Paul Huffman currently serves as an Instructor of Professional Development Programs at the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Center for Character and Leadership Development (CCLD), where he is primarily responsible for teaching, coaching and developing Leadership workshops in support of USAFA’s #1 Strategic Goal – Developing Leaders of Character. Additionally, Mr. Huffman teaches and coaches as an Arbinger Institute certified instructor and Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) trained coach. CCLD’s mission is to advance the understanding, scholarship, practice, and integration of character and leadership development, resulting in cadets and permanent party prepared for service to the nation.

Mr. Huffman is an Air Force veteran, commissioned with the U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 1986. During his 28-year active duty career, he served as an aviator, commander and educator primarily as Northwest Region Commander for AFROTC, as Department Chair, AFROTC Detachment Commander and Professor of Aerospace Studies at the University of Portland, as Vice Wing Commander of the 57th Wing at Nellis Air Force Base, and as Division Chief, Weapons, HQ Air Force Legislative Liaison at the Pentagon.

He has accumulated over 4,000 flight hours primarily in the OV-10, F-15C and F-16 Aggressor, including 250 combat hours in Southwest Asia.

Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautical Engineering, United States Air Force Academy (1986)

Squadron Officer School (correspondence and residence) (1992)

Master of Business Administration, City University of Seattle (1996)

Air Command and Staff College, Joint PME Phase II (correspondence) (1999)

Air War College (correspondence and residence) (2007)

Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Williams AFB, AZ (1986 – 1987)

O-37/OV-10 Evaluator Pilot, Forward Air Controller and Jump Air Liaison Officer with 82nd Airborne, 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron, Shaw AFB, SC (1987-1990)

F-15C Instructor Pilot and Flight Examiner, 58th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Eglin AFB, FL (1990 – 1995)

F-16 Instructor Pilot and Flight Commander, 414th Combat Training Squadron, Red Flag, Nellis AFB, NV (1995 – 1998)

F-16 Instructor Pilot and Chief, Foreign Materiel Exploitation, 422 Test and Evaluation Squadron, Nellis AFB, NV (1998 – 1999)

Branch Chief, J3 Operations, Headquarters United States Forces Korea, Yongsan AIN, Republic of Korea (1999 – 2000)

F-15C Instructor Pilot, Flight Examiner and Assistant Director of Operations, 12th Fighter Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, AK (2000 – 2002)

F-16 Operations Officer, then Commander, 64th Aggressor Squadron, Nellis AFB, NV (2002 – 2006)

Deputy Group Commander, 57th Adversary Tactics Group, Nellis AFB, NV (2006)
Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, AL (2006-2007)

Chief, Programs and Weapons Divisions (SAF/LL), Pentagon, Washington D.C. (2007 – 2008)

Vice Wing Commander, 57th Wing, Nellis AFB, NV (2008 – 2010)

Commander, Department Chair and Professor of Aerospace Studies, AFROTC Detachment 695, University of Portland, OR (2010 – 2013)

Commander, Northwest Region AFROTC, United States Air Force Academy, CO (2013 – 2014)

Branch Chief and General Manager, OrePac Building Products, Denver, CO (2014 – 2020)

Professional Development Specialist, Instructor and Coach, Center for Character and Leadership Development, United States Air Force Academy, CO (February 2021 – Present)

Legion of Merit

Defense Meritorious Service Medal

Meritorious Service Medal (4 OLC)

Air Medal (1 OLC)

Aerial Achievement Medal (2 OLC)

Air Force Commendation Medal (1 OLC)

Joint Meritorious Unit Award