DEVELOPING EFFECTIVE LEADER DEVELOPERS: A CASE STUDY OF AIR OFFICERS COMMANDING

Abstract

This dissertation is a qualitative case study that examined how the United States Air Force Academy’s (USAFA) Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Master’s Program prepares officers to be leader developers. AOCs are sent through a one-year education and training program called the AOC Master’s Program. Interviews, document reviews, and observations were conducted with AOCs while currently at USAFA, both within the program and in command, to determine what dispositions, behaviors, and skills make for an effective leader developer and how the program prepares them for this role. Findings from the research revealed the importance of possessing the proper disposition toward development, engaging in sensemaking, modeling, and psychological safety in fulfilling the role of a leader developer. In addition, findings demonstrated that while room exists for improvement, the AOC Master’s Program and its emphasis on developmental counseling with leadership studies proved valuable in preparing officers for their leader developer role. These findings benefit USAFA in continuing to improve in developing leaders of character while also providing insights to the larger leader and leadership development community regarding this little studied role of leader developer.