Lieutenant Colonel Brian Yoakam serves as an Instructor and Course Director in the Department of Political Science (DFPS) and the Deputy Director of the Eisenhower Center for Space and Defense Studies at the United States Air Force Academy. In this role, he supports research initiatives, policy analysis, and curriculum development, focusing on national security, space policy, and American government.

Lieutenant Colonel Yoakam is a career space and missile defense officer with over 17 years of experience at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels. He has served as Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) Crew Commander, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, Missile Defense Integration Officer, as well as an AETC Instructor and member of a Commander’s Action Group. His operational experience includes assignments at Pacific Air Forces and combatant command air operations centers supporting Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM. He played a key role in standing up U.S. Space Command, shaping space warfighting strategy, missile defense integration, and operational readiness.

Lieutenant Colonel Yoakam holds a Master of Arts in Political Science from American University, a Master of Military Operational Art and Science from Air Command and Staff College, and a Master of Science in Space Operations from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He is a graduate of Air War College and a Schriever Space Scholar. His research interests include national security policy, deterrence strategy, and the intersection of space operations and military doctrine.

Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama, by correspondence (2024)

Master of Arts in Political Science, American University, Washington, D.C. (2023)

Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Alabama (2019)

Master of Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida (2014)

Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama (Distinguished Graduate; Outstanding Contributor) (2014)

Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (2007)

Instructor and Course Director, Department of Political Science and Deputy Director, Eisenhower Center for Space and Defense Studies, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado (December 2023 – Present)

Graduate Student, USAFA Faculty Pipeline Program, American University, Washington, D.C. (July 2022 – December 2023)

Chief, Space Attack Assessor Training and Response, Directorate of Operations, Training, and Force Development (J3), U.S. Space Command, Peterson SFB, Colorado (November 2021 – July 2022)

Chief, Operations and Integration, Directorate of Operations, Training, and Force Development (J3), U.S. Space Command, Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado (August 2019 – November 2020)

Chief, Operations and Integration, Directorate of Operations, Training, and Force Development (J3), Joint Force Space Component Command, U.S. Strategic Command, Peterson AFB, Corado (June 2019 – August 2019)

Student, Air Command and Staff College (Schriever Space Scholars), Maxwell AFB, Alabama (June 2018 – June 2019)

Executive Officer to the PACAF Deputy Commander and PACAF Commander’s Action Group, Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii (April 2017 – June 2018)

Chief, Strategy Guidance Team, Pacific Air Forces Air Operations Center, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii (September 2016 – April 2017)

Deputy Chief, Master Air Attack Planning Team, Pacific Air Forces Air Operations Center, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii (April 2015 – September 2016)

Chief, Space Plans, Pacific Air Forces Air Operations Center, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii (July 2014 – April 2015)

Chief, SBIRS Training, 533rd Training Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, California (November 2013 – July 2014)

Executive Officer, 380th Mission Support Group, Al Dhafra AB, United Arab Emirates (March 2013 – November 2013)

Instructor, 533rd Training Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, California (August 2011 – March 2013)

Chief, Weapons and Tactics, 2nd Space Warning Squadron, Buckley AFB, Colorado (April 2010 – August 2011)

Space Duty Officer, Central Command’s Air Operations Center, Al Udeid AB, Qatar and Chief of Space Operations Training, Shaw AFB, South Carolina (December 2009 – April 2010)

Chief, SBIRS Missile Defense Integration, 460th Operations Support Squadron, Buckley AFB, Colorado (January 2009 – December 2009)

Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) Crew Commander, 2nd Space Warning Squadron, Buckley AFB, Colorado (March 2008 – January 2009)

Student, Undergraduate Space Training, Vandenberg AFB, California (July 2007 – March 2008)

Student, Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Alabama (May 2007 – July 2007)

Defense Meritorious Service Medal

Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster

Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters

Air Force Organizational Excellence Award

National Defense Service Medal

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Air & Space Campaign Medal

Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with one oak leaf cluster

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

Squadron Officer School Distinguished Graduate (2014)

Squadron Officer School Outstanding Contributor (2014)

Missile Defender of the Year for the U.S. Air Force (2010)

Political Behavior and Elections

National Security

Campaign Management

Space Policy

American Government and Politics

American Presidency