Bio
Dr. Richard E. Niemeyer earned his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of California, Riverside, in 2011. As Director of the Department of Behavioral Sciences & Leadership’s Warfighter Effectiveness Research Center (WERC) at the U.S. Air Force Academy, he leads a multidisciplinary research program integrating the life sciences, behavioral and social sciences, human factors, and mathematical sciences to investigate human and organizational factors affecting military performance. His research focuses on identifying the causal mechanisms underlying warfighter effectiveness, resilience, and decision-making, with particular attention to processes spanning neurobiological and cognitive systems, social networks and institutions, and emerging technologies.
Dr. Niemeyer’s research has been supported by major Department of Defense initiatives, including the Air Force Office of Scientific Research’s Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI), the Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP), and the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command. This work has supported advanced experimental testbeds, human-AI teaming platforms, and immersive virtual and augmented reality environments for studying decision-making, trust, moral competence, and human-machine collaboration in operationally relevant settings.
His current scholarship addresses challenges including misinformation and disinformation, moral decision-making under stress, human-machine teaming, and the design of autonomous systems aligned with human values. Across these areas, he develops interdisciplinary frameworks that strengthen scientific explanation while translating foundational research into applications for training, technology design, and operational practice.
Dr. Niemeyer has published in Nature Human Behaviour, Criminology, the Journal of Criminal Justice, and other leading scholarly outlets.
Education
University of California, Riverside, Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology (2004–2011)
University of California, Riverside, Bachelor of Science in Sociology (1998–2004)
Professional Experience
Associate Professor, United States Air Force Academy (2024-Present
Assistant Professor, United States Air Force Academy (2021-2024)
Assistant Professor, Community College of Denver (2019-2021)
Honors & Awards
Lindsay Research of the Year, HABL, U.S. Air Force Academy (2024-2025)
Guerrero Award, HABL, U.S. Air Force Academy (2023-2024)
William J. Hendrix Scholarship Excellence, HABL, U.S. Air Force Academy (2021-2022)
Research and Scholarly Interests
Neurosociology, Cognitive Security, Trust & Influence, Sociological Theory
Publications
Proctor, K. Ryan, Sarah Bostrom, and Richard E. Niemeyer. (2026) “Flexibility in Variable Operationalization in Social Disorganization Theory: A Pilot Study.” Criminology 64(2), 485-501.
Niemeyer, Richard E. (2025). “What Are the Neurosociological Foundations of Identities and Identity-Related Processes? (Revisited).” In: Kalkhoff, W., Dippong, J., Firat, R.B. (eds) Handbook of Neurosociology. Handbooks of Sociology and Social Research. Springer
Niemeyer, Richard E., K. Ryan Proctor, Robert G. Niemeyer, and Joseph Schwartz. (2025) “Are Most Published Criminological Research Findings Wrong? Taking Stock of Criminological Research using a Bayesian Simulation Approach.” International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology 69, no. 5: 475-494.