Lieutenant Colonel Rudy L. Novak is an Instructor of Political Science at the US Air Force Academy, where he teaches courses on international security studies, European organizations, and American government. Lt Col. Novak was commissioned through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Michigan and is a Senior Air Battle Manager. He was a previous evaluator and has over 2000 flight hours with 777 in combat onboard the E-3 Airborne Early Warning & Control System (AWACS). Lt Col. Novak has served multiple combat deployments to the Middle East, supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Inherent Resolve aboard the E-3 AWACS. Additionally, he deployed on the ground to Baghdad, Iraq, where he served as a strategic liaison of a fourteen-nation coalition to the Government of Iraq. Lt Col. Novak also has extensive experience in homeland defense missions, supporting the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), and counter-drug operations in Latin America.

Lt Col. Novak’s professional and research interests include Security, Strategy, and Statecraft, focusing on integrated deterrence or a “whole of government” approach to great power competition. Lt. Col. Novak is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations, has visited thirty-seven foreign countries, and enjoys studying everything related to international relations, foreign policy, and strategic competition.

Master of International Public Policy, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Washington, DC (2023)

Master of Public Administration, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma (2014)

Bachelor of Arts, Earth Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (2009)

Instructor, Department of Political Science, US Air Force Academy, Colorado (June 2023 – Present)

Public Service Scholar, Air Force Institute of Technology, Washington, DC (July 2022 – May 2023)

Chief, E-3 AWACS Combat Capabilities, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma (September 2021 –  June 2022)

Chief, E-3 AWACS Contingency Operations, 552^nd Operations Support Squadron, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma (June 2020 – August 2021)

Assistant Director of Operations, 960^th Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma (January 2020 – June 2020)

Chief, Squadron Readiness, 960^th Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma (September 2018 – January 2020)

Dean of Students, 337^th Air Control Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Florida (August 2017 – August 2018)

Flight Commander, 337^th Air Control Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Florida (November 2015 – August 2017)

Assistant Flight Commander, 337^th Air Control Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Florida (February 2015 – October 2015)

E-3 Air Battle Manager, Senior Director/Instructor Air Weapons Officer, 960^th Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma (August 2010 – February 2015)

Student Air Battle Manager, 325^th Air Control Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Florida (September 2009 – August 2010)

2023 Department of Political Science, Field Grade Officer of the Quarter

2022 Public Service Scholar, Johns Hopkins University SAIS

2021 Squadron Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award

2020 Group Field Grade Officer of the Quarter

2019 Squadron Field Grade Officer of the Year

2017 Air Education & Training Command, Team Excellence Award

2017 Air Education & Training Command, Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award

2017 Tyndall AFB, Florida Company Grade Officer of the Year

2016 Squadron Flight Commander of the Year

Security, Strategy, & Statecraft

International Relations

Foreign Policy

Integrated Deterrence

Strategic Competition

Innovation & Emerging Technology

NATO

US Congress