Professor of Military and Security Studies (Space)

Air University's Air Command and Staff College invites applications from qualified individuals for the position of Professor of Military and Security Studies (Schriever Space Scholars) in the Department of Spacepower. Faculty create curricula and deliver a year-long, in-resident program designed to prepare field grade officers to develop, employ and command joint, multinational, and interagency operations with a Spacepower focus.

Responsibilities

The focus of this position is on teaching, scholarship and publication, and service to the University, the Air Force, and the nation. First and foremost, the aspiring applicant must be a highly capable instructor. Our Schriever Space Scholars are selected from a pool of applicants to the concentration from those students selected to attend ACSC. They will include a mix of US Space Force, US Air Force, US Army, US Navy, US Coast Guard, and International officers, typically at the 0-4 level, as well as US government civilians.

These duties include teaching graduate seminars, mentoring students (from academics to writing), and supervising research projects. ACSC expects each faculty member to be able to create graduate-level curriculum and deliver material using a Socratic method. The usual teaching load will include 2-3 core courses and 1-2 electives per year. Core seminars typically include 12 students, while a maximum of 12 students may enroll in electives. Duties will include supervising independent student research projects, approximately 5 students per year. Core courses teaching assignments will be coordinated with the department chair, taking into account the expertise and interests of the faculty member. The current SSS core courses are Spacepower I and Spacepower II, International Security I and International Security II, War Theory, Leadership, and Joint Warfighting.

Travel to support these activities and as directed by the leadership at ACSC and Air University is expected of the applicant.

The applicant must have the ability to conduct their own research and publish peer reviewed publications commensurate with the expectations of the field of expertise, understanding that the nature of publications and types of research will vary based on subject area. Opportunities for research, both in terms of dedicated research/writing time and funding for research trips, conferences, and workshops are available to the selected applicant. The Department of Spacepower highly values scholarly publication and continuing faculty development.

Service includes a range of activities from school administration to support for mission requirements at the University, the Air Force, the Space Force, or the Department of Defense that typically involve serving on committees; working on special projects of interest to the school, AU, or the Air Force; and additional duties as necessary for the attainment of institutional objectives. Service typically constitutes about 20% of the core personnel document assigned duties.

Qualifications

Air University faculty support the Air Force and Space Force by leveraging their vast intellectual capacity to analyze and propose solutions to the Service's and the nation's most pressing security challenges. Together, the Airmen of the Air University faculty work to educate new generations of leaders; leaders equipped to recognize, analyze and solve the security challenges and overcome the operational problems they will face. At the same time, AU Airmen work directly for Air Force, Space Force, and Joint Force senior leadership, analyzing, testing and applying solutions. The results of these efforts have been, can be and certainly will be historic.

Knowledge of and practical experience with joint and/or spacepower strategy, command and control arrangements, organizations, and planning processes across the spectrum of military operations is desired. More broadly, the position will employ knowledge of service and/or joint military strategy and doctrine, national military strategy, military thought and theory, military history, joint/combined planning and joint and combined warfighting strategies. Faculty members also provide institutional service to the School, Air University, the Air Force, the Space Force, and the Department of Defense.

Focus areas for this position include, but are not limited to, knowledge of the global environment, national and international strategy and policy development, joint military environment, knowledge and experience in joint planning and warfighting; historical perspectives on strategy and role of force, especially in the domains of air, space, and cyber and their effects in other warfare domains; international relations; technology and innovation; irregular warfare; and practical applications in the strategy and policy arenas.

A PhD is required in History, International Relations, Security Studies, Political Science, Aerospace Engineering, Astrophysics, Space Studies or a field closely related to one of these disciplines. An emphasis in spacepower history, theory, policy, law, and/or practice is strongly desired. Prior academic and/or professional experience in a space-related field or discipline is highly desired.

Academic curriculum development experience is also desired. Interest in building a space-related research agenda and one or more space-focused electives is required. In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. A "job talk" is expected as part of the hiring process. Academic rank for this tenure-track position will be determined commensurate with the applicant's experience.

Air University is committed to building a culturally diverse and inclusive educational environment:

• We are dedicated to recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty committed to inclusive teaching and scholarship.
• Prospective candidates must engender a climate that values and uses diversity in all its forms to enrich debate and make the institution more inclusive.

Applicants should address how they will further these goals in their cover letter.

Conditions of Employment

• US. citizenship is required
• Males must be registered for Selective Service (see Legal and Regulatory Guide)
• A Top Secret Security clearance is required
• You may qualify for moving expenses if authorized may be covered using PCS, Recruitment or Relocation Incentive in accordance with agency policy
• The position may be subject to random drug testing
• This job is being filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive civil service (this is an Administratively Determined position in the excepted service)