Bio
Lt Col David J. Ratliff currently serves as the Director of Economics in the Department of Economics and Geosciences at the United States Air Force Academy. In this capacity, he leads a team of 20 faculty members, including military and civilian economics professionals, advancing the mission of providing world-class educational experiences for our developing leaders of the US Air and Space Forces.
Lt Col Ratliff commissioned as a distinguished graduate from the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Utah State University in 2001. In addition to filling financial management assignments in Los Angeles, CA, Stuttgart, Germany, and with Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay, Lt Col Ratliff served as the commander of the 436th Comptroller Squadron at Dover AFB, Delaware. Additionally, he has served in multiple academic roles, including a previous tour as an assistant professor of Economics at the United States Air Force Academy, and was awarded the Secretary of the Air Force's Financial Management Educator of the Year Award for his work at the United States Air University on Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, Alabama.
Education
2001 Bachelor of Science, Agricultural Economics, Utah State University
2002 Air & Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, AL
2002 Basic Financial Management Officer’s Course, Sheppard AFB, TX
2006 Basic Airborne Course, Fort Benning, GA
2007 Squadron Officers School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2009 Master of Science, Economic Theory, Utah State University
2012 Air Command and Staff College (correspondence), Maxwell AFB, AL
2015 Doctor of Philosophy, Economics, George Mason University
2018 Defense Financial Management Course, Maxwell AFB, AL
Professional Experience
January 2002-October 2004, Financial Analyst, Space Based Infra-Red Systems, Los Angeles AFB, CA
October 2004-June 2007, Deputy Comptroller, HQ Special Operations Command-Europe, Stuttgart, Germany
July 2007-December 2008, Graduate Student, AFIT/CI, Utah State University, Logan, UT
December 2008-Jun 2012, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics and Geosciences, USAFA, CO
July 2012-July 2015, Graduate Student, AFIT/CI, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
August 2015-June 2018, Chief, DoD Strategic and Financial Management Environment, Defense Financial Management and Comptroller School, Maxwell AFB, AL
(September 2016-April 2017, J8 Director, Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba)
July 2018-June 2020, Commander, 436th Comptroller Squadron, Dover AFB, DE
July 2020-Present, Director and Assistant Professor of Economics, United States Air Force Academy, CO
Honors & Awards
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2003 Financial Management Company Grade Officer of the Year, Space and Missile System Center
2009 Economics Department Company Grade Officer of the Year
2016 Educator of the Year (Officer), United States Air University
2017 Ira C. Eaker Center Annual Leadership Award
2017 Secretary of the Air Force Financial Management Educator of the Year
Publications
Ratliff, David J. (Spring 2017). “Four Principles to Enhance Performance Improvement,” Armed Forces Comptroller, Vol 62.2, PP 6-8.
Ratliff, David J. (Spring 2016). “To Manage Costs, Manage Relationships,” Armed Forces Comptroller, Vol 61.2.
Ratliff, David J., Cathy L. Hartman and Edwin R. Stafford (2010), “An Analysis of State-Level Economic Impacts from the Development of Wind Power Plants in San Juan County, Utah,” U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, March, Report No. DOE/GO-102010-3005.
Ratliff, David J., Cathy L. Hartman and Edwin R. Stafford (2009), “An Analysis of State-Level Economic Impacts from the Development of Wind Power Plants in Summit County, Utah,” U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, March, Report No. DOE/GO-102009-2918.
CONFERENCES AND PRESENTATIONS
“Is Follow-the-Leader Child’s Play?”, American Society of Military Comptrollers, Annual National Professional Development Institute (May 2018 and 2019)
“Defense Decision Support Course – Mini-Course”, (Diggs, R., Ratliff, D.), American Society of Military Comptrollers Annual National Professional Development Institute (May 2017 and 2018)
“Perfectly Off-Center: Why our decisions defy economics”, American Society of Military Comptrollers, Annual National Professional Development Institute (May 2016, 2017, and 2018)
“Foundational Economic Principles for Sound Decisions”, American Society of Military Comptrollers, Gulf Coast Regional Professional Development Institute, Ft Walton Beach Florida (March 2018)
“Perfectly Off-Center: Why our decisions defy economics”, Lunchtime Speaker, American Society of Military Comptrollers, Gulf Coast Regional Professional Development Institute, Ft Walton Beach Florida (March 2018)
“Do US Military Deployments Enhance Foreign Economic Institutions?”, Society of Government Economists, Annual Conference, (May 2016)
“Do US Military Deployments Enhance Foreign Economic Institutions?”, First Annual Air University Research Cross-Tell, Maxwell AFB, AL (Apr 2016)