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Colonel
Joseph E. Sanders III
Permanent Professor 2010–2015
B.S., Central Washington University
M.S., Lesley College
Ph.D., Colorado State University
Joe Sanders, the Academy’s 89th Permanent Professor, was born in Alexandria, Louisiana, in 1969. In 1991 he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Electronics Technology from Central Washington University, Ellensburg, and received his commission through AFROTC. His first assignment was to a Peacekeeper ICBM crew at F.E. Warren AFB, WY, 1992–1996, where he progressed to Missile Combat Crew Commander and Assistant Division Chief. In 1995 he received his Master’s degree in Management from Lesley College, Cambridge, MA. Joe came to the Air Force Academy’s Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership, 1996–2000, as Instructor, then Assistant Professor and Chief Leadership Consultant. Selected for a doctorate, he attended Colorado State University, Fort Collins, where he earned his PhD in Education and Human Resource Development in 2003. From 2003 to 2005 he was Chief, Diversity Policy and Strategic Leadership, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, the Pentagon, Washington, DC, where he developed and reviewed human capital policies and strategic plans for the Secretary of the Air Force. Joe was Commander of the 320th Training Squadron, Lackland AFB, TX, from 2005 to 2007, transforming recruits into highly motivated airmen. During this time, he was deployed for five months to Saudi Arabia as Commander, 64th Expeditionary Support Squadron. He returned to the Academy’s Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership in 2007 as Deputy Department Head for Leadership, responsible for designing and assessing leadership education programs for cadets and faculty. In 2008 he moved to the Academy’s Center for Character and Leadership Development as Assistant Director for Scholarship. In 2010 Joe was appointed Permanent Professor and Director of the Center. He was the first to occupy this newly established position under the Commandant of Cadets. The Center provided leadership, honor, and character education for the Cadet Wing; oversaw administration of the Cadet Honor Code; hosted several large fora including the annual National Character and Leadership Symposium; and conducted research, instruction, and assessment for advancing the 21st century profession of arms. During his tenure, Joe was instrumental in publishing the Journal of Character and Leadership Integration, the Academy’s first peer-reviewed forum in this field of study. He guided the creation of a nationally award-winning character coaching program and initiated character development camps for local high school students. In addition to laying the foundation for expanded research, integration, and outreach, he also provided expert insight on the design, functionality, and architecture of the Academy’s showpiece Center for Character and Leadership Development building, Polaris Hall, completed in 2016. He retired in 2015.
After retirement, Joe founded the Touchstone Leadership Academy; as its President, he leads a team of professionals committed to improving community through character and leadership transformation. He is also the Director of Leadership Development for All American Leadership, LLC, which works with businesses to improve leadership and corporate culture. Additionally, Joe is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.