Lieutenant Colonel Joseph D. Eanett is Assistant Professor of History for the History Department in the Dean of Faculty at the United States Air Force Academy. His academic interests are naval history, American military history, and the history of science, medicine, and technology with a particular emphasis on the social history of infectious and epidemic disease.  He teaches core Military History.

After receiving his commission from the Virginia Military Institute’s Reserve Officer Training Corps, in 2007, he attended the Air Force Security Forces Officer Basic Course.  Lt Col Eanett served as a Security Forces officer for five years, leading defenders at home and deploying with the 4th Brigade, 1st Armored Division of the U.S. Army in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and later supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.  While stationed at Misawa Air Base, Japan, he served as a first responder during the March 2011 Great Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, vectoring relief efforts as part of Operation TOMODACHI.

In 2012, Lt Col Eanett cross-trained into Intelligence,  graduating from the Intelligence Officers Course at Goodfellow Air Force Base, San Angelo, Texas as a distinguished graduate.  As an intelligence officer, Lt Col Eanett has supported national strategic objectives as an analyst for the Alaskan Region of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the National Security Agency.

Lt Col Eanett is an experienced educator who taught Naval History, Modern Western History, and the History of Epidemics at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, for two years, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.  He completed his doctorate in history at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and joined the History Department faculty at the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2024.  He lives in Colorado Springs with his spouse, Jill, their cat, Avery, and their Australian Shepherd, Flicka.

Bachelor of Art, History, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia (2007)

Master of Art, Military History, Norwich University, Northfield, Vermont (2009)

Doctor of Philosophy, History, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2024)

Assistant Professor, Department of History, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado (May 2024 – Present)

Doctoral Student, Department of History, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (August 2021 – May 2024)

Master Instructor of Naval History, Department of History, U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland (June 2019 – July 2021)

Director of Operations, 34th Intelligence Squadron, Fort Geroge G. Meade, Maryland (July 2017 – June 2019)

Executive Officer, 373d Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska (April 2016 – June 2017)

Assistant Director of Operations, 381st Intelligence Squadron, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska (April 2015 – April 2016)

Chief, Analysis, Correlation, and Fusion Branch, 611th Air Operations Center, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska (June 2014 – April 2015)

Officer in Charge, Senior Intelligence Duty Officer Support Team, 611th Air Operations Center, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska (May 2013 – June 2014)

Student, 315th Training Squadron, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas (September 2012 – April 2013)

Operations Officer, 35th Security Forces Squadron, Misawa Air Base, Japan (July 2011 – August 2012)

Logistics and Resources Officer, 35th Security Forces Squadron, Misawa Air Base, Japan (August 2010 – July 2011)

Section Commander, 633d Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia (May 2010 – August 2010)

Logistics And Resources Officer, 1st Security Forces Squadron, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia (October 2008 – January 2010)

Flight Commander, 1st Security Forces Squadron, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia (January 2008 – October 2008)

Meritorious Service Medal

Joint Service Commendation Medal

Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster

Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal

Humanitarian Service Medal

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Service Medal

Iraq Campaign Medal

Pacific Air Forces Security Forces Company Grade Officer of the Year, 2011

U.S. Naval Academy Department of History Class of 1951 Military Faculty Teaching Excellence Award, 2020

U.S. Naval Academy Department of History William P. Clements Award for Excellence in Education, 2020

Naval and Maritime History

American Military History

Military Modernization and Reform

History of Medicine, Science, and Technology

The Social, Cultural, and Military Impacts of Epidemic and Infectious Diseases