CENTRE FOR AIR POWER STUDIES

Dr John Ackerman is an Assistant Professor of National and International Security Studies at the Air Command and Staff College (ACSC), Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. He is also the Research Course Director and National Security Studies Course Director for the ACSC Department of Distance Learning (DL). Prior to his appointment as a DL Course Director Dr Ackerman was the Director of Conferences and Publications and the Deputy Chairman of the Department of National and International Security Studies at ACSC. Dr Ackerman is also a retired Lieutenant Colonel from the United States Air Force and held assignments in Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Operations and Training and taught both company grade and field grade officers’ professional military education courses. Dr Ackerman holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Alabama, a Master’s Degrees in Political Science, Military Operational Art and Science, and Information Systems Management. His professional interests include national, international, and environmental/energy security issues. His research efforts have included exploration into the relationships between sustainability and security, the international relations implications of global climate change, and the national security ramifications of global warming. Dr Ackerman has taught graduate courses in national security studies, strategy and war, culture and warfare, air power history, and future global trends. His article published in Strategic Studies Quarterly in spring of 2008 examined the relationship between global climate change, US National Security Strategy, and the Quadrennial Defense Review. In addition, a forthcoming article in the summer 2009 Journal of Peace Research investigates the politics of formalized river cooperation. He is currently researching the challenges posed by climate change to African states and to the newly established Combatant Command AFRICOM.

Dr Joel Hayward taught strategy and operational art at the Joint Services Command and Staff College before becoming, in 2005, Head of the new Air Power Studies Division created by the Royal Air Force and KCL. He and his team of academics are based at the historic and prestigious Royal Air Force College, of which he was appointed Dean in 2007. A former Senior Lecturer in Defence and Strategic Studies at the Centre for Defence Studies in New Zealand, his homeland, Dr Hayward has taught in, or lectured to, many officer cadet colleges and command and staff colleges around the world. He has published widely on air power and other defence topics and is a member of the CAS Air Power Workshop, a small working group of scholars and other theorists convened by the Chief of the Air Staff. He is one of the three directors of the Royal Air Force Centre for Air Power Studies.

Dr Dan Henk serves as a social anthropologist on the faculty of Air University and simultaneously as the Director of the Air Force Culture and Language Center. Since 2005, Henk has been at the forefront of Air Force and Department of Defense initiatives to build cross-cultural competence among service personnel. He was raised in central Africa by a missionary family. A former US Army officer, his assignments in a 29-year military career included combat in Viet Nam and Grenada, supervisory intelligence positions at tactical, theatre and national level and overseas service in Europe and Africa, including accreditation as military attaché to four African countries (Botswana, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe). He also has served as Director of African Studies at the US Army War College and as Chair, Department of Security Strategy, (DoD) Africa Center for Strategic Studies. He has researched and lectured widely in Europe and Africa. He holds a BA in History from The Citadel, and an MA and PhD in Anthropology from the University of Florida. His recent publications have explored defense budgeting in African countries, new military roles and missions and emerging new definitions of “security,” with a focus on environmental security. A monograph published by University Press in 2006 analyzed the evolution of South Africa’s armaments industry in the wake of majority rule. His latest book, published by Palgrave-Macmillan in 2007, assessed the performance of the Botswana Defence Force in environmental security operations.

Ms Heather Hrychuk is a Defence Scientist/Strategic Analyst with Defence Research and Development Canada’s Centre for Operational Research and Analysis. Currently a member of the Air Operational Research Strategic Analysis Team, she is tasked with assisting the Chief of the Air Staff and the Canadian Forces’ Aerospace Warfare Centre with strategic planning and conducting research on air power related issues. Prior to this, Ms Hrychuk worked with the Canadian Army developing doctrine and future concepts, primarily focused counterinsurgency and the comprehensive approach. In 2007 Ms Hrychuk completed a thesis entitled, “Lost in Translation: the Search for 3D in Afghanistan,” and graduated with a Masters in War Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada. She also holds a Combined Honours in Law and Political Science from Carleton University. Her most recent publication, “Combating the Security Development Nexus? Lessons Learned from 3D’s Afghan Implementation for Integrated Approaches,” was published in the Spring issue of International Journal.

