Dr. Helen Meisenhelder is the Director of the Graduate Studies program at the United States Air Force Academy. She is responsible for establishing policy and implementing processes including application and selection procedures for all of the Academy’s first assignment graduate education programs. Prior to this position, she served as a Visiting Lecturer in the Department of Computer, Information and Leadership Technology at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis. Dr. Meisenhelder is a retired Air Force officer who spent the majority of her career teaching in the Department of Behavioral Science and Leadership at the Air Force Academy.

U.S. Air Force Academy:
Led team of senior faculty in providing leadership education and mentoring through leadership courses and programs. Administrative oversight for up to 45 staff. Created instructional programs, courses, seminars; wrote curriculum; trained, instructed, led, and coached trainers/instructors. Conducted evaluations and guided critical thinking exercises. Co-directed academic advising, orchestrated academic programs for 225 cadets yearly; personally advised 20+ cadets yearly. Designed and instructed courses in Social Psychology, Sports Psychology, General Psychology, and Leadership. Led faculty hiring committees. Technical Advisor, Air Force Scientific Advisory Board.
 Led 12 instructors in transforming leadership core course for 1,000+ cadets yearly; infused curriculum with innovative, cutting-edge pedagogy; developed and facilitated course offsite to ready instructors, build teamwork and develop new faculty; spearheaded scheduling efficiencies, balancing instructor and student workload; negotiated with publisher to reduce student cost, saved $36,000.
 Designed and delivered improved executive leadership seminars—crafted on-line assessments; conducted focus groups and needs assessment to refine content; added new change-management module, created first-ever summer seminar; 1,000 students (annually) better prepared for new roles.
 Partnered with local university and corporate agencies to manage Secretary of the Air Force directed Leadership & Counseling Master’s Program for new Academy organizational leaders. Personally mentored 6 Master’s students; graduated 20 students annually.
 Sought-after faculty advisor. Coordinated academic programs for over 225 cadets. Trained and guided over 36 faculty advisors to ensure cadets met Academy’s stringent graduation requirements. Selected to manage basketball operations and academic outreach for Division I women’s basketball team; directed academic & logistical support, managed travel budget.
 Shaped future leadership development and training. Key role in Secretary of Air Force “Agenda for Change” policy implementation. Led effort to design largest peer-mentoring program in the history of the 49-year old institution; collaborated with key stakeholders to integrate leadership education across institutional functions. Incorporated new framework into training and academic courses.
 Administrative lead for AF scientific advisory board. Provided technical, administrative, and logical support to senior leader group. Coordinated visits/meetings with NATO and key stakeholders. Conducted research; prepared reports and briefings for Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Air Force.
 Respected organizational consultant. Designed/delivered team-building seminars, leadership coaching workshops; administered climate surveys/needs assessment for process improvements.
 Honored as 2003 Outstanding Academy Educator — Top instructor in 42-member department; consistently rated in Top 5% of 500+ faculty on instructional and course measures.

The Pentagon:
Supervised and guided team of 7 providing research, programming, and analysis to frame administrative and force management issues for Secretary of the Air Force. Developed and introduced AF-wide personnel policy and programs for 330,000 personnel; developed annual work plans; researched complex personnel laws, regulations, and policies; developed Human Resources strategic priorities.
 Designed and institutionalized the Recruiting and Retention Investment Strategy Council for Air Force senior leadership; built governing structure, initiated process, formalized methodology for optimizing strategic resources to fill gaps in recruiting and retaining critical skills. Return on Investment analysis led to $65M budget increase.
 Sustained workforce through effective use of monetary incentive programs: Energized Air Force Bonus Review Board (BRB) with new process to validate requirements for over 60 different types of Special and Incentive Pays and Bonuses. Addressed corporate oversight gap of $880 million program, and ensured critical review of funding requirements in fiscally constrained environment.
 Synchronized policies across total workforce including contract to build an occupational competency framework for acquisition career field, moving Agency toward competency-based management.
 Oversaw Air Force’s Selection and Classification program. Directed analysis created new enlisted entrance standards; increased validity by 3% across all career fields, saving $16 million.
 Advised leadership on diversity issues. Represented Manpower and Personnel division and the Air Force in Department of Defense Diversity programs. Secured $250K for contract that provided first inclusive look at AF-wide diversity programs.
 Negotiated $800K data management contract, providing a vital force management tool for managing skill sets across personnel lifecycle from recruitment to retirement for 150 career field managers; stabilized contract; corrected funding error, averted work stoppage.
 Managed cost analysis and fiscal planning. Identified and secured financial requirements for $2 million in force management programs. Detailed solid execution parameters and goals for funding.

Purdue University:
Design and instruct undergraduate courses in Organizational Behavior, Leadership Theory and Leadership Ethics. Partnering with veteran services to create programming to promote retention and achievement of veteran and military students. Developing training on trust development in quickly performing teams for Arm Research Institute-funded project. Member, Master’s Advisory Committee; Faculty Advisor for Organizational, Leadership and Supervision (OLS) student group.

PhD, Social Psychology, Loyola University-Chicago, Illinois

Master of Science, Psychology, University of Oregon-Eugene

Bachelor of Science, Human Behavior, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado

Visiting Lecturer, Department of Computer, Information and Leadership Technology, Purdue University, Indiana (2010-2012)

Director, Special Programs, Directorate of Manpower and Personnel Policy, The Pentagon, Washington D.C.(2007 – 2009)

Director of Cadet Leadership Programs, Assistant Professor, Assistant Academic Advisor in Charge, Course Director, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership, U.S. Air Force Academy (2002-2004)

Instructor, Personnel and Executive Officer, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership, U.S. Air Force Academy (1997-1999)

Graduate Student, PhD Program in Social Psychology, Loyola University-Chicago (1999-2002)

Graduate Student, Masters Program in Psychology, University of Oregon (1995-1997)

Squadron Section Commander, 55th Supply Squadron, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska (1990-1995)