Lt Col Richard J. Mickelsen is an Assistant Professor of Economics. Prior to his current assignment, he served as the Analysis and Assessments Division Chief at Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, where he provided quantitative decision-support to the commander and subordinate units on strategic nuclear deterrence and bomber operations worldwide. While in this position, he led a Congressionally mandated effort to study the costs and risks associated with re-alerting nuclear bombers, which he briefed to the Secretary of the Air Force. Additionally, he developed a data-driven method for assessing infrastructure risk-to-mission, which he briefed to the Undersecretary and Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and was later adopted by multiple major commands across the Air Force.

Lt Col Mickelsen commissioned in 2007 upon graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy. He has served at the squadron, wing, numbered air force, MAJCOM, and combatant command levels analyzing fighter, bomber, space, command and control, intelligence, and nuclear weapon systems. While at the 609th Air Operations Center, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, he led the Operational Assessment Team, providing combat and campaign assessments in the fight against Islamic State.

He speaks fluent Spanish and served a semester exchange with the Spanish Air Force Academy in 2006.

Doctor of Philosophy, Economics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. (2022)

Master of Science, Economics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. (2021)

Master of Science, Operations Research, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force BAse, Ohio (2016)

Bachelor of Science, Economics, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (2007)

Air Force Global Strike Command Alison Award for Character and Innovation (2026)

Department of the Air Force Field Grade Officer Analyst of the Year (2025)

Department of the Air Force Analytic Excellence Award (Team Award) (2023)

Air Force Global Strike Command Innovator of the Year (Team Award) (2023)

Department of the Air Force Combat Analyst of the Year (2022)

Dean’s Annual Service Award, Krannert School of Management, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. (2022)

Game Theory, Contest Theory

Complex Systems