Lt Col John William Sutcliffe IV serves as Assistant Professor and Deputy Director of Operations for the Department of History within the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Dean of Faculty. He earned his Ph.D. in history at the University of Leeds in 2022, with his doctoral dissertation examining the French armed forces’ implementation of a national nuclear deterrent.

After receiving his commission from the Academy and graduating as a Distinguished Graduate in 2008, Lt Col Sutcliffe completed intelligence officer training at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas. He has since served as an intelligence officer at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels of warfare, including two overseas deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Prior to his assignment at the Academy, Lt Col Sutcliffe served as a staff officer at U.S. Strategic Command, where he served as a subject-matter expert on contemporary French deterrence. From 2023 to 2026, he was also a member of the CSIS Project on Nuclear Issues’ Mid-Career Cadre.

Doctor of Philosophy, History, University of Leeds, United Kingdom (2022)

Master of Business Administration, University of Massachusetts Amherst (2012)

Bachelor of Science, History (Minor in French), U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (2008)

Assistant Professor, Department of History, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (June 2026 – Present)

Division Chief, Joint Intelligence Operations Center, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb. (September 2024–May 2026)

Branch Chief, Commander’s Action Group, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb. (September 2023–September 2024)

Branch Chief, Joint Intelligence Operations Center, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb. (June 2022–September 2023)

Ph.D. Student, University of Leeds, United Kingdom (August 2018–June 2022)

Assistant Director of Operations, 17th Attack Squadron, Creech AFB, Nev. (May 2018–August 2018)

Flight Commander, 17th Attack Squadron, Creech AFB, Nev. (June 2017–May 2018)

Chief, 432d Air Expeditionary Wing Intelligence, Creech AFB, Nev. (January 2017–June 2017)

Deputy Chief, 432d Air Expeditionary Wing Intelligence, Creech AFB, Nev. (June 2016–January 2017)

ISR Functional Manager for C2 and Battle Management, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom AFB, Mass. (September 2015–June 2016)

Officer in Charge, Acquisitions Intelligence, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom AFB, Mass. (February 2013–September 2015)

Chief, Intelligence, 71st Expeditionary Air Control Squadron, Southwest Asia (July 2012–January 2013)

Chief, Intelligence, 603d Air Control Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy (January 2012–July 2012)

Detachment Chief, Joint Document and Media Exploitation Center, Kabul, Afghanistan (May 2011–December 2011)

Chief, Intelligence Analysis and Plans, 31st Operations Group, Aviano Air Base, Italy (December 2010–May 2011)

Chief of Systems and Security, 31st Operations Group, Aviano Air Base, Italy (May 2010–December 2010)

Intelligence Advisor, 16th Air Expeditionary Task Force, Izmir Air Station, Turkey (April 2009–May 2010)

Intelligence Officer Course, Goodfellow AFB, San Angelo, Texas (May 2008–April 2009)

Defense Meritorious Service Medal

Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster

Joint Service Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster

Air and Space Commendation Medal

Air and Space Achievement Medal

Joint Meritorious Unit Award

Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with oak leaf cluster

Air and Space Organizational Excellence Award

Afghanistan Campaign Medal with service star

Air & Space Campaign Medal with four service stars

Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with oak leaf cluster

Graduate Student Prize in Applied Military History, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, D.C. (2020)

Modern France

Nuclear Strategy and Weapons Testing

The Cold War in Europe

Civil-Military Relations