Lt Col Jeremy Miller is the Department Chair for the Enlisted PME Department where he oversees faculty, curriculum development, course direction and instruction for ALS, NCOA, and SNCOA distance learning courses supporting 15,000 students annually. Lt Col Miller has served as the Director of Manpower and Personnel for Air University and guided a staff in the oversight of personnel support for over 2,300 members across five Centers and the 42nd Air Base Wing. He managed 600 special utilization and rated positions and monitored senior-officer matters for 260 personnel and ensured strategic alignment with Air University’s mission. Prior to this role, Lt Col Miller commanded the 49th Force Support Squadron where he led 484 personnel in supporting F-16, MQ-9 pilot and sensor operator training missions, in addition to providing critical mission support to the 635th Materiel Maintenance and 704th Test Groups. He managed a $33 million civilian pay budget, $7.4 million in non-appropriated funds, and $3.1 million in appropriated funds, optimizing resource utilization to enhance mission readiness. Additionally, he oversaw base support operations during Operation Allies Welcome where he assisted with the transition of 7,000 Afghan refugees and 1,000 Task Force personnel in a high-tempo environment.  His staff experience includes key leadership roles which include Air Force Global Strike Command, where he led numerous Personnel programs and served as a Leadership Enhancement Course instructor in direct support of the MAJCOM’s in-residence leadership development and strategic personnel initiatives.

Ms. Obia Clark is the Deputy Department Chair for Enlisted Professional Military Education at the Air Force Global College, where she plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of Air Force leadership.  With 16 years of experience as an instructional designer, she leads curriculum development efforts for three enlisted distance learning programs, equipping Air Force Guard and Reserve personnel with the knowledge, skills, and capabilities needed to excel in an everevolving operational environment. A 20-year veteran of the Air Force, Ms. Clark served as a Noncommissioned Officer Academy instructor and instructional designer for in-residence Airman Leadership School, Noncommissioned Officer Academy, and the Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy.  Ms. Clark brings firsthand military experience to her work—aligning educational programs with real-world operational demands and leadership expectations. Ms. Clark holds a Master of Education in Instructional Design from the University of Massachusetts-Boston. She is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success and was inducted into the Omega Nu Lambda National Honor Society in recognition of her academic excellence. 

TSgt Laura R. Warner is a Course Director for Airman Leadership School (ALS) and Noncommissioned Officer Academy (NCOA) Distance Learning programs at the Air Force Global College. She also serves as the ALS program manager, overseeing curriculum development, instructor coordination, and student support to ensure the delivery of high-quality enlisted professional military education across the Total Force. She previously served as an inresidence ALS Instructor at Bryant Hall, Barksdale AFB, where she delivered over 1,200 academic hours annually and supported more than 400 students per year from Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve units. TSgt Warner enlisted in the Air Force in January 2012 as a Health Services Management Technician. She has held diverse roles in healthcare administration, personnel management, and deployment readiness, including NCOIC of the PRAP Clinic, Medical Records NCOIC, Unit Deployment Manager, Office Manager, and Command Support Staff Technician. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from American Military University and an Associates in Applied Science in Health Services Management from the Community College of the Air Force. She is a graduate of Airman Leadership School, Noncommissioned Officer Academy, and Senior Enlisted Joint PME I. 

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.  

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. 

Dr. Matt Millard is an Assistant Professor of National Security and Chair of the Department of Strategy and Security Studies. Previously, he was an Assistant Professor at Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan, a postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Peace and Security Studies at the University of California, San Diego, and a visiting instructor at Saint Louis University. He graduated from The Citadel, obtained a master’s degree from Duke University, and earned his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Alabama. Specializing in quantitative conflict processes. Dr. Millard primarily focuses on alliance politics, the effect of regime types on war and peace, and national cybersecurity strategies. He has published several peer-reviewed articles, and his first book, Secret Alliances: Why States Make, Keep, and End Them, was published in 2025. This book covers the logic of secret alliances, why states make them, the reliability of the agreements, and the long-term effects on states' reputations. In his spare time, Dr. Millard enjoys high-altitude mountaineering and boat building. 

