Dr. John T. Farquhar
Associate Professor of Military & Strategic Studies
Bio
A proud native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, John T. Farquhar entered the United States Air Force as a cadet at the United States Air Force Academy in 1976. He graduated as a military history major and was named the Outstanding Cadet Group Commander.
Following graduation with the Class of 1980, Farquhar flew as a navigator in the RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft with the 38th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron, Strategic Air Command. He amassed 4,600 flying hours in Cold War operational reconnaissance missions and in operations to monitor Iraq and Bosnia. He also served as Director of Wing Plans for the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska where he coordinated worldwide readiness, operational, and contingency planning for the largest flying wing in Air Combat Command. In 1999, Farquhar served as the US European Command Theater Reconnaissance Scheduler for Operation ALLIED FORCE, the air campaign against Serbia. In 2002, Lt Col Farquhar worked as a Strategic Plans Officer for the Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT), a component of US Central Command, where he drafted, revised, and briefed long-range plans for Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, the global war on terrorism.
With a Master’s Degree in U.S. Diplomatic History from Creighton University and a Ph. D. in American Military History from Ohio State, Lt Col Farquhar specialized in aviation history. He has taught courses in the history of air power, sea power, World War II, unconventional warfare, and general military history at the United States Air Force Academy. In 2004, Air University Press published his book, A Need to Know: The Role of Air Force Reconnaissance in War Planning, 1945-1953.
After retiring from the Air Force in 2002, Dr. Farquhar joined the Military and Strategic Studies Department where he created courses on air, space, and cyberspace power, military theory, strategy, a seminar capstone, and most recently the Russia and Ukraine crisis. In 2006, he co-authored The Armed Forces Officer published by the Joint Staff. More recently, Farquhar lectured on airpower and irregular war at Northwestern University, Ohio State University, Air Command and Staff College, and the Royal Military College of Canada. In 2013, he published two edited airpower textbooks: Ground Truths for Airmen: Core Readings in Military & Strategic Studies and Remove Before Flight: Core Readings in Air, Space, and Cyberspace Power. In 2018, he authored four chapters in Military Strategy, Joint Operations, and Airpower published by Georgetown University Press. In 2020, he contributed a chapter to Educating Air Forces: Global Perspectives on Airpower Learning that was named to the Chief of Staff, Royal Air Force reading list. His most recent work, Kick the Tires and Light the Fires: Foundations of American Airpower, is scheduled for publication with Air University Press. In addition to his teaching duties, Dr. Farquhar served on the Air Force Commissioning Training Education Committee (CTEC) coordinating curriculum issues for the Air Staff, the USAFA Basketball Eligibility Committee responsible for NCAA compliance issues, and Dean of Faculty’s Student Information System steering committee responsible for upgrading Air Force Academy academic software.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy, Military History, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio (1989-1991)
Fields: American Military History, Early Modern European History, Russian/Soviet History
Master of Arts, U. S. Diplomatic History, Creighton University, Omaha, Neb. (1983-1986)
Bachelor of Science, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. (1976-1980)
Professional Experience
1986-1989 INSTRUCTOR and ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY
Instructor, History 202, Introduction to Military History
Course Director, History 202 (S), Introduction to Military History (Summer)
Instructor and Course Director, History 363, Unconventional Warfare
Instructor, English 111, Language and Expression I
1991 GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANT, MERSHON CENTER FOR NATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES, OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
Instructor, History 668.02, American Military Policy 1919-1991
1992-1995 ASSISTANT and ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY
Instructor and Deputy Course Director, History 202, Introduction to Military History
Course Director, History 202 Honors, Introduction to Military History
Instructor, History 101, World History
Course Director, History 330, Historical Methods
Course Director, History 371, Air Power and Modern Warfare
Course Director, History 394, The American Way of War (US Military History)
Instructor, History 368, World War II
Instructor, Aviation 100, Introduction to Aviation
1998-2002 ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY
Course Director, History 202, Introduction to Military History
Course Director, History 368, History of World War II
Course Director, History 371, Air Power and Modern War
Course Director, History 372, Sea Power and Modern War
Course Director, History 457, History of Military Thought
1998-1999 DIRECTOR, FACULTY DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH, DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY, USAF ACADEMY
Responsible for all faculty professional academic projects, grant proposals, conference papers, professional publications, and public presentations. Managed career broadening and Air Force liaison programs for junior officers.
1999-2000 DEPUTY DEPARTMENT HEAD, DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY
Directed curriculum, personnel affairs, budget, supply, and daily operations for 30 faculty members. Supervisor for 4 civilian professors. Represented department head for the Dean of Faculty’s Faculty Council.
2000-2002 DEPUTY HEAD FOR MILITARY HISTORY, DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY
Directs Academy military history programs, including a required core course taught to over 1,100 cadets annually and 9 upper-division history courses with combined enrollments of 316 cadets. Supervises 13 officers and 4 civilian professors. Oversees the biennial Military History Symposium, annual Harmon Memorial Lecture series, and Distinguished Professional in Residence Program.
