First Lieutenant Samantha B. Van Cleave is an instructor assigned to the United States Air Force Academy in the Behavioral Sciences and Leadership Department where she teaches Applied Information Operations and Leadership. In this duty, she mentors and develops hundreds of cadets each year on the fundamentals of organizations and teambuilding. Additionally, she coordinates collaboration between academy cadets and NORAD/NORTHCOM personnel to advance national defense initiatives. Lt Van Cleave also established the Information Warfare Club at the United States Air Force Academy as the Assistant Officer in Charge.

Lt Van Cleave commissioned in 2020 through Officer Training School after being selected to receive a commission by the Commander of Headquarters Air Force through the Senior Leader Enlisted Commissioning Program in December 2019 after ten years of prior service to the Air Force. Throughout her career, she has held a variety of leadership positions serving at the squadron, group, wing, and major command levels. In addition to formal assignments, she served as the Air Combat Command subject matter expert for intelligence training and supported the development of enlisted curriculum at the Air Weapons School. She has significant joint service experience and deployed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM where she served as the non-commissioned officer in charge of Regional Command East for National Security Agency operations in theater.

Prior to this assignment, Lt Van Cleave served as an Information Warfare Analyst at Langley AFB, Virginia. While there, she oversaw a team of 15 Airmen which was charged with the identification of adversary targeting vulnerabilities that provided the Combined Forces Air Component Commander with holistic targeting options.

Associate of Arts Degree in Russian, Defense Language Institute, Monterey, California (2012)

Associate of Applied Science Degree, Intelligence Studies & Technology (2013)

Airman Leadership School, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska (2014)

Bachelor of Science Degree in Military Studies, Excelsior College, Albany, New York (2015)

Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, by distance learning (2015)

Associate of Applied Science Degree, Education and Training Management (2016)

Certified Manager Certification, James Madison University, Harrisburg, Virginia (2016)

Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas (2018)

Associate Professional in Human Resources, Human Resources Certification Institute, Alexandria, Virginia (2018)

Master of Science Degree Organizational Development & Leadership, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas (2018)

Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama (2020)

Information Operations Professionals Course, Hurlburt Air Force Base, Florida (2020)

Student, 311th Training Squadron, Presidio of Monterey, California (March 2010 – November 2011)

Student, 315th Training Squadron, Goodfellow AFB, Texas (November 2011 – April 2012)

Cryptologic Language Analyst & Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge/Air Weapons Development, 381st Intelligence Squadron, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska (April 2012-April 2015)

Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge NSA Operations, Regional Command-East, Afghanistan (August 2013-February 2014)

Cryptologic Language Analyst, 35th Intelligence Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas (April 2015 – November 2015)

Cryptologic Language Analyst, 75th Intelligence Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas (6.  November 2015 – January 2016)

Executive Assistant to the Commander, 35th Intelligence Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas (January 2016-July 2016)

Flight Chief/Unit Training Manager, 93d Intelligence Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas (July 2016 – May 2019)

Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge/Fourth Class Cadet Curriculum & Functional Manager/Education & Training, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado (May 2019-February 2020)

Student, 324th Training Squadron, Maxwell AFB, Alabama (February 2020-April 2020)

Information Warfare Analyst, 17th Intelligence Squadron, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia (April 2020-June 2022)

Instructor, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado (June 2022-Present)

Joint Service Commendation Medal

Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters

Joint Service Achievement Medal

Air Force Achievement Medal

Army Achievement Medal

Commandant’s Award, Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center

John L. Levitow Award, Airman Leadership School