By Tom Conning

New hybrid professors a mix of academic and military professionals

The Army War College, like major colleges and universities, seeks distinguished and highly educated faculty members who will bring knowledge, experience and quality to the classroom. War College faculty includes civilian academics from institutions like Yale and Georgetown, military professionals, and a few hybrids: military professionals with distinguished academic credentials.

Faculty members with both academic and operational credentials contribute longevity, continuity and depth to The War College, said Dr. Lance Betros, Provost for The War College. "Within the military profession, we expect our own uniformed military to be able to apply the theoretical knowledge that backs up that profession," said Betros. "They provide that depth of understanding and disciplinary skill and those are the Professors, U.S. Army War College."

The Professor, U.S. Army War College program sponsors selected active-duty officers' doctoral studies at top U.S. schools, and brings them back to The War College to finish their dissertations and join the faculty. Each selectee must have an excellent military record and must show potential for academic achievement, said Betros.

These doctorates provide military professionals with additional theoretical education and thought said Betros. "It makes sense that we have not only the military who can do practitioner kinds of things, how to do, but we also have a sub-set of that profession focus on how to think, what to think," said Betros.

This year, three Army officers will enter the Professor, USAWC Program: Col. Dan Cormier, Col. Doug Winton and Lt. Col. John Mowchan.

Cormier is the strategic initiatives director for the Army War College and, formerly, completed his Army War College Fellowship with the French Strategic Defense Institute. His operational experience in both Iraq and Afghanistan included command of the 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division in Iraq from Jul. 2008 to Jul. 2011.  He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of New Hampshire, and a master's in international relations from Boston University.

Col. Dan Cormier, strategic initiatives director for the Army War College, will pursue a doctorate in history at Temple University as part of the Professor, USAWC Program.

Cormier will pursue a doctorate in history with Temple University. "I think a lot of the junior leaders and guys like me who've experienced the last ten years of war in multiple operational assignments have seen the value of understanding the context of the problem that you're in," said Cormier.

Winton is a current Army War College student with a master's degree in international security affairs from Johns Hopkins University. A veteran of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, he commanded the 2nd Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment and served as deputy commander of the 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry division.  "The Army will invest in me to deepen my education, deepen my understanding of the world that we live in and improve my ability to conduct research and write," said Winton, who is considering several options for advanced international studies. "I think it would be a great opportunity to contribute to the professional education of strategic leaders."

Col. Doug Winton, Army War College student, is considering several educational options and plans to earn a doctorate in advanced international studies as part of the Professor, USAWC Program.

Mowchan is an intelligence coordinator for the State Department's Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications. He has experience in various teaching positions at the Army War College and National Intelligence University. A veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Mowchan has operational, joint and Army staff experience in intelligence, and commanded Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 30th Field Artillery Regiment.

"This is a convergence of passion to teach and passion to continue service to the Nation and Army," said Mowchan, a 2012 graduate of the Army War College who will make his choice among university options in April. "It's a win-win to do both."

Lt. Col. John Mowchan, intelligence coordinator for the State Department's Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications, will decide what university he’ll attend in April as part of the Professor, USAWC Program.

The Professor, USAWC Program stipulates that the participants complete their resident Ph.D. course work within two years.