Col. Joel N. Brown is the Director, U.S. Air Force Academy Center for Character and Leadership Development (CCLD). He directs the center’s mission to advance the understanding, scholarship, practice, and integration of character and leadership development for 4,000 cadets and permanent party in service to the nation. The Center hosts several large forums per year, including the annual National Character and Leadership Symposium, and conducts leading-edge research, instruction, and assessment to advance understanding of the Profession of Arms into the 21st century.

Col. Brown received his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2001. His assignments include serving as an Operations Analyst, leading the modeling and simulation efforts for the Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missile, serving as the Executive Officer to the Director at Air Force Research Laboratory’s Information Directorate, where he played a key role in developing AFRL’s research and development roadmap, in Kosovo as KFOR J5’s Lead Planner, and in U.S. Air Force Europe’s A9 as its Analysis, Red Teaming, and Lessons Learned Branch Chief.

Col. Brown has also taught Philosophy and Professional Military Ethics at the U.S. Air Force Academy, commanded the 345th Recruiting Squadron, and prior to his current assignment served as the Vice Commander of the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, overseeing 1,800 military and civilian employees across 18 locations ensuring the safety, security, availability, and effectiveness of two-thirds of the nation’s nuclear triad.

Air War College, by correspondence (2015)

Master of Arts in Military Operational Art, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala. (distinguished graduate) (2013)

Doctor of Philosophy, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y. (2012)

Master of Arts in Philosophy, Syracuse University, N.Y. (2008)

Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. (distinguished graduate) (2007)

Bachelor of Science in Operations Research, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (2000)

Director, Center for Character and Leadership Development, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. (July 2024 – Present)

Commander, 360th Recruiting Group, New Cumberland, Pa. (June 2022 – July 2024)

Vice Commander, Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Kirtland AFB, N.M. (February 2022 – June 2022)

Deputy Director, Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Technology & Integration Directorate, Kirtland AFB, N.M. (July 2021 – February 2022)

Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Senior Military Faculty, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (July 2018 – July 2021)

Commander, 345th Recruiting Squadron, Scott AFB, Ill. (June 2016 – July 2018)

Assistant Professor of Philosophy, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (July 2013 – June 2016)

June 2012 – July 2013, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. (July 2013 – June 2016)

Red Team & Lessons Learned Branch Chief, United States Air Forces in Europe/A9AL, Ramstein Air Base, Germany (February 2011 – August 2011, J5 Plans Officer, Operation Joint Enterprise, Kosovo Force, NATO, Pristina, Kosovo) (February 2010 – June 2012)

Flight Commander, Support and Operations Flights, 313th RCS, North Syracuse, N.Y. (December 2006 – February 2010)

Program Manager, C2 Systems, Executive Officer, Air Force Research Laboratories/Information Directorate, Rome, N.Y. (August 2003 – December 2006)

Test & Evaluation Analyst, Det. 1, 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. (May 2000 – August 2003)

Defense Meritorious Service Medal

Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters

Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster

Joint Service Achievement Medal

Kosovo Campaign Medal

Nuclear Deterrence Operations Medal

Air Force Recruiter Ribbon

(Current as of July 2024)