2002-2004 ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY STRATEGIC STUDIES, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY
Instructor, MSS 311 Air and Space Power Theory and Doctrine
Instructor, MSS 481, Airmanship for Military Aviators
Course Director and Instructor, MSS 100 Military Theory, Strategy and Officership
Course Director, History 457, History of Military Thought
Course Director, MSS 365, Developing the Military Strategist
2004-Present ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY STRATEGIC STUDIES, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY
Instructor MSS 400, Joint and Coalition Operation
Course Director and Instructor, MSS 100 Military Theory, Strategy and Officership (2004-2008)
Course Director, History 457, History of Military Thought
Course Director, Assistant Course Director, and Instructor, MSS 200, Military Theory and Strategy (2009-2015)
Course Director, MSS 365, Developing the Military Strategist (2006-2013, 2015)
Course Director, MSS 360, Comparative Air Forces (2013-14)
Instructor, MSS 416, Joint Operations Science and Technology (2012-2015)
Division Chief, Military Operations Division (2008)
Division Chief, Strategy Division (2009)
Acting Deputy Department Head (2012-2013)
Director of Curriculum (2013)
Course Director and Instructor, MSS 499, Military Innovation and Transformation (2015, 2016)
Course Director, MSS 415S, Joint Operations Strategy for Scholars (2016)
Instructor, MSS 415, Joint Operations Strategy (2017-2018)
Course Director, MSS 498, Research Capstone Project (2018-present)
Course Director, MSS 451, Pre-commissioning Professional Military Education (2018-2019)
Course Director, MSS 343, Foundations of Joint Air, Space, and Cyber Strategy (2019-Present)
Course Director, MSS 493, Strategy in Eurasia (2021-Present)
2008-2011 ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, TROY UNIVERSITY, WESTERN REGION
History 5504, American Military History
2018-Present CHIEF OF ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AND STRATEGIC STUDIES, US AIR FORCE ACADEMY
Responsible for scheduling, coordination, curriculum development for 34 courses. Schedules, trains, mentors, directs 24 faculty academic advisors and plans, maintains academic schedules. Advisor in charge responsible for all aspects of scheduling, administration, grading, mentoring for 260 MSS and FAS MSS majors.
Honors & Awards
Dean of Faculty Humanities Division Company Grade Officer of the Year, 1988
Colonel John F. Shiner Award for Teaching Excellence in Military History, 1993
50th Airmanship Training Squadron Staff Instructor of the Quarter, Oct-Dec 1993
34th Education Squadron, Quarterly Award, 1st Quarter 2003—Senior Civilian; 3rd Quarter 2003—Senior Civilian; 4th Quarter 2003—Senior Civilian
34th Education Group, Civilian of the Quarter, January-March 2003; Civilian of the Quarter, July-September 2003; Civilian of the Quarter, October-December 2003
34th Training Wing Quarterly Award, 1st Quarter 2003—Senior Civilian; 3rd Quarter 2003—Senior Civilian; 4th Quarter 2003—Senior Civilian
USAF Academy, Professional Civilian of the Quarter, January-March 2003; Professional Civilian of the Quarter, October-December 2003; Professional Civilian of the Quarter, April-June 2005
Allan E. Dorn Award for the Military Strategic Studies Outstanding Researcher of the Year, 2002-2003
34th Education Group, Professional Civilian of the Year, 2003
USAF Academy Professional Civilian of the Year, 2003
Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Professor of the Year, 2004, USAF Academy nominee
Outstanding Academy Educator Award, USAF Academy, 2005-2006
Harold E. Goettler/Erwin E. Bleckley Award, Outstanding Instructor in Military Operations and Military Strategy Courses, 2007-2008
Allen E. Dorn Award for the Outstanding Researcher of the Year, Department of Military & Strategic Studies, United States Air Force Academy, 2012-2013
Philip D. Caine Outstanding Instructor Award for Core Courses: MSS 416, Department of Military and Strategic Studies, United States Air Force Academy, 2013-2014
Air Force Historical Foundation, Best Air Power History Article Award, 2014
LTG John H. Moellering Hall of Honor, Concordia Lutheran High School JROTC Cadet Battalion, Fort Wayne, IN, 2017
Philip D. Caine Outstanding Instructor Award for Core Courses: MSS 451, Department of Military and Strategic Studies, 2018-2019
Erwin E. Bleckley & Harold E. Goettler Outstanding Instructor in Military and Strategic Studies Major’s Courses, 2019-2020
Research and Scholarly Interests
Airpower history, US Air Force history, modern military history, military theory and doctrine, Soviet and Russian military history, Cold War aerial reconnaissance
Publications
“A Cold War in Flames: The Impact of Aerial Reconnaissance on U.S.-Soviet Relations, 1948-1960,” Master’s Thesis, Creighton University, 1986.
“A Need to Know: The Role of Air Force Reconnaissance in War Planning, 1945-1953,” Ph.D. Dissertation, Ohio State University, 1991.