Mr Peter Lee joined the King’s College London team based at the Royal Air Force College in September 2008 as a Lecturer in Air Power Studies. He joined the department from the Royal Air Force where he served for seven years as a chaplain. In 2005 Peter commenced a PhD at the King’s College London War Studies Department on the ethics of war, prompted by his work in a military hospital with casualties of the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003. His wider areas of academic interest include Just War theory, post-structural political theory, and the politics of identity.

Lieutenant Colonel Michael J Masterson, PhD, has served as an Instructor, Department of Warfighting, Air War College, Air University, since June 2007. He received his commission in February 1981 upon completion of Officer’s Training School, with 10 years of his career served as in Air Force Reserves before returning to full time active service in 2002. He has served in a variety of command and staff assignments to include eight years working intelligence support to the warfighter at the squadron section chief and chief of wing intelligence level for fighters, fighter/bombers, and tactical reconnaissance platforms, at locations across the globe. He served on the staff of 9th Air Force / US Central Command Air Forces as Chief of Intelligence Plans and then Director, Unit Support supporting 26 different intelligence organizations with contingency tasking for the Southwest Asia Area of Operations, and also as the most junior certified Joint Service Indications and Warning Intelligence Officer serving at US CENTRAL COMMAND / J2, MacDill AFB, Florida. He has commanded as Vice Commander and Executive Vice President of the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF). In addition, he has multiple tours of duty for combat starting with Desert Storm in 1991, through a second OIF tour as Geospatial Intelligence Officer for the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency geoint analytical support to the warfighter across SWA based in Qatar, prior to arriving at AWC. LtCol Masterson was selected and served on the Secretary of Defense ISR Task Force. LtCol Masterson received a Bachelor of Liberal Arts & Sciences degree in Mandarin Chinese and Asian Studies from the University of Kansas at Lawrence in 1976; a Masters of Science in Human Resources Management from Golden Gate University, with academic honors in 1988, and was awarded his PhD in Management Information Systems in March 1999 from Auburn University Lowder College of Business. He has numerous publications, including articles or chapters in the USAF Air & Space Power Journal, and most recently in the Handbook for Information Systems, 2nd ed., and the Encyclopedia of Information Science and Technology, 2nd ed.

Ms Sarah A Masterson is a senior pursuing degrees in Ecology and Environmental Ethics from New College at the University of Alabama (UA), Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She was the 2006 Valedictorian for Loveless Academic magnet Program High School in Montgomery, Alabama, one of the top 150 high schools in the United States. In high school she was also a member of the National Honor Society and a Science Olympiad scholar. She has performed field and laboratory research in University environmental research projects from her first weeks as a student at UA, for both faculty and graduate student researchers. Ms Masterson is an active member of the first campus recycling initiative for environmental protection at UA home football games, doing everything from increasing awareness for recycling to sorting and collecting un-recycled materials throughout the stadium-remnants from a crowd on more than 90,000 people. She has also served as an after school volunteer working with troubled children at a local elementary school. While pursuing all these activities, she is also an honors student, having made the Dean and President’s List every semester. After receiving her degree in May 2010, Ms Masterson plans to pursue a degree in Environmental Law.

Dr Phillip S Meilinger is a retired US Air Force colonel with 30 years of service. During his career he was an instructor pilot in C-130 and HC-130 aircraft in both Europe and the Pacific, a staff officer in the Pentagon, and an educator. He received his PhD in military history from the University of Michigan and then taught at the Air Force Academy, the Naval War College, and was Dean of the School of Advanced Airpower Studies, the Air Force's only graduate school for the education of future strategists. Upon his retirement from the Air Force he worked as a defence analyst in Washington DC for six years. He now lives in Chicago. His published work includes six books and over 75 articles on airpower theory and operations. His latest book is Hubert R. Harmon: Aviator, Officer and Father of the Air Force Academy.

Ms Evelyn Krache Morris is a PhD student at Georgetown University, studying the history of United States foreign relations. She holds an AM from the University of Chicago, an MBA from Columbia University, and a BA from Tufts University. Her conference paper is part of a larger project on Operation Ranch Hand and its effects in the United States and Vietnam. This is her second intellectual collaboration with the Royal Air Force College and King’s College London.