Dr. Charles G. Thomas is a Professor of Strategic Studies at the Air Force Global College. During his tenure, he has served as both Course Director and Chair within the Department of Strategy and Security Studies. Prior to joining the Global College, he taught in the Department of History at the United States Military Academy, where he led a team of instructors in redesigning the Africa curriculum. Dr. Thomas’s research focuses on African military history, with particular emphasis on post-colonial military structures and conflicts. He is the co-managing editor and a founding member of the Journal of African Military History. His monograph, Ujamaa’s Army: The Tanzania People’s Defence Force, 1964–1979 (2024), complements a body of work that includes more than a dozen articles and book chapters on topics ranging from East African history to civil-military dynamics and the role of airpower in irregular warfare. He has also coauthored volumes on African security issues and postcolonial secessionist conflicts. Beyond scholarship, Dr. Thomas has applied his expertise through the Department of State’s Africa Military Education Program. In this role, he has worked extensively with the Botswana Defence Force Air Arm, supporting the development of a professional military education system and fostering a multi-year partnership.

Dr. Robert H. Clemm is an Associate Professor of Strategy in the Strategy and Security Studies Department at the US Air Force’s Global College. He joined The Global College from Grove City College, where he taught for six years from 2012 to 2018. Dr. Clemm holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in history from The Ohio State University and a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from the University of Rochester. He contributed to and co-edited A Violent Peace: A Global History of the Interwar Period, published in June 2025 by University Press of Kansas. Dr. Clemm is currently researching the USAAF in Northern Ireland with Dr. Augustine Meaher IV and completing a manuscript on the use of cartography during the Scramble for Africa. He also serves as the regional coordinator for the Society for Military History. 

Dr. Augustine (Four) Meaher is an Associate Professor of Security and Strategic Studies at the US Air Force’s Global College. He joined the Global College from the Baltic Defence College in Tartu, Estonia, where he taught for six years and also served as a Department Director and Dean. Dr. Meaher received his Ph.D. from the University of Melbourne, his Master's from Tulane University, and his Bachelor's in History from Georgetown University. He is currently researching the USAAF in Northern Ireland with Dr. Robert Clemm, also in SSS, and the Stasi in the United States. Dr. Meaher has published widely on various military and diplomatic history topics and has given conference presentations in Australia, North America, and Europe. He is presently serving as the Additional Duty Unit Training Manager of the Global College. 

Dr. Bradley F. Podliska is an Associate Professor of National Security Studies at the Air Force Global College, Air University. He earned his Ph.D. in Political Science, with a major in International Relations, from Texas A&M University. Dr. Podliska has worked as an intelligence analyst for the Department of Defense and as an investigator for the House of Representatives Select Committee on Benghazi. Prior to joining GCPME, he worked in the Department of Joint Warfighting at Air Command and Staff College. His publications include the books Fire Alarm: The Investigation of the U.S. House Select Committee on Benghazi (Lexington Books, 2023) and Acting Alone: A Scientific Study on American Hegemony and Unilateral Use-of-Force Decision Making (Lexington Books, 2010), as well as a book chapter on congressional oversight and articles on national security and the military. 

Dr. Carl P. Watts is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and an Associate Professor of National Security Studies at the Air Force Global College. He is the author of Rhodesia’s Unilateral Declaration of Independence: An International History (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012) and co-editor (with Sue Onslow and Hugh Pattenden) of Rhodesia’s Unilateral Declaration of Independence: National, Regional, International, and Transnational Perspectives (London: Bloomsbury, 2025). Dr. Watts is currently collaborating with Dr. Charles Thomas on an edited book titled African Airpower: The Evolution and Operation of Airpower in Africa.