Assistant Professor of Law

The Department of Law at the United States Air Force Academy, located just north of Colorado Springs, Colorado, anticipates filling a full-time 12-month faculty position as an Assistant Professor of Law (#21-49DFLA) beginning on June 20, 2022.

The successful candidate will teach multiple sections of the Law Department’s Law for Air Force Officers course. Law for Air Force Officers is an introductory law course that each USAFA cadet must complete prior to graduation. Approximately 1000 cadets are enrolled in the course each year, with the typical section size of 20 cadets. The course is primarily a survey of American law, with an emphasis on law relevant to American citizens and Air Force officers. It covers various area of law, including constitutional liberties and rights, criminal law, criminal procedure, military discipline, international law, and law of war. In addition to teaching substantive law, the Law for Air Force Officers course is designed to develop critical thinking skills, and faculty are responsible for supporting and contributing to USAFA’s Critical Thinking Outcome.

In addition to teaching the core law course, the successful candidate will support the Law, Technology, and Warfare Research Cell (“LTWRC”). The LTWRC offers faculty, cadets, and the wider Air Force community the opportunity to research new technologies and their legal application in warfare; generate scholarship on their legal uses; collaborate with operators and practitioners in the field; and educate cadets, national-level decision-makers, senior military leaders, and tactical level practitioners. Through these efforts, the LTWRC seeks to become a premier research entity for the study of the law at the intersections of technology and military operations throughout the domains of air, space, cyberspace, land, and sea. The successful candidate will work with the Director of LTWRC; regularly engage in scholarly activities, including publishing in academic journals and presenting at conferences in the areas of law and technology, space, cyberspace, or national security; organize and run conferences, assist in curriculum development; and potentially teach a course focusing on an area of law and technology, to include space, cyberspace, or national security. For more information about the LTWRC, see https://www.usafa.edu/research/research-centers/law-technology-and-warfare-research-cell/.

Moreover, the successful candidate will collaborate with faculty and administration to further curriculum and institutional outcomes; advise and support students through formal and informal means; and support the department and institution through service activities as appropriate.

Applicants will be assessed based on teaching credentials, professional experience, scholarship, service, and education. Applicants must have a record of teaching and/or practice for a minimum of three years in the areas of law and technology, space, cyberspace, or national security. Preference will be given to candidates who have a record of scholarship, or demonstrated scholarly potential, in the areas of law and technology, space, cyberspace, or national security.    Preference will also be given to applicants who are well connected in the law and technology, cyberspace, or national security community, whether in a civilian, military, or other DoD capacity. In their letter of application (cover letter), applicants must include a statement of their teaching philosophy and a research agenda. 

The initial appointment is for three years with subsequent reappointments up to four years in length. This appointment system provides long-term employment stability for reappointment-eligible faculty.  Extensions are based on an assessment of performance, Air Force and departmental needs, and financial constraints.  Historically, 95% of eligible faculty are extended, and the average length of time on faculty for those currently serving in this system exceeds 12 years.

Minimum salary for a candidate hired is $112,999.  Applications will be accepted beginning November 8, 2021 via https://www.usajobs.gov/. Type “Professor” in the Keyword box and “Colorado Springs” in the Location box and click “Search.”  Scroll down until you locate the “Assistant Professor of Law” position.  Applications must be received by December 8, 2021.  U.S. citizenship required.