Pay and benefits for civilian faculty compare very favorably with top civilian universities. We have faculty who have been here 20 years and others who come here on temporary loan from the civilian academic world.

The academic program is the senior professional military education school in the Air Force. It awards a master's degree accredited by SACS. It includes global cultural studies and visits to all regions. The Air War College was recently recognized with an Air Force Unit Excellence Award.

Students include lieutenant colonels and colonels from 45 foreign militaries and the US Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard, as well as civilian equivalent ranked individuals from various US agencies. Many have had extensive experience at leading large numbers of individuals, leading in crises (including under fire), and managing very large and complex budgets. Many of the international students go on to become heads of their nations' air forces or entire military.

Faculty research, publications, and development are scheduled and budgeted for. Also budgeted for is professional travel to worldwide conferences, to attend and often to present. Faculty accompany students to visits to more than 40 countries each year for research and military-to-military contacts.

Research support is helped by having the largest library in DoD (and fourth largest in the US government) only a few steps away, complete with research assistants, bibliographers, and a budget for books, publications, online databases, and more. Also nearby are the Air Force Doctrine Center and the Air Force Historical Research Agency, with original documents dating to the beginning of the Air Force. The Air Force Counterproliferation Center, Air Force Negotiation Center of Excellence, National Space Studies Center, Center for Strategy and Technology, Cyberspace and Information Operations Study Center, and the Culture and Language Center are all research partners of and/or hosted by the Air War College. Air University TV supports us with an award-winning production team and facility. And AU Press has full production capabilities for products ranging from occasional papers to multi-volume books.

Guest lecturers include the top US and foreign military and civilian policymakers, military leaders, and subject matter experts. Guest lecturers regularly include the heads of the various US military services as well as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. The State Department sends regional experts and senior staff. We usually get visits from the military and civilian leaders in the field as well, such as leaders of the efforts in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other operations. Past civilian guest lecturers have included such luminaries as Edward Teller, Carl Sagan (VTC from his office), and Arthur C. Clarke (VTC from his office in Sri Lanka).

Community offerings include world class golf courses, a Shakepeare theater which does a full range of classical and modern stage productions, an art museum, an historical open air museum of houses and stores from the 19th century, a symphony orchestra, nearby lakes, and local educational offerings (day, night, and online) from Auburn, Troy, Alabama State, and other nearby schools. Our minor league professional baseball team has a new stadium and has won the national championship several times.

Regional offerings include the Gulf coast beaches, Atlanta, Birmingham, Mobile, and Florida attractions all within an easy drive.