Dr. Douglas R. Lindsay is the founder and current Editor in Chief of the Journal of Character & Leadership Development (JCLD) that is published by the Center for Character and Leadership Development (CCLD) at the United States Air Force Academy.

Dr. Lindsay graduated from Lansing High School, KS and then accepted a Falcon Foundation Scholarship where he attended New Mexico Military Institute, Roswell, NM. He then attended the Air Force Academy and graduated in 1992 with military distinction. Doug entered the Air Force as Behavioral Scientist and spent his entire Air Force career in that career field retiring as the senior behavioral scientist (at that time, the longest serving) in the Air Force. During his first assignment, he served as a Test Psychologist and Quality Control Psychologist for the Occupational Measurement Squadron developing Specialty Knowledge Tests for enlisted force promotions. From there, he went to Air Force Basic Military Training at Lackland AFB, TX where he served as Deputy Flight Commander and the Group Executive Officer. After a brief stint as a Research Psychologist, he joined Air Force Recruiting Service as a Complaint & Inquiries Officer and ultimately became the Inspector General for Recruiting as a Captain. Doug then went to the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH where he again served as a Research Psychologist, Military Assistant to the Chief Scientist and Chief, Homeland Defense Office.

In 2002, he was selected by the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) to attend the University of Texas at San Antonio and get his Master’s Degree in Experimental Psychology. Upon completion of his degree in 2003, he joined the faculty in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership (DFBL) ant the United States Air Force Academy. After only 18 months as an instructor and the Department Executive Officer, he was selected by the Department for sponsorship of his PhD. Doug attended The Pennsylvania State University where he earned his PhD in Industrial Organizational Psychology with a focus on leadership graduating in 2008 after only 2 ½ years in the program. He then returned to DFBL where he had a myriad of roles as Deputy Department Head for Research, Research Center Director, Deputy Department Head, and acting Department Head. During that time, he became the first DFBL Senior Military Professor, established the Warfighter Effectiveness Research Center, attained the rank of Full Professor, and was honored by having the Department Research Award named after him for his track record of scholarship.

During that time, he deployed to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Joint Command in Kabul, Afghanistan to support Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. He served as the Chief of Assessments and as the Deputy Communication Director for the 235 international member Directorate. In that role, he created the first-ever operational level guidance regarding religious engagement for all coalition forces in theater.

Upon retiring from the Air Force in 2014, he was selected as a Professor of Practice and the founding Director of the Masters of Professional Studies Psychology of Leadership Program at The Pennsylvania State University (PSU). Over 3 short years, he developed, launched, and stabilized one of the fastest growing programs at PSU’s World Campus, providing an evidence based, practical leadership degree for students around the world. During this time, he was also selected to return to DFBL as a Distinguished Visiting Professor while still establishing his program at PSU. After, 3 years in that role, he returned to DFBL as a Professor before assuming his current role as Editor in Chief of the JCLD in 2018.

Dr Lindsay is an accomplished author, speaker, professor, and coach with over 125 publications and presentations on topics related to leadership, character, and development.

Air War College, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, AL (2011, correspondence)

Doctorate of Philosophy in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA (2008)

Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, AL (2006)

Master of Science in Experimental Psychology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, TX (2003)

Squadron Officers School, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, AL (1998)

Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Sciences, Military Distinction, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO (1992)

New Mexico Military Institute, Falcon Foundation Scholar, Roswell, NM (1988)

Editor in Chief: Journal of Character & Leadership Development, Center for Character and Leadership Development, USAF Academy, CO (Jul 18 – Present)
Professor, Department of Behavioral Sciences & Leadership, USAF Academy, CO (Aug 17 – Jun 18)

Professor of Practice & Masters of Professional Studies Director, Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, PA (Nov 14 – Aug 17)

Distinguished Visiting Professor, Department of Behavioral Sciences & Leadership, USAF Academy, CO (Jun 16 – Jun 17)

Deputy Department Head, Director of Research Center, Full Professor, & Senior Military Faculty, Department of Behavioral Sciences & Leadership, USAF Academy, CO (Apr 11 – Oct 14)

Department Head & Associate Professor, Department of Behavioral Sciences & Leadership, USAF Academy, CO (May 11 – Aug 11)

Deputy Communication Director & Chief of Assessments, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command, Kabul, Afghanistan (Jul 10 – Feb 11)

Deputy Department Head for Research, Associate Professor, & Assistant Professor, Department of Behavioral Sciences & Leadership, USAF Academy, CO (Dec 07 – May 11)

Doctoral Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Pennsylvania State University, PA (Aug 05 – Dec 07)

Deputy Director of Air Officer Commanding Master’s Program, Executive Officer & Instructor, Department of Behavioral Sciences & Leadership, USAF Academy, CO (Dec 03 – Aug 05)

Masters Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, University of Texas at San Antonio, TX (Aug 02 – Dec 03)

Chief, Homeland Defense Office, Military Assistant to the Chief Scientist, & Human Factors Research Scientist, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH (Nov 99 – Aug 02)

Inspector General & Complaints and Inquiries Officer, Air Force Recruiting Service, Randolph AFB, TX (Mar 98 – Nov 99)

Behavioral Scientist, Air Force Research Laboratory, Brooks AFB, TX (Jan 98 – Mar 98)

Deputy Squadron Commander, Group Executive Officer, Behavioral Scientist, & Instructor, 331st Training Squadron & 737th Training Group (Basic Military Training), Lackland AFB, TX (Apr 96 – Jan 98)

Chief, Plans and Programs, Occupational Analyst, Quality Control Psychologist, & Test Psychologist, Occupational Measurement Squadron, Randolph AFB, TX (Jul 92 – Apr 96)

Defense Meritorious Service Medal

Meritorious Service Medal (one oak leaf cluster)

Air Force Commendation Medal (one oak leaf cluster)

Air Force Achievement Medal (three oak leaf clusters)

Joint Meritorious Unit Award (with gold border)

National Defense Service Medal (with bronze star)

Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon (with gold border)

NATO Medal – International Security Assistance Force

2013 & 2009 Air Force Academy McDermott Award for Faculty Research Excellence
2009 Air Force Academy Outstanding Academy Educator Award