Retired Brigadier Generals Lindy Royer and Jim Head have compiled a literal treasure trove of fascinating and relevant information that should become mandatory reading for anyone—faculty, military trainers, commanders, coaches, staff—being assigned to the United States Air Force Academy. I have known Lindy and Jim, Permanent Professors #44 and 52, respectively, for many years, during which time they each in their own way have left indelible marks on me. Perhaps most notable, beyond their distinguished military careers and service on the Academy faculty, they continue to serve their families, their communities, and their beloved Air Force Academy, even long after retirement.
Every mission element of the AF Academy has its own identity, and rightly so, but for any person assigned to teach, lead, coach, and mentor cadets to put a myopic focus on their own organization is shortsighted and detrimental to the mission of developing leaders of character for the Air Force and beyond. I cannot think of a better way to gain an appreciation for the founding, history, accomplishments, and heritage of the Air Force Academy than to learn about the evolution of academic programs and curriculum changes shaped by the faculty as presented in this comprehensive account of the first 100 Permanent Professors. One will also gain an appreciation for the involvement and influence of the Permanent Professors far beyond academics, reaching across mission areas to every facet of the Academy and well beyond.
From Permanent Professor #1, the highly admired “Gen McD,” the first Dean, Robert McDermott, to the newest, #100, Dave Caswell, Permanent Professors have been instrumental in so much more than reading, writing, and arithmetic. Many will be surprised to learn that virtually every national accreditation review and most key internal studies have been led by Permanent Professors. As I became the 18th Superintendent, the professional work of Permanent Professors had resulted in top marks for USAFA. Permanent Professor #71, Rich Fullerton, had just led the effort that won re-accreditation of the entire Academy program; #70, Neal Barlow, did the same for our specialized engineering degrees; and #83, Tom Yoder, had headed up the successful NCAA Certification. During my tenure, we established a new Permanent Professor position for the Academy’s Center for Character and Leadership Development and appointed Joe Sanders (#89). Hans Mueh, #51, was our Athletics Director, and #74, Dana Born, was Dean of our Faculty. Furthermore, I constantly drew wisdom from the experience and insight of the Permanent Professors in our Academy Board deliberations.
The reader of this seminal work will learn about the processes by which Permanent Professors are selected, how they are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate, and how they may earn retirement as Brigadier Generals. Readers will also become aware of an Air Force policy implemented in the early 1990s that forever altered faculty composition by adding civilians and later, a statute that allows for the Dean of the Faculty to come from other than the Permanent Professor ranks as has, to date, always been the case. Perhaps most important and relevant, this book offers insights into many innovative initiatives that have dramatically enhanced cadet experiences and vaulted USAFA to the forefront of modern military and civilian higher education.
But more than anything, this is a book about people. The Permanent Professors as a group did more to shape the Air Force Academy than any other. These pages tell the story of these men and women—the first 100—starting with those who came early and laid the foundation, to those who came later and expanded the academic programs and cadet learning opportunities, to those most recently appointed Permanent Professors who are poised to carry the Academy to new heights.
I sincerely thank Generals Head and Royer for writing this book; I only wish I would have been able to read it as part of my preparation for the job of Superintendent.
Michael C. Gould
Lieutenant General, USAF (Ret)
USAF Academy Superintendent, 2009–2013