Lieutenant Colonel Michael Barnhart is an Assistant Professor of Biology at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado. He serves as the Course Director for Microbiology and Molecular Methods and as the Cadet Summer Research Program (CSRP) Lead. In these roles, he directs the design and delivery of microbiology and molecular biology instruction for future Air Force and Space Force officers, oversees the department’s biosafety and compliance programs, and leads the Academy’s premier undergraduate research initiative, connecting cadets with Department of War laboratories, national research institutions, and industry partners.

Lt Col Barnhart also serves on the Dean of the Faculty’s Artificial Intelligence Working Group and the Dean’s AI Workflow Team, contributing to Academy-wide efforts to integrate generative AI into teaching and learning while protecting learning outcomes and academic integrity. His cross-departmental work has included a Faculty-wide analysis of generative-AI use across course syllabi and the development of practical, AI-enabled instructional tools and frameworks shared with faculty beyond the Department of Biology.

Lt Col Barnhart began his Air Force career as an enlisted Integrated Avionics Technician on the C-17 Globemaster III. Following his selection to the U.S. Air Force Academy, he commissioned as an Academy Scholar in 2011. After over a year-long deployment to Afghanistan as an operations group executive officer, he was competitively selected to return to the Academy as an instructor in the Department of Biology.

In 2022, Lt Col Barnhart earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry from the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom. Before returning to the Academy, he served as the Deputy and Acting Director of the Autonomy Capability Team (ACT3) within the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, where he led multidisciplinary teams developing and integrating artificial intelligence technologies across Department of the Air Force missions.

His peer-reviewed scholarship spans molecular biology, biochemistry, chemical and biological defense, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. His paper Phosphorylation of the Smooth Muscle Master Splicing Regulator, RBPMS, Regulates Its Splicing Activity was nominated for a Breakthrough Designation by Nucleic Acids Research. His current academic interests center on microbiology education, biosafety and compliance leadership, and the integration of biotechnology and artificial intelligence across defense research, training, and education.

Air War College (correspondence), Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. (2026)

Air Command and Staff College (correspondence), Maxwell AFB, Ala. (2024)

Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom (2022)

Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala. (2018)

Graduate Certificate in Nuclear Weapons, Effects, Policy and Proliferation, Air Force Institute of Technology, Dayton, Ohio (2015)

Master of Science in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo. (2013)

Bachelor of Science in Biology, Minor in French, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (2011)

Avionic Systems Technology, Community College of the Air Force, Montgomery, Ala. (2005)

Deputy Director, ACT-3, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio (2024–2025)

Acting Director, ACT-3, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio (2023)

Deputy Director, ACT-3, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio (2022–2023)

PhD Graduate Student, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom (2019–2022)

Senior Instructor of Biology, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (2018–2019)

Instructor of Biology, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (2017–2018)

Executive Officer, 455 Expeditionary Operations Group, Bagram AFB, Afghanistan (2016–2017)

Counter-Proliferation Program Manager, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio (2013–2016)

Graduate Student, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo. (2011–2013)

Student, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (2007–2011)

Student, United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School, Colorado Springs, Colo. (2006–2007)

Integrated Avionics Systems Technician, 315th Maintenance Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C. (2005–2006)

Meritorious Service Medal with Two Oak Leaf Clusters

Air and Space Commendation Medal with One Oak Leaf Cluster

National Defense Service Medal

Afghanistan Campaign Medal with One Service Star

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

NATO Medal

MAJCOM Air Force Medical Service Award – USAFA iGEM Team

USAF Biomedical Science Corps Team – U.S. Air Force Academy iGEM Team

711th Human Performance Wing Commander’s Excellence Award for Biosafety Team

U.S. Air Force Academy Scholar Graduate

Basic Military Training Honor Graduate

AI integration in STEM and microbiology education

Scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL)

RNA splicing regulation

Post-transcriptional gene control

RNA binding proteins

mRNA stability and decay pathways

Virus-host interactions in RNA regulation

Stress-responsive RNA dynamics

Synthetic biology tools for sensing and detection

Engineering biological systems for applied research

RNA-centered mechanisms in cellular adaptation

Molecular responses to environmental or pathogenic stress