Colonel Mark A Olinger, US Army, is currently serving as Director of Operations for the Defense Energy Support Center at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. He was previously assigned from 2006 to 2008 as Commander, Defense Energy Support Center–Middle East and he has served in a number of command and staff positions in the United States, Panama, the Republic of Korea, the Middle East and Germany. His combat service includes company commander in the 528th Support Battalion (Airborne) during Operation Earnest Well/Prime Chance in the Arabian Gulf; deputy director of logistics (J-4), US Special Operations Command–South/Joint Special Operations Task Force during Operation Just Cause in Panama; and support operations officer in the 528th Support Battalion (Airborne) during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. During Operation Iraqi Freedom he served as Commander, 142d Corps Support Battalion, and later as assistant chief of staff for logistics (G-4) for the 1st Armored Division. Colonel Olinger’s military education includes the US Army Infantry Officer Basic Course, US Army Quartermaster Officer Advanced Course, US Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare Course (non-resident), the Operations Research Systems Analysis Military Applications Course, US Army Command and General Staff College and the National War College. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from California State Polytechnic University at Pomona and a Master of Science degree in National Security Strategy from the National Defense University. He is married to Sandrajane Martin of Mount Vernon, Texas and they are the proud owners of two mixed breed dogs. Recent publications and presentations include:

·   “US Army Mobilization During the Korean War and Its Aftermath”, Land Warfare Paper No. 70W, Association of the United States Army, November 2008.

·   Paper presentation entitled “Logistics and the Combatant Commander: Meeting the Challenge”, to the Institute of Land Warfare at the Association of the United States Army 2008 Annual Convention, 8 October 2008.

·   “Logistics and the Combatant Commander: Meeting the Challenge”, Land Warfare Paper No. 68, Association of the United States Army, July 2008.

·   Comment and Discussion on the article "A Triumph in Strategic Thinking" by Lieutenant General Bernard E. Trainor US Marine Corps (Ret.), Proceedings, April 2008.

·   “Conceptual Underpinnings of the Air Assault Concept: The Hogaboom, Rogers, and Howze Boards”, Land Warfare Paper No. 60, Association of the United States Army, December 2006.

Lieutenant Colonel Chris Rein is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Kansas, where he is working on a dissertation on tactical airpower in the Mediterranean Theatre of World War II, advised by Dr Adrian Lewis. From 2005 to 2008 Lt Col Rein served as an Assistant Professor of History at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. He earned a BS in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1992 and a MA in History from Louisiana State University in 2001. Military assignments have included Tinker AFB, OK, flying the Navy's E-6A "Mercury," the Naval ROTC Unit, Southern University, where he served as an Assistant Professor of Naval Science, and Robins AFB, GA, where navigated the E-8C "Joint STARS." He has presented the results of his research at the Northern Great Plains History Conference and the US Air Force Historical Foundation Symposium.

Dr Sebastian Ritchie is an official historian at the Air Historical Branch (RAF) of the Ministry of Defence. He obtained his PhD from King’s College, London, in 1994, and lectured for three years at the University of Manchester before joining the Air Historical Branch. He is the author of numerous classified histories of recent RAF operations in Iraq and Yugoslavia, and has also lectured and published widely on aspects of air power and air operations in the Second World War. His publications include the highly acclaimed book, Industry and Air Power, and numerous articles on RAF history. He regularly accompanies RAF staff rides to Walcheren.

Robert R Sands is Culture Chair and Assistant Professor of Anthropology for the Air Force Culture and Language Center (AFCLC) and Air University at Maxwell AFB, AL. As Culture Chair, Dr Sands is responsible for designing curricula that infuses cross-cultural competence across the spectrum of professional military education and training. Currently, Sands is developing a semester-long distance learning Introduction to Culture course that will be offered to airmen through Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) and Air University starting April of 2009. Dr Sands has also developed and initiated the Cultural Studies Project, an ethnographically-informed effort for capturing narratives of experience that are part of every Airman’s career to help resource the different curriculum and that reflect the need and importance of cultural education and training. Dr Sands received his PhD in anthropology from the University of Illinois and his MA in anthropology from Iowa State University. He taught all fields of anthropology in colleges and universities in southern California and Nevada for over a decade. In addition, Sands worked as an archaeologist and cultural resource manager for the United States Forest Service and Department of Defense. Just recently Dr Sands was a visiting anthropology professor at College of Wooster prior to joining the AFCLC. Dr Sands is the co-chair of the Sustainable Security Working Group at Air University, a collection of scholars and military personnel interested in environmental security issues and is also a facilitator for the 2009 Air University/AFRICOM Symposium in April 2009 at Air University. Dr Sands is a noted expert on sport and culture and has published five books on that subject. His most recent work involves a biocultural perspective of sport and human movement, including running and human evolution and is editing and contributing to a volume on this perspective that will be published in 2009.

