Lieutenant Colonel Elijah S. Porter is an Assistant Professor of Military & Strategic Studies at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Previously, he was the Chief of Nuclear Policy and Doctrine Branch for the Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration Directorate, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Virginia. He led a team coordinating nuclear policy, strategy, policy, and doctrine to include Nuclear Posture Review development and implementation, conventional-nuclear integration concept development and implementation, academic outreach, and management of Air Force nuclear publications with Joint Staff, Office of the Secretary of Defense, and other key nuclear stakeholders.

Lt Col Porter entered the Air Force in July 2007 after commissioning through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at Brigham Young University. He completed initial qualification training in January 2008 and has served as an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) combat crew commander, instructor, evaluator, training manager, targeteer, airpower strategist, and nuclear interagency exercise planner.

Lt Col Porter is the first graduate of the Missileer-sponsored PhD Program, graduating from Missouri State University with a Doctorate in Defense and Strategic Studies. He is qualified as a Missile Combat Crew Commander with over 4100 hours on the Minuteman III ICBM. In 2018, he deployed in support of operations Inherent Resolve and Freedom’s Sentinel as the Chief of Diplomatic Clearances, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.

Doctorate in Defense and Strategic Studies, Missouri State University, Fairfax, Va. (2024)
– Dissertation “China’s No-First use Policy: Interpretations According to Chinese Philosophical Traditions

Nuclear Weapons Effects, Policy, and Proliferation Certificate, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio (2014)

Master of Science, Management, Troy University, Troy, Ala. (2011)

Bachelor of Arts, International Relations, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah (2007)

Assistant Professor of Military & Strategic Studies, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. (June 2026 – Present)

Chief, Nuclear Policy and Doctrine Branch and Chief, Nuclear Strategy, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration Directorate, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Va. (May 2024 – June 2026)

PhD student, Missouri State University, Fairfax, Va. (August 2021 – May 2024)

Nuclear Exercise Planner, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, Va. (July 2020 – August 2021)

Airpower Strategist and Executive Officer, Air Force Warfighting Integration Capability, Strategy, Integration and Requirements Directorate, Headquarters United States Air Force, the Pentagon, Va. (October 2018 April 2019, Chief of Diplomatic Clearances, Host Nation Coordination Cell, 379 Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Udeid AB, Qatar) (April 2018 – July 2020)

Chief, ICBM Capabilities, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration Directorate, Headquarters United States Air Force, the Pentagon, Va. (May 2017 – April 2018)

Executive Officer to the Director, Mission Assessment and Analysis Directorate, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb. (April 2015 – May 2017)

Chief, ICBM Targeting Operations; 625 Strategic Operations Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb. (May 2013 – April 2015)

ICBM Combat Crew Commander, Squadron Command Post Commander, ICBM operations instructor and evaluator, Chief of ICBM training products, and Emergency War Orders Planner; 341st Operations Group, Malmstrom AFB, Mont. (January 2008 – May 2013)

Student, Space 100 and Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Initial Qualifying Training; Vandenberg AFB, Calif. (July 2007 – January 2008)

Student, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, Brigham Young University, Utah (July 2004 – April 2007)

Distinguished Graduate, Missouri State University

Defense Meritorious Service Medal

Meritorious Service Medal

Joint Service Commendation Medal

Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters

Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster

Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters

Combat Readiness Medal

National Defense Service Medal

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with ‘N’ Device and oak leaf cluster

Nuclear Deterrence Strategy

China’s Nuclear Posture and Strategy

Chinese Strategic Culture