Dr. Joseph D. Looney is the Chief, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. In this role, Dr. Looney serves as the strategic leader for developing and refining the strategic vision for culture, climate, diversity, and inclusion. He partners with faculty in curriculum development efforts to facilitate and maximize inclusive teaching and learning practices. Additionally, he helps the institution develop and utilize diversity, equity and inclusion institutional data, metrics, research studies, and benchmarks best practices. Finally, he represents the Academy at DoD, Air Force, national, and regional organizations.

Dr. Looney graduated from Michigan State University in 1991 and was commissioned through the ROTC program. He was a Command Space and Missile Operations Officer with various assignments in Space and Missile Operations. Additionally, he worked as the USAF Director of Diversity and Inclusion at the Air Staff, the Department Head for Behavioral Sciences and Leadership, and as the lead of the Dean’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee at the Academy. He also earned a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Arizona State University. Dr. Looney’s wife, Lieutenant Colonel (ret) Camille Looney, served 28 years in the Air Force, and he has four children.

Diversity and Inclusion Certificate, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. (2020)

Standards of Practice Institute, National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (2017)

SDE-Air War College (Residence) (2013)

SDE-Air War College (Non-Residence) (2007)

IDE-AFIT Resident Program (2004)

Air Command and Staff College-Joint (Non-Residence) (2004)

Ph.D., Counseling Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Ariz. (2004)

Squadron Officer’s School (Residence/Non-Residence) (1998)

M.S., Clinical Psychology, Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg, Mo. (1995)

B.S., Psychology, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, Mich. (1991)

Chief, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Jan. 21-Present)

Department Head, Behavioral Sciences & Leadership, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (June 16-Sept. 19)

Deputy Department Head, Behavioral Sciences & Leadership, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (July 15-June 16)

Director, Diversity & Inclusion, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington D.C. (July 13-July 15)

Student, Air War College, Montgomery, Ala. (July 12-July 13)

Director of Space Forces, Osan Air Base, Pyeongtaek, South Korea (June 11-June 12)

Deputy Department Head, Behavioral Sciences & Leadership, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Aug. 10-June 11)

Deputy Department Head for Academics, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Aug. 08-Aug. 10)

Advisor, Afghan Military Academy, Kabul, Afghanistan (May 08-Aug. 08)

Advisor-in-Charge & Assistant Professor, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Aug. 07-Aug. 08)

Chief, Commander’s Action Group, AFC2ISR Center, Langley Air Force Base, Va. (Nov. 06-Aug. 07)

Executive Officer, AFC2ISR Center, AFC2ISR Center, Langley Air Force Base, Va. (Apr. 05-Nov. 06)

Deputy Branch Chief, Assessment & Analysis, AFC2ISR Center, AFC2ISR Center, Langley Air Force Base, Va. (Aug. 04-Apr. 05)

Division Chief, Leadership Programs and Instruction, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Aug. 00-Aug. 01)

Assistant Course Director and Assistant Advisor-in-Charge, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Aug. 99-Aug. 00)

Chief, Exercise Development Section, Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Aug. 95-Aug. 99)

Missile Combat Crew Commander, Alt Cmd Post, Whiteman Air Force Base, Knob Noster, Mo. (Aug. 94-Aug. 95)

Instructor, Deputy Missile Combat Crew Cmdr, Whiteman Air Force Base, Knob Noster, Mo. (May 93-Aug. 94)

Deputy Missile Combat Crew Cmdr, Alt Cmd Post, Whiteman Air Force Base, Knob Noster, Mo. (Sept. 92-May 93)

Legion of Merit Medal
Meritorious Service Medal

Joint Service Commendation Medal

Air Force Commendation Medal

Joint Service Achievement Medal

Combat Readiness Medal

National Defense Service Medal

Afghanistan Campaign Medal

Korean Defense Medal

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

NATO Medal