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Colonel
John D. Cinnamon
Permanent Professor 2016–2018
B.S., United States Air Force Academy
M.S., University of Texas at Austin
M.S., National Defense University
Ph.D., Air Force Institute of Technology
John Cinnamon, the Academy’s 95th Permanent Professor, was born in 1969 in Seattle, Washington. He graduated with Academic Distinction from the United States Air Force Academy with a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Sciences in 1991. He immediately became a graduate student at the University of Texas at Austin, graduating with a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering in 1992. John then reported to undergraduate pilot training at Laughlin AFB, TX. After receiving his wings in 1993, he became a C-5 Pilot, advanced to Aircraft Commander, and served as Chief of Squadron Safety at Dover AFB, DE. In late 1996 John was a Distinguished Graduate from Squadron Officer School at Maxwell AFB, AL. Reporting for the spring semester of 1997 to the USAFA Department of Aeronautics, John became an Instructor, both of Aeronautics and in the T-3 aircraft. In 1999 he moved to Beale AFB, CA, as a T-38 Instructor/Evaluator Pilot and Life Support Officer for the U-2 Program, 1st Reconnaissance Squadron. In 2001 he moved to the 9th Operations Support Squadron at Beale and served as Assistant Director of Operations and then Director of Operations Support while continuing his duties in the T-38. In 2003 John became a student again, this time at the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. He received his PhD in Aeronautical Engineering in 2006 and was awarded the Ivan B. Thompson Leadership Award. From 2006 to 2011 he served as T-1 Instructor and Evaluator Pilot, Operations Officer, and then Commander in the 86th Flying Training Squadron back at Laughlin AFB. In mid-2011 John became a student at the Joint Advanced Warfighting School, Joint Forces Staff College (National Defense University), Norfolk, VA, graduating in 2012 as a Distinguished Graduate with a Master’s degree in Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy. He next served as the Director of Plans, US Strategic Command Center for Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction/Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, VA. In 2013 he became the Lead Planner for the Secretary of Defense Syria Integration Group, the Pentagon, Washington, DC. He next was assigned in 2014 as the Commander and T-1 Instructor/Evaluator Pilot, 71st Operations Group, Vance AFB, OK. John returned to head the Department of Aeronautics at the Academy in 2016 and was appointed Permanent Professor. He led a department that provided every cadet an introduction to aircraft design, fluid mechanics, airfoil and wing aerodynamics, aircraft performance, and stability and control, and he oversaw the Aeronautics Research Center conducting research in aerodynamics, flight mechanics, propulsion, aircraft structures, and experimental methods. John retired in 2018.