Dr Victor Sidel, MD, the Conference Keynote, is a graduate of Princeton University with honors in physics, and of Harvard Medical School with honors in biophysics. He was trained in internal medicine and public health at Harvard and at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. After work at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda and at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, he moved to New York City, where he is Distinguished University Professor of Social Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Adjunct Professor of Public Health at Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Dr Sidel has been president of the American Public Health Association, of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, and of Physicians for Social Responsibility, its US affiliate. He was Cleveringa Professor of Medicine and Human Rights at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands and is co-editor with Dr Barry Levy of the books, War and Public Health, Terrorism and Public Health, and Social Injustice in Public Health, published by Oxford University Press.

Ms Tara Smith is a Connect Doctoral Research Fellow and PhD Candidate at the Irish Centre for Human Rights, NUI Galway. Her LLM research focused on the dichotomy between civil liability and criminal accountability in redressing the negative environmental effects of armed conflict. A short article based on this thesis can be found in Noëlle Quénivet and Shilan Shah-Davis, International Law and Armed Conflict: Challenges in the 21st Century (TMC Asser 2009). Her doctoral research now seeks to devise a uniform, effective mechanism to protect the environment in armed conflict. In addition to this, Tara Smith is involved in coordinating and co-instructing the BA Connect with Human Rights degree programme at NUI Galway. She is also a member of the Consortium for Comparative Research on Regional Integration and Social Cohesion's Working Group on the Management of Strategic Resources, Environment and Society. Previously, she has worked as a Research Fellow at the International Institute for Higher Studies in Criminal Sciences (ISISC), in Siracusa, Italy.

Dr Toby Thacker took his first degree at Brasenose College, Oxford, and gained his PhD from Cardiff University in 2001. He is currently a Lecturer in Modern European History at Cardiff University. He has published Music after Hitler, 1945-1955 (2007), and The End of the Third Reich: Defeat, Denazification, and Nuremberg, 1944-1946 (2006), as well as numerous articles, mainly about aspects of twentieth-century German cultural history. He is currently working on a biography of Joseph Goebbels, to be published by Palgrave Macmillan later this year.

Mr Terry A Yonkers, who has over thirty years experience in the "environmental" field, at present works for ARCADIS, who are a leading, global, knowledge-driven service provider, active in the fields of infrastructure, buildings, environment and communications. Mr Yonkers is a former Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the United States Air Force for Environment, Safety, and Occupational Health. In this role, he was responsible for both policy formulation and the oversight of environment, safety and occupational health programs worldwide for the US Air Force. During his time with the USAF, Mr. Yonkers developed and implemented policies, procedures, and business practices associated with the Air Force Base Realignment and Closure, real estate and environmental clean-up programs. In addition, Mr. Yonkers has more than twenty years of supervisory experience at the branch (base), division (Major Command) and directorate (Air Staff and AF Secretariat) levels, supervising a diverse, civilian and military workforce.

Dimitrios Ziakkas is a PhD Candidate in the Graduate Program in the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, University of Athens and the National Technical University of Athens. He has a BSc in Aviation Science from the Hellenic Air Force Academy (1994), a BSc in Economics Science from the University of Athens (2004) and a MA in the Philosophy and History of Science and Technology, University of Athens and the National Technical University of Athens (2007). His research has focused on the adoption of electronics in the aviation technology, flight safety and economical approach of the software and hardware localization and the formation of the Greek aviation - military project. He is interested in the competition between Europe and the US in the aviation industry during and after the Cold War period. He has spoken at several academic conferences in Europe. As a pilot he has 3,500 total flying hours experience with the McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II, the Lockheed C-130 H/B Hercules and the Gulfstream G-V. He served in the VIP Squadron of the Hellenic Air Force. He is now a retired officer flying the Gulfstream G-V & Hawker Beechcraft Premier.