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Brigadier General
Gunther A. Mueller
Permanent Professor 1991–2008
Vice Dean of the Faculty 1998–2000
B.A., West Virginia University
M.A., West Virginia University
Ph.D., Ohio State University
Gunther Mueller, the Academy’s 57th Permanent Professor, was born in Frankenberg (Eder), Germany, in 1946 and immigrated into the United States in 1956, residing in New Jersey throughout high school. In 1969 he earned his Bachelor’s degree in German from West Virginia University, Morgantown, and was named a Distinguished Graduate of AFROTC. He then took an educational delay to complete his Master’s degree in German before entering active duty in 1970 to begin his career in Air Force Intelligence. Following intelligence officer training at Lowry AFB in Denver, CO, Gunther served for a year, 1970–1971, as an Intelligence Officer and briefer with the Strategic Air Division, Vandenberg AFB, CA. He was next assigned as Intelligence Branch Chief and Operations Plans Officer for the 95th Strategic Wing at Goose Air Base, Canada, 1971–1973. Following Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL, he spent eight months at U-Tapao Air Base, Thailand, as a Combat Intelligence Briefer/Debriefer for the 307th Strategic Wing. Returning stateside in 1974, Gunther began his long association with the Air Force Academy as Instructor of German and Chair of the German Division, Department of Foreign Languages. In 1977 he entered the doctoral program in Foreign Language Education at Ohio State, and earned his PhD degree two years later in 1979. During the next four years he was a key figure in introducing computer-assisted learning into the Academy’s foreign language curriculum. After a year as a student at Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL, 1983–1984, he was assigned to Headquarters US European Command, Stuttgart, Germany, 1984–1987, where he served as Chief of the Indications and Warning Branch. Gunther returned to the Academy in 1987 as Deputy Head, Department of Foreign Languages. He was made Acting Department Head in 1990 and was appointed Permanent Professor and Head in 1991. From 1998 to 2000, he was the Vice Dean of the Faculty. During his tenure, he chaired the Academy’s International Programs Council and oversaw the dramatic expansion of cadet international exchange opportunities. Moreover, he tirelessly advocated for foreign language skills for all military personnel and wrote extensively on the subject: “Global Skills: Vital Components of Global Engagement” (Airpower Journal, 1998) and “Beyond the Linguist, Global Engagement Skills” (Applied Language Learning, 2000). As Executive Director of the Defense Exchange Committee on Language Effects, he influenced language and foreign area studies programs and policies, and in cooperation with the Defense Language Institute he led efforts to assess and reward foreign language skills maintenance across the Department of Defense. He was promoted to brigadier general and retired in 2008.
Since 2009 Gunther has worked as a part-time consultant for the AF Culture and Language Center at Air University. His primary focus has been the highly successful Language Enabled Airman Program (which he helped create), providing foreign language sustainment and enhancement opportunities for airmen. He also serves on the Air Staff’s Language, Regional Expertise, and Culture Action Panel, advising on all AF language and culture policies and programs.