“B-36 Controversy,” “General Otto P. ‘Opie’ Weyland,” and “Secretary Louis A. Johnson,” In Historical Dictionary of the U. S. Air Force, edited by Charles D. Bright. New York: Greenwood Press, 1992.
“Northern Sentry, Polar Scout: Alaska’s Role in Air Force Reconnaissance Efforts, 1946-1948,” In Alaska at War: Proceedings of Alaska’s World War II Commemoration. Anchorage, Alaska, 1994.
“Aerospace Heritage and the USAF,” In Contrails. US Air Force Academy, Co.: Association of Graduates, 2000, revised 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2016.
“Richard I. Bong,” “Arthur Coningham,” “Thomas McGuire,” “Elwood ‘Pete’ Quesada,” “John Slessor,” “Arthur Tedder,” and “Otto P. Weyland” In Encyclopedia of Air Power, edited by Walter J. Boyne. New York: ABC Clio, 2001.
“Offutt Air Force Base,” Encyclopedia of the Midwest. Edited by David C. Skaggs. Columbus: Ohio State University Press, 2002.
Review of Red Wings Over the Yalu: China, the Soviet Union, and the Air War in Korea by Xiaoming Zhang. Military History of the Midwest (Spring 2003).
A Need to Know: The Role of Air Force Reconnaissance in War Planning, 1945-1953. Maxwell AFB, AL: Air University Press, 2004.
The Armed Forces Officer. Washington D. C.: US Government Printing Office, 2006 (co-author with Richard Swain, Albert C. Pierce, Daniel R. Moy, and Robyn M. King); reprinted by Brassey’s Press, 2007.
“America’s Heritage of Air and Space Power,” in Airman. Washington: US Government Printing Office, 2006, 18-94.
Ground Truths for Airmen: Core Readings in Military & Strategic Studies. Boston, MA: Pearson Learning Solutions, 2013.
Remove Before Flight: Core Readings in Air, Space, and Cyberspace Power. Boston, MA: Pearson Learning Solutions, 2013.
Review of The Bolt From the Blue: Air Power in the Cycle of Strategies by Sanu Kainikara. Air & Space Power Journal 29, no.3(May-June 2015): 91-92.
“Arctic Linchpin: “The Polar Concept in American Air Strategy, 1946-1948.” Air Power History, 61, no. 4(winter 2014): 34-45.
“Aerial Reconnaissance, the Press, and American Foreign Policy, 1950-54.” Air Power History, 62, no. 4(Winter 2015): 38-51.
Review of To Kill Nations: American Strategy in the Air-Atomic Age and the Rise of Mutually Assured Destruction by Edward Kaplan. Air Power History 62, no. 4(Winter 2015):59-60.
Review of To Kill Nations: American Strategy in the Air-Atomic Age and the Rise of Mutually Assured Destruction by Edward Kaplan. Strategic Studies Quarterly 10, no. 2(Summer 2016):148-149.
Review of An Untaken Road: Strategy, Technology, and the Hidden History of America’s Mobile ICBMs by Steven A. Pomeroy. Air Power History 63, no. 4(Fall 2016): 52.
“Airpower and Irregular Warfare: A Battle of Ideas.” Air & Space Power Journal. 31, no.1 (Spring 2017): 51-60.
“Building Air Force Intellectual Capacity: An Innovative Look at Creating Air University and the Air Force Academy, 1918-1955.” Air Power History 64, no. 4(Winter 2017): 29-36.
“Strategic Foundations,” “Airpower for Strategic Effect: Classic to Contemporary Airpower Theory,” and “Airpower and Irregular Warfare: A Battle of Ideas.” In Military Strategy, Joint Operations, and Airpower: An Introduction, edited by Ryan Burke, Michael Fowler, and Kevin McCaskey. Washington: Georgetown University Press, 2018.
“Sustaining Disruption: The Creation of Air University and the Air Force Academy, 1918-1955.” In Educating Air Forces: Global Perspectives on Airpower Learning, edited by Randall Wakelam, David Varey, and Emanuele Sica. Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky, 2020.
“Professional Perseverance: Changing Service Culture the Ben Davis Way.” JCLD: Journal of Character & Leadership. 8, no. 2 (Summer 2021): 95-99.
“Professional Perseverance: Changing Service Culture the Ben Davis Way.” In Leader of Character: The Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. Airfield at the US Air Force Academy. A Commemoration, Colloquium, and Celebration, edited by Charles D. Dusch, Jr. Maxwell AFB, AL: Air University Press, 2022.
“Strategic Foundations and National Security Interests,” “Theory, Doctrine, and Application of Strategic Air War,” “Contemporary Air Theory Strives for Strategic Effect,” “The Paradox of Irregular Warfare,” and “Airpower’s Irregular Warfare Challenge.” In Military Strategy, Joint Operations, and Airpower: An Introduction, 2nd ed., edited by Ryan Burke, Michael Fowler, and Jahara Matisek. Washington: Georgetown University Press, 2022.