 2024-2025) and is currently serving as a fellow (AY 2025-2026) at the Air Force Global College. Prior to this assignment, Maj Carter served as the Test and Evaluation Branch Chief (T&E), Targeting and Test Division (TT&E), Advanced Technologies Intelligence (ATI), Science and Technology Directorate (ST) for the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). He has worked as a Systems Engineer for the C-130 System Program Office (SPO) and as the Deputy Director of the 574th Commodities Maintenance Group (CMXG) at the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center (WRALC). Maj Carter has also served as the Flight Commander of Advanced Target Development (ATD) and Target System Analysis (TSA) for the 20th Intelligence Squadron (20IS) under the 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance, & Reconnaissance Wing (363d ISRW). Additionally, he has deployed as the Deputy Chief of Targets for Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR). Maj Carter holds a BS in Industrial Engineering, an MBA, and an MS in Operational and Military Science.