Bio
Colonel Fran Murphy, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Labor and Economic Analysis currently assigned to the Office of Labor and Economic Analysis (OLEA) at the US Air Force Academy. OLEA provides rigorous manpower and policy analysis to inform the Department of the Air Force’s human capital portfolio. A 2002 graduate of the US Military Academy at West Point, Fran also earned graduate degrees at Dartmouth (Tuck School of Business) and the University of Virginia. His research has published at the Journal of Labor Economics, Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, and Journal of Human Capital. Fran previously served as a rotating faculty member (Economics) at West Point and with the First Infantry Division on multiple combat deployments to the Middle East. He teaches courses in econometrics.
Education
PhD, University of Virginia, Education Policy (2017)
M.A., University of Virginia, Economics (2015)
M.B.A., Honors, Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth (2011)
B.S., Honors, US Military Academy (USMA), English and Mechanical Engineering (2002)
Professional Experience
Branch Chief, Modeling & Requirements, Army Human Resources Command (2020-2022)
Branch Chief, Manpower Strength Analysis and Forecasting, Headquarters US Army (2018-2020)
Research Analyst, US Army Talent Management Task Force, Headquarters US Army (2017-2018)
Research Analyst & Assistant Professor of Economics, Office of Economic and Manpower Analysis and Department of Social Sciences, West Point, New York (2011-2014)
Company Commander, 1st Infantry Division, Ft. Riley, Kansas (2007-2009)
Combat Advisor to Iraqi National Police, Baghdad, Iraq (2006-2007)
Tank Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer, 1st Infantry Division, Schweinfurt, Germany and Tikrit, Iraq (2003-2005)
Honors & Awards
ACADEMIC
US Army Advanced Civil Schooling Scholarship (2014, 2009)
Murdy Award for Teaching Excellence – Economics, USMA Department of Social Sciences (2012)
Edward Tuck Scholar Award, Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth (2011)
Graduate with Honors, US Military Academy (2002)
MILITARY
Bronze Star Medal (2007, 2005)
Meritorious Service Medal (2022, 2020, 2014, 2009)
Valorous Unit Award (2005)
Combat Action Badge (2005)
Army Staff Identification Badge (2018)
Research and Scholarly Interests
Labor Economics
Economics of Education
Military Manpower
Publications
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
“Does Increased Exposure to Peers with Adverse Characteristics Reduce Workplace Performance? Evidence from a Natural Experiment in the US Army.” 2019. Journal of Labor Economics, 37(2): 435-466.
“Marching across Generations? Education Benefits and Intra-Household Decision Making,” with Benjamin L. Castleman and William L. Skimmyhorn. 2019. Journal of Human Capital, 13(3): 410-433.
“Nudges Don’t Work When the Benefits Are Ambiguous: Evidence from a High-Stakes Education Program,” with Benjamin L. Castleman, Richard W. Patterson, and William L. Skimmyhorn. 2021. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 40(4): 1230-1248.
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
“Framing the Big Data Ethics Debate for the Military,” with Karl F. Schneider and David S. Lyle. 2015. Joint Forces Quarterly, 77: 16-23.
Contributor, Guide to Personal Financial Planning for the Armed Forces, 7th edition, by S. Jamie Gayton and Scott P. Handler. 2012. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books.
WORKING PAPERS
“Work Boots to Combat Boots: Mass Layoffs and Military Enlistment,” with Dalton Ruh and Sarah Turner. Revisions Requested, Journal of Labor Economics
“Oh, the Places You’ll Go: Optimizing Enlisted Personnel Assignments in the United States Army Using a Multicriteria Assignment Problem,“ with Matthew D. Ferguson. Under Review