Colonel Judson Dressler
Permanent Professor & Department Head
Bio
Colonel Judson Dressler is the Permanent Professor and Head of the Department of Computer and Cyber Sciences, United States Air Force Academy. He leads the 26-member department that administers the ABET-accredited and NSA-recognized Computer Science and Cyber Science programs. In addition to teaching over 1200 cadets each year, his department is home to the Academy Center for Cyberspace Research which conducts long-term research in areas such as Autonomy, Artificial Intelligence, Immersive Environments, and Cyber Security.
Colonel Dressler received his commission from the United States Air Force Academy in 2005. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from Rice University. He has served in various assignments including Commander of the 835th Cyberspace Operations Squadron where he led a Total Force squadron of 134 cyber Airmen to conduct threat-focused, intelligence driven defensive cyberspace operations. He served as the Director of the Commander's Action Group and Legislative Liaison for 24th Air Force, providing executive decision support and strategic messaging for senior Air Force and congressional leaders. Additionally, Colonel Dressler commanded the Air Force's advanced cyber schoolhouse leading a team of 30 personnel driving the Air Force's component of the nation's Cyber Mission Force to full operational capability. His last assignment was as Director, Air Force CyberWorx, a public-private design center focused on cyber capabilities and melding military, academic, and industry expertise to solve operational problems.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado (2005)
Master of Science in Computer Science, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio (2006)
Squadron Officer School (Correspondence) (2009)
Air Command and Staff College (Correspondence) (2015)
Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science, Rice University, Houston, Texas (2015)
Air War College (Correspondence) (2020)
Professional Experience
August 2005 – September 2006, Graduate Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
September 2006- August 2007, Pilot Candidate, Training Wing Six, Pensacola NAS, Florida
August 2007 – August 2009, Flight Commander, 436th Communications Squadron, Dover AFB, Delaware
August 2009 – June 2010, Wing Executive Officer, 436th Airlift Wing, Dover AFB, Delaware
June 2010 – July 2012, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado
August 2012 – May 2015, PhD Student, Rice University, Houston, Texas
July 2015 – June 2017, Commander, 39th Information Operations Squadron Detachment 1, Joint-Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
June 2017 – May 2018, Director, Commander's Action Group and Legislative Liaison, 24th Air Force, Joint-Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
May 2018 – December 2019, Director, Academy Center for Cyberspace Research, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado
January 2020 – August 2021, Commander, 835th Cyberspace Operations Squadron, Scott AFB, Illinois
September 2021 – June 2022, Director, Air Force CyberWorx, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado
May 2022 – Present, Permanent Professor and Head, Department of Computer & Cyber Sciences, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado
Honors & Awards
Military Decorations
Meritorious Service Medal, Four Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal, Three Oak Leaf Clusters
Awards
Distinguished Graduate, Basic Communications Officer School, 2007
General John P Jumper Information Dominance Company Grade Officer of the Year (MAJCOM-level), 2011
United States Air Force Academy Junior Faculty Member of the Year, 2011
United States Air Force Academy Outstanding Educator of the Year, 2012
Distinguished Graduate, Cyber Vulnerability Assessment Hunt Initial Qualification Training, 2015
General John P Jumper Information Dominance Small Unit of the Year (NAF-level), 2015
General John P Jumper Information Dominance Field Grade Officer of the Year (MAJCOM-level), 2018
General Edwin W. Rawlings Team Award (MAJCOM-level), 2018
Frank J. Seiler Award for Faculty Research Excellence (US Air Force Academy), 2019
ACC Science and Technology FGO of the Year (NAF-level), 2020
ACC Science and Engineering Educator of the Year (MAJCOM-level), 2020
Research and Scholarly Interests
Computer and Network Security
Artificial Intelligence
Machine Learning
Strategy and Policy of Cyber’s Use in Modern Warfare
Learning Strategies
Strategies of Effective Teaching
Publications
Refereed Conference Papers, Journal Articles, and Book Chapters
Judson Dressler, “Operationalizing Cyber in Warfare.” in Military Strategy, Joint Operations, and Airpower, 2nd Edition, edited by Ryan Burke, Mike Fowler, and Jahara Matisek. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, 2022. **USAFA MSS Textbook in use for AY 22-23**
Jeffrey Hemmes, Judson Dressler, and Steve Fulton. “Trust Models and Risk in the Internet of Things.” Conference Paper. In Proceedings of the SAI Future of Information and Communications
Conference (FICC), April 2021.
Jeffrey Hemmes and Judson Dressler. “Work in Progress: IOT Device Signature Validation.” In Proceedings of the 10th IEEE Information Technology, Electronics, and Mobile Conference.
October 2019.
Judson Dressler, Bob Birrer, Lucille McMinn, Matthew Sievers, and David Caswell. “Developing a Cybersecurity Curriculum and Assessment Using the New ABET Student Outcomes.” In Proceedings of the 23rd Colloquium for Information System Security Education, June 2019.
Judson Dressler, Dan Wallach, and Chris Bronk. “Exploiting Military OpSec through Open-Source Vulnerabilities.” In Proceedings of the 34th IEEE Military Communications (MILCOM) Conference,
October 2015.
Judson Dressler, William Clay Moody, Calvert Bowen III, and Jason Koepke. “Operational Data Classes for Establishing Situational Awareness in Cyberspace.” In Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Cyber Conflict (CYCON), June 2013.
Steven Fulton, Dino Schweitzer, and Judson Dressler. “What are we teaching in Cyber Competitions?” In Proceedings of 2012 IEEE Frontiers in Education (FIE) Conference, October 2012.
Werner Dahm, Judson Dressler, and Air Force Scientific Advisory Board Cyber Situational Awareness Panel. “Ensuring Cyber Situational Awareness for Commanders.” Classified publication. June 2012.
Christopher Mayer, Judson Dressler, Falicia Harlow, Gregory Brault, K. Selcuk Candan. “Replicating Multi-quality web Applications Using ACO and Bipartite Graphs.” In Proceedings of 5th International Conference on Ant Colony Optimization and Swarm Intelligence, September 2006.
Other Publications and Presentations
Lauren Scharff, Joel Sloan, Peter Reiley, Judson Dressler, Sarah Robinson & Shernette Dunn-Savery. “Investigation of Knowledge Surveys to Develop Student Self-Assessment of Learning.”
International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. October 2019.
Lauren Scharff, Joel Sloan, Peter Reiley, Judson Dressler, Sarah Robinson & Shernette Dunn-Savery. “Investigation of Knowledge Surveys to Develop Student Self-Assessment of Learning.”
11th Annual USAFA Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Forum. October 2019.
Judson Dressler. “The Future of Artificial Intelligence in Warfare.” United States Air Force Academy Assembly. 2019.
Lauren Scharff, Joel Sloan, Peter Reiley, Judson Dressler, Sarah Robinson & Shernette Dunn-Savery. “Work in Progress: Investigation of Knowledge Surveys to Develop Student Self-Assessment of Learning.” 10th Annual SAFA Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Forum. October 2018.
Judson Dressler. “Enabling Deterrence in Cyberspace.” Presentation. National Defense University. April 2018.
Judson Dressler. “Analyzing the Use of Cyber in Warfare at the Strategic, Operational, and Tactical Levels.” Dissertation Thesis, Rice University. Committee: Dan Wallach (chair), T.S. Eugene Ng, Chris Bronk. 2015.
Judson Dressler. “Using Machine Learning Techniques to Solve Graph Theory Problems.” Master’s Thesis. Air Force Institute of Technology. Committee: Christopher Mayer, Gary Lamont,
Gilbert Peterson. 2006.