Colonel Richard T. Cooney, Jr. is the Vice Dean of Academics and Permanent Professor of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership at the United States Air Force Academy. As the Vice Dean of Academics, Colonel Cooney is the Dean’s principal advisor on academic strategy, core curriculum, and academic policy, overseeing 30 majors, 22 minors, and an 88.75-credit core curriculum. He leads academic execution for more than 4,100 cadets across 900+ courses and over 3,000 course sections annually, delivering nearly 50,000 cadet seats and more than 140,000 semester hours. He supervises Academic Affairs and the Registrar and synchronizes the efforts of 20 academic departments and approximately 500 faculty members to ensure academic rigor, effective curriculum and scheduling, and the graduation of more than 900 officers each year.

Colonel Cooney began his military career by enlisting in the Air Force in 1987. As an honor graduate of both Basic Military Training and Aircraft Armament Systems Specialist Technical School, he was assigned to the 5th Munitions Maintenance Squadron at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota as a Weapons Load Crew Member. In 1989, he accepted an appointment as a Cadet at the United States Air Force Academy and was a Distinguished Graduate of the Class of 1993.

Colonel Cooney has served in a variety of leadership, staff, and academic positions. His joint positions include Chief, Global Assessment at United States Special Operations Command’s Information Operations Division and Case Research/Quality Assurance Officer at the Department of Defense’s Office for the Administrative Review of the Detention of Enemy Combatants. He has also served in the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy and has held positions leading the development of diversity policy at Headquarters Air Force, on both the Secretariat and Air Staffs. Colonel Cooney has twice previously been a faculty member at the United States Air Force Academy and, prior to his current assignment, served as the Dean of Students at the Air Force Institute of Technology, Air University, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and Dean of Students and Support at Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. Colonel Cooney holds a Doctorate in Sociology from the University of Maryland

Air War College (correspondence) (2012)

Air Command and Staff College (correspondence) (2005)

Doctor of Philosophy, Sociology, University of Maryland, College Park, Md. (2003)

Squadron Officer School (correspondence and residence), Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Ala. (2000)

Master of Arts, Sociology, University of Maryland, College Park, Md. (1997)

Bachelor of Science, Behavioral Sciences & Leadership, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (1993)

Vice Dean of Academics and Permanent Professor of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership, Dean of Faculty, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (2025-Present)

Permanent Professor and Head, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (2019-2025)

Dean of Students, Graduate School of Engineering and Management, Air Force Institute of Technology, Air University, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio (2018-2019)

Dean of Students and Support (Group/CC equivalent), Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Ala. (2016-2018)

Vice Dean of Academic Affairs, Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Ala. (2014-2016)

Chief, Global Assessment Program and Chief, PSYOP Program Evaluation, Military Information Support Operations (MISO) Branch, Information Operations Division, Operations Directorate, HQ United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, Fla. (2010-2014)

Chief, Special Programs and Support Branch, Force Management Division (AF/A1PF), Directorate of Force Management Policy, Deputy Chief of Staff, Manpower and Personnel, Pentagon, Washington D.C. (2009-2010)

Chief, Diversity Research and Analysis, Office of Strategic Diversity Integration (SAF/MRD), Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Manpower and Reserve Affairs), Washington D.C. (2006–2009)

Assistant Professor and Deputy Department Head for Academics, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (2003–2006)

Graduate Student (PhD), Department of Sociology, University of Maryland, College Park, Md. (2000–2003)

Assistant Professor, Course Director, and Personnel Officer, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (1997–2000)

Graduate Student (MA), Department of Sociology University of Maryland, College Park, Md. (1996–1997)

Test Psychologist and Chief, Test Support Section, Air Force Occupational Measurement Squadron, Randolph Air Force Base, Universal City, Texas (1993–1996)

Air Force Academy Cadet, Cadet Squadrons 16 and 37, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (1989–1993)

Aircraft Armament Systems Specialist, Weapons Load Crew Member, 5th Munitions Maintenance Squadron (5MMS), Minot Air Force Base, Ward County, N.D. (1987–1989)

Defense Meritorious Service Medal

Air Force Meritorious Service Medal (4 oak leaf clusters)

Joint Service Commendation Medal

Air Force Commendation Medal

Air Force Achievement Medal

Joint Meritorious Unit Award

Air Force Organizational Excellence Award (1 silver oak leaf cluster, 1 bronze oak leaf cluster)

Air Force Good Conduct Medal

National Defense Service Medal (1 bronze star)

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon (1 silver oak leaf cluster, 1 bronze oak leaf cluster)

Air Force Special Duty Ribbon

Basic Military Training Honor Graduate Ribbon

Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon

Air Force Training Ribbon (1 oak leaf cluster)

Effective Dates of Promotion

Colonel December 1, 2014

Lieutenant Colonel August 1, 2008

Major August 1, 2003

Captain June 2, 1997

First Lieutenant June 2, 1995

Second Lieutenant June 2, 1993

U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet June 26, 1989

Airman First Class April 15, 1989

Airman June 15, 1988

Airman Basic December 15, 1987